Author: Hank Nuwer

Here is the except and link:

East Tennessee State University has officially suspended one of its fraternities for five years for hazing and disorderly conduct after a lengthy investigation. The university made the announcement today, which impacts Lambda Chi Alpha.

The university confirms its University Judicial Board voted to suspend the chapter effective immediately.

“The board found the fraternity responsible for violating sections of ETSU’s Institutional Disciplinary Policies,” the university said. “These violations included hazing and disorderly conduct. As a result of the suspension, the fraternity cannot engage in or sponsor any activity nor recruit new members or hold any meetings for the next five years. Any organization that has been suspended is prohibited from using university resources, equipment, facilities, services or funds, as well as participating as an organization at a campus event.”

ETSU charged Lambda Chi Alpha with disorderly conduct, hazing, providing false information, violation of general rules and regulations, as well as failure to cooperate with institutional officers.

Here is the link to Richmond Times Dispatch and a brief excerpt:

The families of two Virginia State University students who drowned during their initiation into a fraternal group two years ago have filed twin $25 million wrongful death suits against the state of Virginia and the four men recently convicted in their deaths.

The mothers of Jauwan Holmes and Marvell Edmondson, who were swept away on April 20, 2013, while trying to cross the Appomattox River, are each seeking $25 million in compensatory damages against the state, claiming VSU was grossly negligent in its duty to protect the students from harm.

Also named as defendants are James A. Mackey Sr., 37; Charles E. Zollicoffer II, 30; Eriq K. Benson, 20; and Cory D. Baytop, 27, all of whom pleaded guilty or no contest Feb. 12 to hazing and involuntary manslaughter charges. The four were sentenced to varying jail terms, ranging from five to 14 months.

Today, the former band member called the ring leader in the hazing death of Robert Champion was sentenced to 6+ years in prison–longest ever in a collegiate hazing death. http://tinyurl.com/mds5bvo

Here is the link.

Excerpt: from WNYT’s Anna Meillar

ALBANY – Campus wide, University at Albany students are mourning the death of Trevor Duffy, the 19-year-old sophomore who died after an underage drinking party on Hamilton Street.

“Everyone’s kind of shaken up. No one likes to see that,” said Henry Moers, a senior at the university.

His death is sparking a conversation on social media, with students sharing their thoughts on the anonymous social media app called Yik Yak.

“About frats and hazing and how dangerous they can be,” said freshman, Marissa Guttenberg.

Students say the incident likely happened within an underground fraternity- an organized social group similar to Greek life, but one that is not recognized by the university.

“There’s a lot of underground frats. You hear about it, but you’re told also by anybody in charge, like your R.A., not to join them because they get risky,” said Guttenberg.

One of those risks? Students say some underground fraternities turn what should be a social activity into a dangerous challenge.

“You have to drink, you have to take another shot, you have to do more and more to be accepted,” said Gerald Finn, a senior.

Here is the link from New Jersey.com