Charges asked to be dropped against Rider University officials in hazing case
 

http://www.nbc10.com/news/13987059/d...s=phi&psp=news

A prosecutor has asked a judge to drop aggravated hazing charges against two Rider University officials in a case involving the drinking death of a fraternity pledge.

Charges Dropped against Anthony and Ada
 

Associated Press
August 28, 2007

Judge Drops Hazing Charges Against Rider U. Officials in Case of Fraternity
Pledge's Death

By TOM HESTER
The Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. -- A judge on Tuesday dismissed charges against two Rider
University officials in a case involving the drinking death of a fraternity
pledge.

Superior Court Judge Maria Sypek approved a request by Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini to dismiss the aggravated hazing counts against Dean of Students Anthony Campbell and Ada Badgley, the school's director of Greek life.

The two administrators and three Rider students were indicted on Aug. 3 in
connection with the death of freshman Gary DeVercelly Jr., 18, of Long
Beach, Calif.

However, prosecutors said they decided there wasn't enough evidence to take
the officials to trial.

DeVercelly died March 30, a day after drinking at a party at the Phi Kappa
Tau fraternity on the private college's campus. Authorities said he had a
blood-alcohol level of 0.426 percent, more than five times New Jersey's
legal limit for driving.

Badgley was unaware of the events that led to DeVercelley's death, said her
attorney, David Laigaie. "Ms. Badgley cannot be guilty of a crime for
something that she did not participate in or have knowledge of," Laigaie said.

Campbell's attorney, Rocco Cipparone Jr., welcomed Tuesday's decision as
"the correct and only result."

DeVercelly family attorney Douglas Fierberg said the family was shocked.

The three students still face charges and have pleaded not guilty.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.

It is about time. The whole way Colleges were going to have to operate was in jepordy.

The parents were agahst. BS. I hope the College members file a frivilous law suit against the parents!

Saw that.

Maybe a little sanity will prevail.

Unfortunately, there are still more articles about how this will affect administrations at other schools.

The charges were dropped (a good thing) but that doesn't mean that we are "back to business as usual". This potentially has opened the door, and we all must look at our procedures and liabilities and expectations.

One message that people (especially undergraduates...because they don't always think before they act) need to take away from this is: Your actions affect more than just you individually. They affect the people around you, whether that is your roommate, best friend, family, chapter, advisors, national organization, or campus community. (We should all keep that in mind!)

PsychTau