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Hazing News

Judge recuses himself in Stephen Petz case: address has changed

On June 1 the Mecosta County Prosecutors
 Office notified the parents of hazing victim Stephen Petz that a convicted former fraternity member Robert Markhja of the Knights of College Leadership has filled a 
petition to get his judgment set aside on his criminal record.

Ruth Petz adamantly opposes the setting aside of the conviction. “We are 
trying to get as many people as possible to write in protest against having 
his judgment set aside,” James and Stephen Petz have written Hank Nuwer, a columnist for stophazing.org and this blog’s moderator.
Should you wish too express your view to the magistrate, you may write a letter to

Mecosta County Building Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Peter Jaklevic
400 Elm Street, Big Rapids, Michigan 49307. 
Letters PREVIOUSLY written to Judge Scott Hill-Kennedy will not work. His honor has recused himself from intervening in this case. The new magistrate is the Hon. Judge Chamberlain of Detroit.

To review the facts of the case,
click here:
http://www.edc.org/hec/news/hecnews/events/000609d.html

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Fairbanks, Alaska. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com

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