Author: Hank Nuwer

Here is the story.

And an excerpt. More go to trial in 2011.

The victims, according to Crown prosecutor Erin Olsen, were asked to choose between a skateboard or a 2-by-4 board as their first instrument of torture. In the process of administering the attack, she said, a co-accused actually cracked the board.
Lethbridge schools have had little success in ending the hazing rituals, court was told – and they have no control of students over the summer, or off their property. Since the attack, Olsen said, some students at the high school have been ostracized for co-operating with police investigation of the assault.
“It’s a very difficult environment for students who spoke to the police,” she said.
Defence lawyer Simon Wood, who argued unsuccessfully for a conditional discharge, told court his client has no prior record, has kept a construction job and continued his Grade 12 classes. The event, he said, was out of character.
He said the accused has also entered guilty pleas on two charges of assault with a weapon, without asking for a trial. While one co-accused has already been sentenced, several more – including several female students – have opted to stand trial later this year.

Former Pledge Dan Hart thinks a four-year timeout was called for.

Campus head explains his rationale.

Lemuel Martinez focuses on sexual aspect of crime, not hazing, he says.

Here is the link to the University of Virginia Cavalier

Excerpt:

At about 2:15 a.m. March 1, 2011, a first-year College student arrived at Martha Jefferson Hospital seizing and foaming at the mouth. He was later transported to the intensive care ward at the University Medical Center, where he was treated for an electrolyte imbalance in his blood. According to court documents, the student — a Zeta Psi pledge — had consumed an entire bottle of soy sauce at the Zeta Psi house before being brought to the hospital. He was released from the hospital four days later.

The fate of Zeta Psi members involved in the incident continues to hang in the balance, as an investigation by University Police and administration to determine whether hazing was involved is still ongoing.

The National Hazing Prevention Week Essay Contest honored individuals whose personal essay best answered the question “What would you do if you encountered hazing?” The North-American Interfraternity Conference awarded cash prizes to the top three essayists. First place was awarded to Savannah Jackson of Destiny Christian School in Norman, Oklahoma, who compared hazing to bullying and saidshe would report hazing to authorities. The second place award winner chose to remain anonymous. Third place was awarded to Nicole Donaldson of Culver City High School in Culver City, California. In her essay, Donaldson discussed hazing myths and said if she encountered hazing, she would refuse to participate and would not join the organization.