KAPsi-Emory soph tells hazing story
 

BREAKING NEWS: Scholar alleges hazing by fraternity brothers


By Jeremy Stahl (Emory Student Newsp.)
Executive Editor
April 15, 2004


A Woodruff Scholar who was hospitalized and arrested after spring break for issues relating to bipolar disorder, has accused some of his Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brothers of hazing him during last year’s pledge process, and drugging him and his girlfriend during spring break this year.

College sophomore Raymond McKoy sent a 14-page letter to an array of media outlets and students detailing the physical, mental and emotional abuse he claims to have endured at the hands of three of his brothers in the historically black fraternity.

In the letter, McKoy included nine photographs of his beaten, half-naked body. The photographs, which his roommate said to he took when McKoy was first hazed during his fraternity’s pledging process, or intake, last spring, depict scars, welts and massive bruises all over McKoy’s back, chest and buttocks.

“I told him that it wasn’t worth that and that I didn’t understand why he felt the need to join an organization that would do that to him,” said College sophomore Matthew Eisenman, McKoy’s roommate.

McKoy outlined the abuse in the letter, which was sent Wednesday night to, among others, talk show host Tavis Smiley, MSNBC, ABC and attorney Johnny Cochran.

“During our eight-week process, we were beaten, mentally hazed, forced to run errands and tortured in various ways, including in our genital area,” McKoy wrote.

Assistant Vice President of Campus Life Bridget Guernsey Riordan confirmed that there is a Conduct Council investigation of the charges underway.

McKoy, who holds Emory’s highest scholarship, said he withdrew from the University last semester after having to battle with the depression as well as a bout of Mononucleosis.

He came back to the school at the beginning of the semester, but has not returned since spring break, when he said he was sent to jail and then hospitalized in Raleigh (N.C.) from issues stemming from a bipolar disorder, which was brought on by the abuse from his fraternity brothers.

After consulting with doctors, he said he now believes he was drugged during the hazing process last spring as well as over this spring break.

McKoy, who said he started exhibiting bipolar disorder after the fraternity abuse began, said he believes he and his girlfriend were drugged by two of his Kappa Alpha Psi brothers who spiked his water at a party in Atlanta on Sunday March 7, causing the manic phase of his bipolar disorder to kick in. He claims not to have remembered that Monday’s events and was arrested for misdemeanor assault and resisting arrest on Tuesday after he got into a scuffle with his mother.

Eisenman said that the only possible explanation for McKoy’s action was a drugging.

“He would never do that under normal circumstances,” he said.

McKoy, who attributes his arrest to the combination of drugs, along with the bipolar disorder he says he inherited from his father, was imprisoned between Tuesday and Friday in a New Hanover (N.C.) jailhouse.

On Friday, McKoy was moved to Raleigh’s Holly Hill Hospital.

In a letter to the Associate Dean of the College Thomas Lancaster on Holly Hill Hospital letterhead, a doctor wrote that “Raymond McKoy, a sophomore at your institution, has been receiving emergency medical care as an inpatient in the Raleigh area since March 12, 2004.” Lancaster could not be reached for confirmation, by press time Thursday.

McKoy moved to another hospital and has since been released. He is now at home in Raleigh.

Andy Wilson, assistant dean for Campus Life and director of student conduct, said that the Conduct Council was looking into the fraternity as a whole and not yet investigating individuals.

But McKoy wrote in his letter that he loved his fraternity and would not pursue litigation. He added, however, that he was planning on filing civil and criminal charges against three brothers.

One of the fraternity brothers McKoy listed declined comment.

Kappa Alpha Psi has been ordered to “cease and desist” all chapter functions until the conduct process is finished, Wilson said.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity President David Walker declined to comment because the Conduct Council investigation is ongoing.

The Council has been investigating the situation for about two weeks, but Riordan said she first learned of it around March 24.

McKoy ended his letter by repeating “I love Kappa Alpha Psi,” and requesting that his fraternity be treated leniently.

“Please make sure that the pledges become members and that the situation is handled before anyone else is hurt,” McKoy wrote.

