Author: Hank Nuwer

Fayetteville investigation ends

Excerpt from Fayetteville Observer

No hazing found at FSU

By Sarah A. Reid
Staff writer
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An internal investigation has cleared two college fraternities accused of hazing Fayetteville State University pledges, according to the school.

One of the cleared organizations was cited for a non-hazing violation of the Code of Student Conduct, the university said in a statement released recently.

The Epsilon Zeta Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity was fined $250 and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service for holding meetings outside the presence of an advisor, said Jeffery Womble, the advisor for Alpha Phi Alpha.

The undergraduate chapter also is barred from attending some university functions, and it cannot recruit new members until after the spring 2010 semester, according to FSU.

Alpha Phi Alpha and the Delta Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity were both cleared of hazing allegations levied in January, according to the university.

Pennsylvania school can’t control its students: story follows
Despite seniors’ pledge, juniors are still pelted with condiments and eggs during parade
Maggie Rusch

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Updated April 24, 10:30 p.m.

To gain entry into the Final Toast event on College Green on Hey Day, seniors signed a pledge to not throw items at the parading Class of 2010 – and yet a number chose to welcome the juniors not by raising a toast, but by pelting one of the free beers provided at the event.

Despite the 2009 Class Boards’ efforts to curb junior hazing by seniors on Hey Day, the Class of 2010 – and Locust Walk – was smothered in the usual array on condiments after the procession.

While the level of hazing was slightly less than years prior, students still lined Locust Walk with an arsenal of ketchup, flour and barbeque and chocolate sauce and eggs during the procession.

Even off campus, students donning the visible Hey Day T-shirt faced hazing as early as 1 p.m. along 40th Street and Baltimore Avenue. At one point, several police had to intervene near 40th and Pine as students were spraying passersby with ketchup and mustard.

Whether students were purposely targeted by friends, or simply caught in the cross-fire, the junior class that assembled on College Green was covered in flour and smelled like barbeque sauce.

Phigs host anti-hazing seminar
Rachel Bernstein
Issue date: 4/23/09 Section: News

Phigs held a seminar to educate students on the dangers of hazing.
Media Credit: Dana Smith
Phigs held a seminar to educate students on the dangers of hazing.

In light of the recent hazing-related death of sophomore Arman Partamian, the Phi Sigma Xi fraternity held an anti-hazing seminar on April 17 in Newton.

The goal of the seminar was to educate students – specifically those involved in Greek organizations – about the dangers of hazing and provide them with alternative ways to foster unity within their organizations.

The seminar began with a showing of the documentary “HAZE.” The film illustrates the hazards associated with hazing and specifically touches on the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption commonly connected with Greek organizations. The film brought to light a variety of issues including binge drinking, injuries as a result of excessive drinking, assault and the deep changes that have occurred in the Greek system since it was founded.

Following the film, members of Phi Sigma Xi provided listeners with ways to avoid hazing. They began by trying to dispel certain myths about hazing such as the misconception that it only occurs in fraternities and sororities, that hazing teaches respect and that if there is no malicious intent, then hazing poses no harm.

They went on to explain certain types of hazing, including forced consumption of harmful or undesired substances, fools’ errands, degradation and anything that endangers a person’s well being.

The speech concluded with some alternatives to hazing. The fraternity suggested ideas such as developing problem-solving abilities and leadership skills, planning special events, building awareness of chapter history and aiding members with career goals. The presenters said they believe these alternatives promote working together to achieve a program that fully engages members in the values of their organization.

A representative from Phi Sigma Xi that requested to remain anonymous spoke on behalf of the fraternity explaining why he felt it was important to hold this seminar. “It is an effort to heighten the public image of Greek life and to dispel hazing myths,” he said. “This is part of a bigger effort to reach out to the Geneseo community including community service and awareness.”

Story Link

Story on Phi Beta Sigma follows:

By Mark Bowes

Published: April 25, 2009

Six Virginia State University students and two other men have been charged in a fraternity hazing incident that left a VSU student hospitalized with extreme bruising.

Matthew E. Brown, 20; Christopher D. Cannaday, 21; Wayne L. Bowser Jr., 21; Isaac A. Montgomery, 26; Jaramis R. Whitaker, 24; and Maurice L. Brown, 30, were charged with one count each of hazing, a misdemeanor.

All six were identified as VSU students and either members of, or inductees to, the VSU chapter of Phi Beta Sigma, which has been suspended as a result of the alleged hazing.

In addition, Richard E. Roman, 27, and Maurice C. Hutton, 27, were charged with one count each of malicious wounding, a felony. Roman and Hutton are not students.

The arrests are the result of a VSU police investigation into the Jan. 3 incident, which occurred off-campus in Petersburg.

The victim, identified only as a junior from Chesapeake, suffered extreme bruising that led to additional medical complications, VSU spokeswoman Osita Iroegbu said. He was a pledge of the fraternity.

“The injuries the student sustained were serious enough to require him to be referred by the University Health Center to Southside Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery,” Iroegbu said.

The victim, who lived on the Ettrick campus, apparently didn’t seek treatment at the campus medical center until the week of Feb. 8.

Details about the incident and where it occurred in Petersburg were not immediately available. VSU Police Chief Michael Wallace didn’t return phone calls for comment.

Phi Beta Sigma remains under suspension and cannot conduct meetings or hold events until a university investigation is complete, Iroegbu said.

The eight suspects are scheduled to appear June 19 for a preliminary hearing in Petersburg General District Court.

“This type of behavior is unacceptable at VSU, and those who involve themselves in such appalling behavior will be subjected to the full extent of the judicial process,” Iroegbu said. “The university is working closely with the Petersburg authorities on this investigation.”

LOGAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Two more cases have been dropped in the hazing death at Utah State, bringing the total number of dropped cases to three.

Prosecutors dismissed the cases against Brittany Bell and Timothy Weber last week.

Both were charged with misdemeanor hazing in the death of Michael Starks.

Starks was a pledge at Sigma Nu. During an initiatory prank, Starks drank too much liquor and died from alcohol poisoning.

Nine other students are still facing charges in the case.
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