10 Tulane Pikes Arrested for Hazing
 

sorry for the double thread i didnt see that somebody else had already posted this information.

My dad just called to tell me this. He wasn't that shocked because some other Tulane Fraternities were kicked off about a decade ago for hazing. Looks like some serious education on hazing is due at Tulane for the Greeks there.

This story illustrates why hazing is so bad! I'm sure they started out pouring silly things over the pledges....who's going to get hurt being covered by beer and ketchup? Then someone has the great idea to use boiling water instead. I can't imagine what kind of moron would come up with that idea, but these traditions get screwy over the years. Second and third degree burns are VERY serious...these poor guys could be in treatment for years, and depending on the percentage of body surface covered in burns, they could actually die! I'm shocked and dismayed by this story.

This is truly sick! (This behavior is beyond belief)

Lock them all up, boiling water?

Tulane Fraternities were kicked off about a decade ago for hazing.

I think it is safe to say that all Greek groups are different than they were a decade ago. It is sad that hazing with clubs and sports teams doesn't make the same headlines that anything Greek does.

I see your point, but I think any group would make headlines for hazing by boiling water! Remember the middle school girls that got busted a few years back for hazing new members of their club? That sure made the news!

Let's see... this guys were smart enough to get into Tulane, but too dumb to know that boiling water causes *permanent* disfigurement???

There is no hazing law/punishment harsh enough for them. I have worked in burn units before... the pain that these individuals face is often the worst kind of pain possible.

My heart goes out to the young men who are facing surgeries and lifelong physical scars. Very sad.

Reportedly, Pi Kappa Alpha HQ has condemned the alleged hazing and "suspended" members. Not a whole lot of details, but there is an article:

http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp...nav=menu1344_2


Another article has a quote from an attorney for one of the students:

http://wbztv.com/local/tulane.frater....2.717625.html

Excerpt:

An attorney representing one of the victims said at least 10 pledges were burned with a mixture of boiling hot crab boil and pepper spray.

"He was in shock when it happened," said attorney Frank D'Amico. "They took him to the hospital and told him to fabricate a story of how he got burned."

and yet I still wonder why people say "hazing doesn't really do any damage. It's just fun and games and builds trust, brotherhood and a sense of pride in the fraternity." sure....until someone really does get hurt. i would never belong to anything that causes me pain or humiliation, permanent or not. i am a joiner and like to be involved in organizations, but i value myself more than any organization.

IDTIOS IDIOTS IDIOTS

Good, glad they are getting kicked off!

They deserve it!:mad:

Stupidity and Ignorance only goes so far!:rolleyes:

Especially when it looks like the Tulane greek system is diminishing. As someone who is from New Orleans, most of my family graduated from Tulane and Newcomb, and my family is still there and I can say that their system seems to be fading. They are home to many early chapters of fraternities and sororities too, which is why it is sad when this type of behavoir happens. It only hurts everyone on their campus. But my dad wasn't shocked because he hadn't seen any real changes on their campus in Greek Life pre-Katrina or post-Katrina. So perhaps a major overhaul would be beneficial especially in their fraternity system. I would gather most of their sororities are okay. But that's just my two cents!

PoundTown?

Oh.My.God.

Seriously??? Boiling water???

Seriously??

People, boiling water can definately cause 3rd degree burns, which can kill people, depending on the amount of body sq ft is burned. This is not a joke. I have worked in burn units before, this stuff is not a joke!!! Ugh, this makes me sick!!!

Placing these new pledges in this position is uncalled for!

It is called Aggravated Battery, which is a Felony and could be considered attempted homicide!