WOW

There is something really weird about his story....just can't put my finger on it:mad:

agreed-
have to admit that im a little skeptical about bipolar disorder being brought on by abuse from brothers. im no expert in the area, but 8 weeks of abuse doesnt seem to be enough to bring on something like that in a grown man.
only reason i give any credence to this story is because of the pictures that were sent out...if not for that line about nine pictures of his beaten body, i dont think id buy this story....im sure theres more to this story than the article lets on

btw-please dont read into this that im condoning hazing...only questioning the legitimacy of this guys claim

dime dropper.

You're serious?

The Greek community needs folks like this to weed out the groups that perpetuate the antiquated rites of hazing. Granted that him deciding to go to the media instead of his national group is pretty suspect, but the general practice of turning in your own chapter because it hazes in my opinion makes you a better brother/sister than those that are committing the hazing.

It is a good lesson though for chapters that still haze -- you keep it up, eventually someone will get fed up and go to the authorities.

What kind of member of an organization are you if you chose to go against the directives of your national organization in terms of hazing? Most groups require you to take an oath of fidelity to your organization. Acts like this are basically throwing that oath back in your governing body's face.

Not all of us want to live the thug lifestyle and make our chapters into gangs...but some do...

-Rudey

Something about this story is just not adding up for me.

I've seen copies of the letters he sent and in his letters something just seemed odd. I'm not completely sure what it is.

no, i was joking...my organization is non-hazing.

That makes sense. It's hard to tell with you sometimes.
(or are you being facetious now?)

Where are the letters, Intense1920?
 

"I've seen copies of the letters he sent and in his letters something just seemed odd. I'm not completely sure what it is." - Intense1920

Can you tell us where we might see the letters?

who me? nawww.....

OK my mom is a doctor and she explained it to me, but I didnt remember all she said so I went to webmd.com and got the info.

Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) is a medical condition that causes extreme mood changes that alternate between episodes of depression and mania. You may return to a normal mood between these extremes. However, a depressive or manic episode can appear suddenly, without an obvious trigger. Although mood changes associated with bipolar disorder can be difficult, effective treatment is available.

Bipolar disorder may be linked to problems in the balance of chemicals in the brain. It may also be linked to problems with how the endocrine system works. Another theory is that the structure or size of certain parts of the brain may be abnormal.

OK bascially it is not a mental thing where you get hazed and get bipolar disorder. It seems to be a chemical imbalance or you were born with an abnormal brain so I dont see how he can say he got this disorder just from hazing. It just doesnt seem right. It honestly seems like he is just using hazing for the fact he got arrested because he doesnt remember or he says he doesnt. I dont know about it... I agree the whole story seems wrong to me. I will say I can believe hazing was going on, but Im not sure about the rest. It would depress you if you were getting hurt, but either leave, or stick it out and quit whining about it. I mean you cant be a member and love your frat but sue their asses off. I think you have to have one or the other. You know if they find out they hazed badly they wont be easy on them like he asks them to be.

I think it is great that he is going after the people that hazed him. The only thing that didn't bode well with me is that he waited until he crossed to file the charges. He is not filing charges against the fraternity but the people in the fraternity who abused him. He must have really wanted to be a Kappa to endure the torture and then turn around and file charges against his "big brothers". If it works, it will make a very interesting precedent...

Re: Where are the letters, Intense1920?
 

The letter has been circulating for at least a week on the NPHC circuit. I got my copy I think last Tuesday. If you're such a sleuth, find it yourself.

HAHAHHA, Why am I not surprised
 

Again, you speak before you think.

Very interesting indeed. He joins, gets the Stuff knocked out of him and only sues the members:rolleyes:

I like the explanation of BioPolar disorder, that makes a lot more sense than it was caused by a beating.

Now, My Question is, why was he beat in the first place?:(

strarang if you make a comment, then is in a situation like this, then why dont you make a comment instead of a non-sensiacal statement?

Is this part of a ritual that many profess is not you and yours?

I also notice, that you make no show of an affiliation.

Is this because you are not a member of any Greek Organization but just a "I wanna be"?

You really need to stop calling people out for this.

I have no letters in my signature because some of the things I believe in have nothing to do with my sorority. I think the majority of regular GCers still know what house I'm in, but this way a new girl won't think "OH all Gamma Phis are lapsed Catholics who are heinously pro-choice."

Starang is a member of Iota Phi Theta. He had letters in his sig before and it's fairly obvious via the colors in his sig.

