Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

Link to Buffalo News story
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/761381.html

Excerpt from Buffalo News:

Wilson board hires back two coaches
Atlas and Baia, cleared in hazing case, unanimously appointed to varsity positions
By Caitlin Murray
WILSON, NY — …The Wilson School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint William M. Atlas head varsity football coach and Thomas J. Baia boys soccer coach, positions they held before being suspended last year over child-endangerment charges.

“Both of us are fortunate that those in this district know us as people, teachers and coaches,” Baia told The Buffalo News via phone Tuesday. “I can’t wait for the first day to get here.”

Neither attended Tuesday’s meeting. Atlas could not be reached to comment.

Atlas and Baia were accused of allowing three varsity baseball players to assault three junior varsity players during a ride back from a game in Niagara Falls in April 2008. Charges against both were dropped July 6, and they were quickly reinstated to their teaching positions the following week, Atlas as an elementary physical-education teacher and Baia as a middle school math teacher.

Without victim’s return, hazing case will expire
By Matt Gryta
NEWS STAFF REPORTER
June 27, 2009, 7:01 AM / 0 comments

Five University at Buffalo students and a D’Youville College nursing school student learned Friday that criminal charges against them will be dropped if the victim of a fraternity hazing refuses to return to the city for court proceedings.

City Judge James A. W. McLeod moved the case to the court’s Reserve Calender, for Aug. 5, after prosecutor Patrick B. Shanahan said the victim of the Lambda Phi Epsilon fraternity hazing is currently unwilling to return from Brooklyn for further action in the case. The judge said the case would die Aug. 5 if not reactivated.

The six students— Kong M. Siu, 21, of Bayside; Ronald Lin, 21, Brooklyn; Qiyvan Zhang, 22, Groton; Brian B. Shim, 22, Syosett; Andrew Lui, 21, Brooklyn; and Ho Lee, 22, of Woodbury— are accused of paddling the victim and other pledges, then forcing them to consume alcohol until they vomited or lost consciousness.

Their attorney, Edward C. Cosgrove, who got prosecutors to drop felony assault charges, said he will be conferring soon with officials at UB in an attempt to get diplomas for Lui and Lee, who were supposed to graduate last month.

Shim completed his junior year in D’Youville’s nursing program without incident.

Cosgrove said he spoke on Thursday to the alleged victim, who said he did not suffer any injuries and has transferred to another college.

The six suspects are free on $4,000 cash bail. They were charged by Buffalo police with felony assault counts and the misdemeanor hazing charge. The hazing occurred in a Winspear Avenue address on April 26.

The alleged hazing victims were found by police “unconscious” in a locked, upstairs bedroom, then treated at the Erie County Medical Center for “dehydration, alcohol poisoning, blood in urine, severe pain, swelling and bruising to buttocks.”

Willard wrestlers plead guilty amid sex hazing charges

By DAN CLUTTER • News Journal • July 29, 2009

NORWALK — Three former Willard High School wrestlers pleaded guilty Monday to delinquent disorderly conduct amid charges stemming from hazing incidents.
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A complaint filed by Huron County Assistant Prosecutor Dina Shenker described two incidents in which three boys — ages 15, 16 and 17 — were accused of sexually abusing a freshman on the wrestling team.

The oldest boy was charged with assault and disorderly conduct. The other two were charged with complicity to assault and disorderly conduct.

All other charges were dropped when the teens agreed to plead guilty to disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, in juvenile court.

The incidents occurred in December and February.

Shenker said the prosecutor’s office became involved when the victim’s parents went to Willard police.

Shenker said the victim’s family received abuse from former Willard High School wrestling coach Todd Fox and other parents and wrestlers, and said the family still receives threats.

“We needed to give the victim some finality,” Shenker said.

Fox resign- ed as wrestling coach Feb. 6 after receiving a letter of reprimand. He rescinded his resignation three days later, saying he let his emotions get the better of him.

The Willard school board, however, accepted the resignation and approved his removal March 3.

Fox said the incidents took place in the wrestling room before practice, and he was not present.

Shenker said assault and complicity to assault charges were dropped because there is little difference in disposition between first-degree and fourth-degree misdemeanors.

“The boys were more willing to admit they did these things under those circumstances,” she said. “Plus, we didn’t want to put the victim through three trials.”

The boys will learn their fates when they are sentenced. Shenker said rather than jail time, the three likely will see other sanctions.

“There are a lot of options ,” she said. “There is active probation, some kind of community service to pay back the victim for what they put him through. Plus, mental health assessments have to be made for each of the boys to determine a course of action.”

The plea agreement includes an order for each boy to stay away from the victim, and they must send him letters of apology. Shenker said the three will not be allowed on the wrestling team, and they will be closely monitored in other sports.

“The goal here is not to punish, but to rehabilitate,” Shenker said.

LEXINGTON, Ky.

Hazing Investigated at Dunbar High
Written by Carla Wade
Wednesday, 05 August 2009 19:42

Five Paul Laurence Dunbar High School (KY) football players are off the team, accused of hazing
their freshman teammates during football camp this week.
The principal of the high school says Monday, the members of the team gathered in the weight room and the boys were horsing around.
He says that’s when it escalated into some upperclassmen targeting the freshman players.
He says only one player was injured.
“Fortunately the one student that did have an injury is fine it could have been much more serious and that’s certainly part of our concern because that kind of behavior leading to any injury is just not going to be tolerated,” said Anthony Orr, the principal for Dunbar High School.
But a parent who contacted ABC 36 News by e-mail gives a different version of events.
Brian Jones says his 14-year-old son and two other freshman were lured into the weight room by the upperclassmen.
Jones says his son was beaten, punched and struck with a weighted medicine ball, resulting in him losing consciousness and suffering a concussion.
Jones says the boy also suffered memory loss.
Principal Orr says they are still looking into the incident and they met with parents Tuesday night to assure them they were taking the allegations seriously and dealing with the students involved.

Alleged Hazing At Basketball Camp

WHO Staff Writer

August 5, 2009
Nevada Hazing

Nevada High School basketball players accused of hazing (WHO)
At least three Nevada High School students are in trouble for allegedly hazing another student during a basketball camp at Simpson College last month.

Nevada High School’s basketball coach Joel Fey, reportedly called the parents of the children involved and told them to pick up their children. Fey did not notify Indianola Police or Simpson College.

Disciplinary action has been taken against the accused and the superintendent says additional sanctions will come when the investigation is complete. School board president Curt Hoff says the school board made it a priority last year to address bullying and hazing issues.

The basketball camp was held July 18th through the 21st. According to Simpson, about 500 students attended the camp, put on by Simpson coach Bruce Wilson. However, the high school coaches are in charge of supervising their players. The coaches and players must stay in Simpson’s residence halls.

Copyright © 2009, WHO-TV