Two hospitalized at Rutgers
 

New Jersey Frat Fight Injures Two
POSTED: 10:54 a.m. EDT October 13, 2003

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. -- Two Rutgers University students were injured in an off-campus brawl involving members of the Sigma Pi fraternity, a social club and the school's wrestling team.


It's not clear what sparked Sunday's confrontation outside Squam house. Squam is a club that is not recognized by the school.

Two students suffered serious head injuries when they were struck by a baseball bat.


Jonathan Rodriguez was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit riot, rioting and weapons offenses. Wrestler Kenneth Rodriguez was charged with conspiracy to commit riot, hindering the investigation and a weapons offense.

Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press.
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2 students badly hurt in Rutgers frat brawl
Monday, October 13, 2003
BY MATTHEW J. DOWLING
Star-Ledger Staff


Two Rutgers University students were critically injured early yesterday during an off-campus fraternity-house brawl in New Brunswick, school officials said.

Rutgers police officers were called to the College Avenue fraternity house, which is not recognized by the university, at 3:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a large fight, officials said. The identity of the two students who were severely injured was not available.
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"I am saddened by the news that two Rutgers undergraduates were hospitalized early Sunday morning with severe injuries resulting from a fight," Rutgers President Richard L. McCormick said in a statement.

"On behalf of the University, I offer our prayers for these students and our heartfelt sympathies to their families and friends."

McCormick said the fight was unrelated to the Israeli and Palestinian demonstrations held yesterday on the Rutgers campus. He said the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office is handling the investigation.

Officials from the prosecutor's office did not return several calls seeking comment last night. Further details about the fight, the fraternity house where it occurred and the extent of the students' injuries were unavailable.

"The University strongly deplores the senseless violence that occurred and will pursue all appropriate actions against any Rutgers students who took part in the incident," McCormick said. "Such behavior is reprehensible, even criminal, and has no place within the Rutgers community."

Vincennes replies
 

It should be noted that No Sigma Pi's have been charged in the altercation at Rutgers University. The prosecuting attorney stated that one of the people charged was a member of Sigma Pi but actually he had depledged the fraternity over a month prior to this event, he has since corrected his statement. The people charged were members of the college wrestling team.

Rutgers University has even helped with a formal statement that acknowledges Sigma Pi was not involved in this altercation. Unfortunately, the damage has already been done.

Mark S. Briscoe
Executive Director
Sigma Pi Fraternity
PO Box 1897
Vincennes, IN. 47591
P: 812-882-1897
F: 812-726-4602