I would much rather see people not have letters in their signatures than be embarASSed by things that a sister or brother was saying. :rolleyes:

Re: HAHAHHA, Why am I not surprised
 

read up, again.

This is Tom you're talking about...

I don't have letters in my sig, but I don't think he could figure out what GLO I'm in even if he saw my screen name right in front of him.

The only point I'll deter from is I don't think he's saying the hazing caused the disorder, he was predisposed to that genetically with the family history. However, hazing (ie drugging) could have triggered it's CURRENT appearance in him. Everyone with bipolar disorder doesn't manifest the disorder in the same way or same time. It's not like at age 10 they suddenly start having mood swings there is usually some trigger (extreme emotional stress, financial problems, abuse whatever) that causes it to manifest. They also don't have to have extreme mood swings. They just need to have one VERY elevated and potentially destructive mood to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder which is why there are different classifications (type 1 or type 2) for bipolar disorder. Also, during elevated moods there can be some memory loss because of the same things that cause us to loose memory (lack of sleep, which is VERY common during a manic phase). Just in case anyone is wondering why I know all of this I'm working on a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and unfortunately seeing more college students who are being diagnosed with this as well as anxiety disorders.

Delta Sigma Theta, DA!!!!!

lololol don't shoot me :D

I agree. The disorder shows up in many situations, many ages, many times in peoples lives. How can he prove that he started this from hazing? Also if he knew he had it before the hazing incident then he should be taking medicine or watching so he didnt go nuts. If he knew hed be taking something so it didnt get out of hand and if he knew he had it he wouldnt put himself through so much stress with hazing going on, he would have dropped out.

I just think he is using that against the frat. Just my .02 though. I know a close friend from HS who went to a small campus and rushed, the sorority of her choice hazed very badly, I mean horribly, it scared me so much. She dropped out because she wouldnt take the crap for any sorority. If it wasnt that big of a deal when he went through and he went through all the way without saying anything, then I dont think its that big now. I mean hazing is terrible but why endure it all then tattle on the frat but ask for them to be nice to them and not be too hard. Cant have your cake and eat it too if you ask me.

shut up, twit. it's obvious that there is a lapse between the time it takes a thought to formulate and the fingers to hit the keys.

i choose not to have letters in my signature because i wanted a new look. not because of what frat might potentially say.

mmm mmmm frat u wore letters when our chapter did bukaki on you and i know youd hurrrrrt someone bad if they wore bukaki letters because it was hard fr us to get in chapter

I think you would have to be more familiar with BGLO fraternity life before you could fully understand why someone would willingly endure hazing to get through the process. It was bad enough that he wanted photo documentation I'll take his word that he was taken to the shed. As far as how he could prove that the disorder didn't show up before, unless he was treated before then no one can establish he had the disorder before he went online. Everyone's tolerance for hazing is different, from those that have none to those that can take just so much from those that will revel in telling you their war stories. Depending on where you are on that spectrum again I think it would be hard for you to understand his motivation. Not saying I do necessarily but it's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last time that I have heard a similar story.

Thank you one and all, I will not list the names!:rolleyes:

Since some of you think you are the One and Onlys, then think on and live your lives!

I try and ask questions and make a point of view! If it is not yours then it is wrong!:(

Gosh, some of you are so rightous it is sickening! Am I right in everything, no, but I have My Right to a point of view without calling certain Greek Organizations Names, people, or belittleing them!

I feel when some belittle Greeks, and certain People, as In Court, this opens the discussion up!:p

How many of You are a bigger Greek Backer than me!?

______________U!

I think the problem lies in his "having his cake and eating it too." If you're willing to endure being beaten so badly that you need to have photo documentation to get through your "process", then that's on you. (still need to reevaluate your goals and sanity, but i digress.) But don't turn around AFTER you cross and push blame. Don't be a fool by allowing others to put you in foolish situations, then get upset after the fact.

However, the fact that he is bipolar explains a lot... imo you have to have some kind of imbalance or low self esteem problem or generally mucked up mindset to put a "process" before your physical health and well being to that degree (i'm assuming he was beaten pretty badly-- I haven't seen the pics) and if he was in a manic or depressed state while he was being hazed (either one is probable) and is more balanced and able to think clearly now-- there's your answer.

