[BSUPhiSig'92]

First let me start by saying I have pretty extensive knowledge of this case. I should, I am the Coordinator of Greek Life at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. This incident was a huge shock and surprise to everyone here at the University. I knew all of the active members of Phi Beta Sigma here at SIUE, and thought they were nice guys. While they weren't a perfect chapter and had been in trouble with the University for some minor things before, I was stunned when these charges came to light.

At SIUE we have a pretty small Greek system (3-4% of 10,000 undergrads), but a fairly strong NPHC system with a few chapters in the 20-30 member range. The Sigmas were one of the smallest of our NPHC chapters. I had always counted myself one of the fortunate ones, an advisor to a Greek system that really had no major problems. How wrong I was!
Fortunately, the overwhelming response from SIUE Greeks I have talked to is of absolute disbelief and shock that this happened.

Almost every member of the chapter is facing charges of hazing and perjury. The hazing charges carry a maximum three year sentence, the perjury five years. The State's Attorney (like the D.A.) is really making an example out of this case, and the first trial will begin in October.

The young man who was hazed was taken in the woods behind our campus apartments and according to the police officers I have spoken with, beaten over 100 times with a wooden paddle. I saw pictures that the police took in the hospital of his injuries, and it just sickened me. They then made him stand three hours in the rain, naked, before they let him go home. The next day he went to some sort of family function (a wedding I think) and collapsed. He was rushed to the emergency room, and that is the only way all of this came to light. His parents immediately called police. I shudder to think what would have happened if all of this had gotten covered over, and something worse could have happened in the future!

I have been told by persons involved with the investigation, that the whole mess started with three "old heads" who came back and started to haze the pledges. It sounds like most of the active members of the chapter did not beat him, but did nothing to stop the older members. The active members have refused to cooperate with the
authorities and would not name names, hence the perjury charges. The University is waiting to conduct disciplinary proceedings after the court trials, at the request of the State's Attorney.

This has really shaken up things here at SIUE. Our Board of Trustees grilled my Vice-Chancellor at their June meeting. I am under intense pressure to make sure that nothing happens this year. My Vice-Chancellor met with me on this and flat out asked me "Do we have to have Greek organizations as a part of this campus?" I answered yes, but was told that there will be some big changes or else no more Greek Life. And of course, no Greek Life, no Greek Life Advisor.
The fallout from this will be around for a long time!