They should be charged and dismissed from College!

fellow greeks,
I go to Tulane, and I want to assure you all that the situation with Pike is very complex. yes, we are all appalled that this has happened. Our greek community's thoughts and prayers are with the victims and our university and greek office are working hard with the NOPD to bring the individuals responsible to justice. At the same time, we live in a society where individuals are innocent until proven guilty, so let's all remember that. I do want to stand up for our Greek system though. I'm sure you all can appreciate the amount of bad PR our system is getting, and it's really unfortunate that the actions of a few individuals can call the character of an entire Greek system and university into question. So if anyone has questions about the FACTS, or suggestions if your university has faced a similar situation, we would be all ears, but please don't let this site turn into a thread like juicy campus. Thanks!!!

FWIW, Pi Kappa Alpha has issued a press release:

International Fraternity Responds to Hazing Allegations at Tulane University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 7, 2008

Contact: Justin A. Buck, Executive Director
The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity

Memorial Headquarters:
8347 West Range Cove
Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: 901.748-1868 x 126
Email: jbuck@pikes.org

Memphis, TN – The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity released the following statement regarding reports involving alleged hazing at Tulane University resulting in the arrest of five students and five other outstanding warrants.

“The International Fraternity condemns the hazing allegations which have just been brought to its attention. Such actions are nothing short of reprehensible, and are completely contrary to the mission, vision, and purpose of our Fraternity, if true. These types of actions represent a betrayal of our core values and the trust that the men who were hurt by these events placed in their fellow students.

“Accordingly, the Supreme Council of the International Fraternity suspended the Eta Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha indefinitely in response to Tulane University’s withdrawal of recognition and to assist the authorities with their investigation.”

“The International Fraternity will continue to monitor the results of the investigation by Tulane University and local law enforcement in this matter. These injuries appear to be the result of a few unauthorized, misguided individuals and not the entire Chapter.”

“According to the Chapter President, they will fully cooperate with the ongoing police investigation in order to help identify the individuals responsible for this deplorable behavior.”

“The thoughts and prayers of the International Fraternity are with the men who were subjected to this alleged hazing and with their families. We share in the deep disappointment of the entire Tulane family, and concur that those individuals who allegedly committed these acts are not representative of our Fraternity, the Eta Chapter, or Tulane University.”

I think as long as everyone else on campus is thinking the way you are, Tulane Greeks will prevail. If this situation fell upon deaf ears then of course, we all know that the system wouldn't change. If all of the sororities and fraternities stand together and start to educate everyone on campus about hazing and things of the like, it can totally change everyone's outlook on Tulane Greeks. I have many family members and friends who are Greek alumni from Tulane. So hopefully, with alumni and current members support everyone can withstand this situation.

(Now if only we could save Newcomb)

Pikes at Tulane
 

As a Pike at the University of South Florida, I can assure you all that such transgressions are not representative of the entire fraternity, so let us not pass judgement on all Pikes. The allegations of this case are severe, and I can not give my support to any of the people alleged to have committed these heinous crimes; they deserve to be placed in prison. However, if you were to analyze the men involved, they are not the epitome of True Pikes, so they can not be esteemed as such. These guys are the people who find ensuing hilarity in the pain of other individuals, which invalidates them as my brothers. We stand for high moral resolve and we ask for men of the highest caliber who may be deemed as S.L.A.G.'s: scholars, leaders, athletes, and gentlemen. You must be all four, and I know for a fact true SLAGs would never find pleasure in any of these activities.

I don't think you have to worry that the Greek world will pass judgment on all Pikes for the actions of these few men. I'm sure we all know some awesome men from Pi Kappa Alpha. I just worry that the non-Greek world will not be so open minded!

I do understand what you are saying, and as a member of a sorority that may be found on USF's campus, I may take consolation in what you are saying as you may represent the opinions of your sorority. However, I do know that Greek-wide we (Pikes) have an infamous reputation of committing crimes such as hazing and date-rape, and I want to stress our disconnection with the chapters in question. They are our brothers, but they do not represent our beautiful fraternity any longer. Also, I do hope the GDI's can look past these transgressions as they look forward to rushing a fraternity or sorority in the future.