BUT the fact that he had the presence of mind to take those photos says that he had it in for his "big brothers" all along.

BUT it could have been his roomate's idea to take the pics, as a preemptive measure.

I'm just trying to look at all sides. Devil's advocate ;)

Yes, I do know what Greek Organizatins you profess to belong to and do not have the _________------------------? to give your letters to along with your Signature!:(

Thank you for Representing Your Greek Affiliations as you seem so well to do!:confused:

If you so profess as not to beleive as to what I say, then dont post! Is it so hard or are you omnipresent?

Let Me name the Names___________-------------- No, I dont think I will as others can see what is posted by you!

Thank you for pointing out what I ment and was followed up by The Few and The Most Proud who will not list Their Affiliations! Does it make any differnece to no when all know whom you belong to! :rolleyes:

Da, beat tom toms, send your message, smoke signals, Morse Code.

Good Night! What a???????

Oh, have a nice evening!:eek:

You have gots to be kidding me....

Are you serious?

I know you have to play devil's advocate because it helps the discussion but offending people is out of the question.

How old are you, like five?
It's their right if they want to rep their GLO in their sig.

Have a good evening........:D

I try not to unless offended! :)

Or they are offending others.:)

There is a large differnece when people are attacked by others!:(

Obviously I'm coming at this from an outsider's perspective, but it does make sense to me that he would want to be a member of the national organization, knew that the local members beating him were violating its rules and policies, and felt that they should be called out for THEIR criminal behavior, which in his opinion didn't reflect on the fraternity as a whole (and in fact was hurting the fraternity as a whole). If he had the bad luck to attend a campus with some rogue undergrad members, why shouldn't he still want to join...and once he had joined, why shouldn't he ask those responsible for his injuries to accept the consequences of their actions?

Is this what happened? Who knows. But to me, it's plausible.

I agree - especially after all the talk about not joining one chapter but joining an entire organization. Either way, I'll say it again with cases like these it's best to let the legal teams handle it because nobody knows.

-Rudey

write in cohesive english, numbnuts.

I feel you! I completely agree with him calling those members on his campus out on their behavior (why don't more people sue the INDIVIDUALS responsible, i/o the org?) but he was complicit in that behavior while it was going on. I think my bigger problem is with LETTING SOMEONE D--N NEAR KILL YOU to begin with!!! That is just so crazy to me, that I don't understand why you'd let someone do that to you. Period. In my opinion, if you're allowing someone to beat you to a bloody pulp to join an organization, your motives and mindset are suspect, because that's not what ANY org is about. How can he really say he loves KAPsi that much, when he was participating in actions run by people who were spitting in the face of everything KAPsi stands for? I just don't know... the whole situation is just sad on so many levels...

If he had ratted before, would he have gotten in?

-Rudey

Maybe. I have heard of people being barred from membership for willfully participating in hazing, and I have also heard of people being initiated anyway.

Assuming that the final decision still remains in the chapter's hands, then probably not. But in cases where there are hazing allegations, I would wager that the Regional Director or some other official would make the final initiation decision if the chapter was indeed found to be hazing.

Who knows.

If he had ratted before, theres a good chance the chapter would've been closed...so he probably wouldnt have been initiated

Raymond McKoy responds (in Emory Newsp.)
 

My Dear Brothers,

Graphic pics of my wounds are on my webpage,http://www.geocities.com/raymondmcko...ageceltic.html

Let me first thank everyone for their support and comments, especially the negative ones. Ignorance like that is truly funny and I had quite a nice laugh reading it. I fell on the floor laughing in fact. Then I realized that I almost committed suicide from being hazed and being drugged from not knowing it and I stopped laughing. However, your ignorance, though it may destroy our frat, is just what people need to see so they know how bad this stuff is.

Let it be known that none of my "illnesses" were present before all of this. As most intelligent people know, drugs affect one's brain chemistry, and given that I was drugged with extacy, ketamine (special K) and rohypnol (ruffies) my "Illnesses" were triggered by this. My father and uncle are bipolar and there is alcoholism and drug abuse on both sides of my family. As such, I am quite sensitive to drugs and never use them. Except of course when they are used to make me suffer through things no sane man would.

Hazing needs to stop. Do it for Diggs. Do it for yourself and your sons.


Yours in the Bond,

Raymond McKoy