UVa Pledge "Meal" Hospitalization -- Possible Hazing? (Zeta Psi)
 

http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2...ted-ar-899304/

Excerpts from ^:

Published: March 11, 2011
UVa fraternity incident being investigated
By Ted Strong

A 19-year-old University of Virginia fraternity pledge wound up in intensive care after ingesting a meal of dog food, matzo balls and gefilte fish and topping it off with 12 to 18 ounces of soy sauce, court documents show.
Police and university officials are investigating the incident as a possible case of hazing.

After the first-year student started seizing, brothers from Zeta Psi fraternity took the pledge to the Martha Jefferson Hospital emergency room, court records show. At the emergency room, he was also foaming at the mouth, according to an affidavit requesting a search warrant.

The victim was later transferred to the intensive care ward at the UVa Medical Center before being released, in all spending four days hospitalized . . . . He required treatment for an electrolyte imbalance caused by the high sodium content of the soy sauce . . . .

“[A brother] stated that this ‘meal’ is a tradition at Zeta Psi and that only fraternity pledges ate the meal,” wrote Investigator William C. Sowers of the UVa police in one affidavit.

Police requested search warrants for the victim’s medical records and the class transcript of one of the brothers who transported the victim to the hospital, a pre-med student, who police believe might have consulted class materials before taking the pledge to the emergency room, records show.

A university spokeswoman declined to comment on the incident, citing the ongoing police investigation.

“While it has not yet been determined whether this incident was related to hazing, hazing is illegal in the state of Virginia and considered a serious criminal offense, as well as a violation of university policy,” spokeswoman Carol Wood wrote in an e-mail. “If found guilty, students are subject to criminal penalties and also university judiciary processes that impose separate penalties, up to and including expulsion from the university. The university is cooperating fully with the ongoing police investigation and has launched its own investigation of this incident.” . . .

Edited to add: An NBC affiliate has more on this story (names and a detail or two.):

http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=14233332

There's no "possible" about it. This is hazing.

Actually, due process is required to make that determination. How about:


If "“[A brother] stated that this ‘meal’ is a tradition at Zeta Psi and that only fraternity pledges ate the meal,” wrote Investigator William C. Sowers of the UVa police in one affidavit." is found to be true, this is hazing.

Let's be honest, though. What dumbass thinks of hazing as a cover-up for something else? And if what he said was a lie, what the hell could he be covering up?

I'm just not pro passing judgment before facts are known.

I got a phone call once from a panicked Chapter Advisor. The University had put this chapter on suspension pending an investigation. Got a letter from the University with a list of demands for an investigation from our end as well. They had information that our new members had participated in an event with a fraternity's new members which included alcohol violations. One of my strongest, most compliant, best chapters. Chapter President was freaking out that such a thing could happen without her knowledge. Two days later, we get a new letter saying the investigation by the University was complete and it was a different sorority. No apologies. No "Gee, maybe we should verify which sorority it was before we alert their organization". Totally based on word of mouth report by one person. Had that incident gone to the media before it was determined that they had the wrong sorority, do you think anybody would remember that part later? No.

I totally understand, I'm just saying...Either it was hazing or he was covering up something much worse with hazing.

IMO it was hazing and the brothers that participated should be punished accordingly.

But when I read the list of what he ingested I had to re-read to make sure I didn't miss something. I would have had no idea soy sauce could cause an "electrolyte imbalance". I don't think they should be held responsible for his hospital visit since what they made him eat was stupid but didn't appear dangerous at all. IMO they should just be punished for their stupid, juvenile form of hazing.

The first thing I thought when reading this is "Soy sauce is salty as hell. Why would they make him drink so much?"

Because it's 'funny' to make pledges do things that people wouldn't normally do? That seems a naive question k_s.

My response was directly related to the quoted post re: electrolyte imbalance. When I read "soy sauce," I thought "sodium," so I knew there were going to be issues before I finished reading.

I know many actives make pledges do stupid stuff.

Ah, I misread what you were saying. Yeah soy sauce = electrolyte imbalance makes perfect sense to me. I was like "why is KS asking why they'd drink so much? That's the point of most hazing!"

If the allegations are proven true. Innocent until proven guilty and all that.

It's either hazing or something worse. The guy who spoke wouldn't have covered up something minor by saying it was hazing.

Update: U of Virginia de-recognizes Zeta Psi Chapter


An NBC affiliate reports:

http://www.nbc29.com/story/14991538/...sauce-incident

Excerpt:

. . . citing a police investigation and serious misconduct, the university says it will not enter into a new fraternal organization agreement with the Zeta Psi house.
The fraternity can eventually reapply to UVA.

I'm just glad they took him to the hospital and didn't try to cover it up.