You said a mouthful with your last sentence about non-Greeks.

But, the stigma and stain will still persist no matter what.:(

As we all know each time something happens in the Greek Community, it is major news and there seems to be plenty of that and an on going problem:mad:

I know full well that these members are innocent until proven guilty, but the evidence seems pretty obvious with the burns from scalding water on these Pledges bodies.

Oh, the fun and games that harm or kill people, boy is that fun!:o

Now, is it not harming all of us?:o

How much effect will this and the SDSU drug dealing have on all of our futures?

Stupidity and ignorance still prevail!:rolleyes:

I just found the police report on The Smoking Gun...it's not a pretty story.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive...8082frat1.html

Interesting, I never knew that about you guys, but now I do. Thanks for telling me, and everyone else, about that "reputation."

PIKES ON CNN: TORTURE at TULANE
 

Was just watching the news and one our favorite "pseudo-Greeks" came on--Alexandra Robbins. She was being interviewd about the Tulane Pike trainwreck on a story entitled: TORTURE at TULANE. CNN Prime Time showed all the footage of the Pikes being cuffed and herded into the paddy wagon and then more pictures of them and the Tulane campus. They talked about other hazing stories that were going on, including the incident at U.of Tennessee last year.

Then the reporter asked Robbins about her take. She said that she found out with sororities that when campus rules clashed with national chapter rules, the national office rules always trumped the campus ones. While she did not SAY that nationals OKed hazing, that was the undertone, at least to me.

The reporter went on to say that if these guys were out of college, they'd all be charged with major crimes and in jail for a long time. They she talked about Greeks living in a "fantasy" world of college with no responsibilities, etc. There may be a follow up later on; it sounded like this was only a prelude, maybe to a longer story.

UGLY, UGLY, UGLY! (both the story and Robbins' ridiculous take on "Greek entitlement")

Gooooooooood lawd. Effing idiots. I hope they get time. They'll be super popular in prison, I bet.

So because she wrote a semi-nonfiction book about sororities she is now the expert in all things Greek? I think she only made it on tv because these 24 hr news channels have a lot of time to kill!

are you serious?

He's right, just so you know.

Yeah I'm serious. We didn't have Pikes at my school, and I knew a couple guys from the UW chapter (not to mention a colleague of mine was their chapter advisor) and they all seemed like good guys. So I've never been given a negative impression of them. My point was that there are plenty of folks that have no knowledge of organizations other than what they may read on the Internet, so it's not in good PR form to say "my organization is known for hazing and raping" on a forum like this.

Update May 16, 2008: Civil Suit Filed

Station WDSU has a very brief article posted that says a civil lawsuit has been filed by one of the pledges who was allegedly hazed / burned:

http://www.wdsu.com/news/16279499/detail.html

Since when is it hard to get into tulane?

Also it's not just torture, it's straight up gay torture. Burning genitals? Combine the records of the goons arrested with the campus' greek advisor (who was a real piece of work too and did nothing earlier) and this is mild.

Cameacross the following two stories while looking up something else;
seem to be the local home town papers of three of the Pikes:
Rye man charged in Tulane hazing

A 20-year-old college student from Rye is at the center of a hazing scandal at Tulane University, among those accused of pouring scalding, pepper-laced water on two fraternity pledges who suffered second- and third-degree burns during a "hell night" ritual.
Joseph Lorono of 40 Sonn Drive is among 10 Tulane students facing felony battery charges for the April 25 incident in New Orleans, which occurred in the tarp-covered basement of Pi Kappa Alpha. One victim said he actually saw Lorono pouring the water on him from a gasoline canister, according to court papers....
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...=2008805150496

Two students from LI arrested in hazing case
Two 20-year-old Long Island men are among the members of a Tulane University fraternity accused of helping to burn more than 10 fraternity pledges in New Orleans with hot water and pepper spray at a recent initiation "Hell Night."

