Link: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/baseball/marlins/sfl-mrlins-mets-gamer-s053009sbmay30,0,1153271.story
Sean West hazed after joining Marlins baseball team.
Categories
Source Cal Poly News release
CAMPUS NEWS
Week of 5/31/2009
Greek Chapter Suspended After Hazing Incident
Cal Poly Pomona announced today that the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and nine of its current members have been placed on immediate interim suspension, pending the completion of both criminal and disciplinary investigations involving alleged multiple acts of hazing that occurred on March 6, 2009. The fraternity’s campus accounts have been frozen and it will not be permitted to use university facilities.
The investigations to date have uncovered the following: 14 students were blindfolded and driven to an undisclosed location in the high desert for a fraternity initiation ceremony attended by over 130 fraternity members and alumni. The blindfolded students were positioned around a large bonfire and as their blindfolds were removed, gasoline was doused onto the fire for dramatic effect. Some gasoline splashed onto one of the students, who suffered second-degree burns to his arms, legs and chest. The victim, who has requested anonymity, has since withdrawn from school.
“These allegations are serious. If found to be true, this incident put student lives at risk and reflects incredibly poor judgment by the student and alumni members of Sigma Phi Epsilon,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Doug Freer. “Our university policy on hazing is clear: zero tolerance. Our actions today reflect that when students choose to violate state laws and university policy on hazing, they will be held fully accountable.”
University officials were notified of the details of the incident on May 28, which have since been corroborated. Investigators are seeking to more fully determine the events leading up to and following the incident, including allegations that the victim was not provided appropriate and timely medical attention when it was requested and that alcohol was provided to students under 21, including the victim. At the conclusion of the full investigations, university officials and campus police will determine appropriate action toward the fraternity and its members.
http://www.suffolknewsherald.com/news/2009/jun/01/gang-member-charged-hazing/
Gang member charged with hazing
By Staff Report | Suffolk News-Herald
Published Monday, June 1, 2009
A self-proclaimed member of Suffolk’s G-Shine Bloods street gang has been arrested on gang-related charges following an investigation by members of the city’s Neighborhood Enforcement Team.
James Christopher Watson Jr., 21, of Autumn Circle has been charged with gang participation and hazing following a search of his home on Friday, according to Suffolk spokesperson Debbie George.
The city’s NET team served a search warrant at the residence seeking gang paraphernalia and documents, George said in a press release on Monday. They found documents referring to gang activity in the city and within the prison system.
The hazing charge stems from a 2008 incident in which Watson and a second gang member “beat in†a subject as part of the initiation into the G-Bloods street gang, the release stated.
Watson is being held at the regional jail without bond.
Story link: http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/breaking_news/v-print/story/740556.html
Story from the Tribune:
Posted on Thu, Jun. 04, 2009
Cal Poly students accused in hazing death plead not guilty
Two Cal Poly students accused of felony charges in the alleged hazing death of freshman Carson Starkey pleaded not guilty this morning.
Haithem Ibrahim and Zacary Ellis – of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity – entered their pleas in Judge Kenneth Andreen’s courtroom to charges of felony hazing causing death or great bodily injury and misdemeanor furnishing alcohol to a minor causing death or great bodily injury.
Both men are out of custody after posting bail.
Ibrahim’s lawyer Thomas McCormick requested that his client’s bail be reduced, saying Ibrahim doesn’t have a criminal history and has never been arrested. McCormick said that he posted a $50,000 cash bond for Ibrahim; Andreen lowered the bail amount to $25,000.
Ellis’ attorney, Richard Conway of Hanford, said that Ellis used a bail bondsman and didn’t seek to lower his bail amount.
Their next court appearances are in July. Two others accused of misdemeanor crimes – Russell Taylor and Adam Marszal – are scheduled to appear in court later this month.
Starkey, an 18-year-old from Austin, Texas, was pledging to the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon when he attended the gathering Dec. 1 at 551 Highland Drive in San Luis Obispo.
The alleged hazing incident involved having pledges drink large amounts of alcohol chosen for them by a big brother. Police said Starkey was initially taken to the hospital after becoming unresponsive after drinking, but fraternity brothers turned the car back and Starkey spent the night at the home. He was pronounced dead the next morning.
Police tests showed his blood alcohol content from 0.39 to 0.45 percent. That’s about five times the legal limit for driving, which is 0.08 percent.
Police said Ibrahim was Starkey’s big brother who chose the alcohol for him and Ellis was the pledge educator for the fraternity.
–Nick Wilson
Excerpt:
Former Greek Affair Council (GAC) President, Matt Ames is now responding on Phi Kappa Tau’s behalf.
Phi Kappa Tau received a hazing violation after organizing an activity they later realized qualified as a scavenger hunt for pledges during fall quarter, but not all members were involved and the activity was completely dry, said Ames.
Both the fraternity itself, and the individual who organized the scavenger hunt were charged.
Ames was not personally charged with anything as a result of the incident but was removed from his position as GAC president.
Ames approved the activity even though he did not participate.
“In hindsight we see that it was qualified as a scavenger hunt which is against the rules and for that the organization and I both apologize,†said Ames.