Preston Gelman, of Dix Hills, and Kevin Dunn, of Bellmore, were with about eight other members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on April 25 when the incident allegedly occurred in New Orleans.

The young men poured boiling water on pledges and caked them with flour, crab soup, vinegar, cayenne peppers and wasabi sauce, according to published reports. The victims were treated at a hospital for second- and third-degree burns.....
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/na...,3593065.story

First, kid looks like a dork from his picture. Second, LOL and :eek: that they put his street address in the article. And reading this part made me really sad:
"The pledges begged them to stop and tried to leave, but were ordered to stay and endure hours of excruciating pain during the final stage of their initiation, one of the victims' lawyers told The Journal News yesterday." :(

And this made me really mad:
"Exacerbating the pain was some of the water being laced with cayenne and other spices in a southern "crab-boil," the lawyer said. "It's incredibly spicy, and sometimes just touching it to your fingers will burn you," lawyer Paul Hesse said. "Well, you can imagine if you've got open wounds. This went on for hours. My client estimates that he must have sustained seven gallons of boiling water, which scalded him and caused burns to his back, neck, shoulders, arms, chest, buttocks. There really wasn't any part of him that was saved." :mad:

Unfathomable. Can you imagine the reaction of their parents? Someone doing this to their kid? Good god.

Corrections.
 

so... i also go to Tulane and participate in the greek system there. and I would like to set the record straight.

I encourage you all to support the 24 fraternities and sororities at Tulane that are still in good standing by not perpetuating rumors or embellishments of the truth. TWO pledges were injured, TEN were responsible, and the Eta Chapter's charter was nullified both locally and nationally.

These are allegations that will be properly dealt with at the start of the fall semester. Those who are proven to have broken the law will be dealt with both with the state of Louisiana and Tulane Student Affairs. Not to mention that the entire student body knows who these guys are and so they go to class and walk around campus shamed. What I'm saying is that these guys will not get off easy.

That being said, I think it's important to remember this is not the first or last time that something like this has happened- an unfortunate by-product of what's supposed to be one of the better experiences of college. You can't imagine how much publicity Tulane itself has been getting because of this.

to put it nicely, "good riddance" is what pretty much the entire community is thinking at this point. the boys of Pike have had this coming for a long, long time and everybody knows it. Tulane Pike is absolutely NOT indicative of the character or morals of the rest of the greeks on our campus.

On a side note - the average size of sorority pledge classes has, in one year, gone up from about 30 to 50 girls in each of the 6 NPC chapters (AEPhi, Chi O, Theta, Kappa, SDT, Pi Phi). We predict roughly 100 more than last year will go through recruitment in January of 2009.

So for that poster who said our greek system is declining, I'm happy to report that you are mistaken.

Thanks.

As a former little sister of the TU Pike chapter, I find this story very, very sad. As tuSigDelt said this behavior is not indicative of TU students.

Update:

http://www.nola.com/news/index.ssf/2..._tulane_f.html

Excerpts from the longer article ^ from the Times-Picayune:

Orleans Parish prosecutors refused to charge ten members of a Tulane University fraternity arrested this spring in what police called a hazing that included the pouring of crab-boil and boiling water on two pledges.

A preliminary hearing had been scheduled today . . . . Instead, the district attorney's office announced it would seek no charges against the men, all originally booked with aggravated second-degree battery.

. . . A personal injury lawsuit was filed in federal court May 16 by Matthew Martin against Pi Kappa Alpha Corporation and a dozen individual men - including all ten who were arrested. Martin said that the fraternity members burned him during "Hell Night" and then urged him to downplay his injuries so as not to get the house into trouble. . . .

So apparently we may hear more later concerning the personal injury lawsuit.

Tulane U. purchased the former Pike (Eta) house to use for campus security. It is too bad a fraternity house would be removed from the pool of available Greek housing given NOLA's zoning regulations.

http://thehullabaloo.com/?p=5180