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I go to Wash U and have a lot of friends in the Sigma Chi chapter.
2 pledges were sent to the hospital for injuries sustained while drinking, during hell week (I think one tripped and hurt himself, not sure about the other). The university was looking into the situation, but was keeping everything quiet until they decided what to do. If you look at backissues of StudLife, you can see the angry staff editorials written demanding that the school release the details of the investigation to them.
--cut to this week--
Photos and video clips from a Sig Chi brother's digital camera were intercepted by brothers of fraternity XY (not sure if I should name names, although its common knowledge on campus), when the brother's camera was stolen. I think he had left it unattended on the Sig Chi porch, but the other fraternity took it, looked at the pictures and then proceeded to send copies of photo and video files to StudLife, the Greek Life Office, and another fraternity. I think the other fraternity tried to persuade them not to send the files to the newspaper since it would only make things worse for greeklife in general, but they sent them anyway.
2 videos are accessible on StudLife's website. One is a brother dunking his head in ice water while people chanted (1..2..3.. etc) and then when he could no longer keep his head under, he chugged a beer. However, this was not hazing as it was a brother doing this of his own choice. In fact, I've seen them (and random other guys not in Sig Chi) do this before (at open parties) and at the time I just laughed it off I guess.
The second video is a bunch of pledges singing and dancing in the basement of the house, while some brothers threw beer cans at them. Yes, this is hazing, obviously. However, I feel like there are a lot worse things that can happen. Either way, if someone was going to report this to the authorities, stealing files off of someone else's camera and sending it to the campus newspaper is not the answer. It should have been taken to the Greek Life Advisors and handled privately. Also, it seems hypocritical for a chapter to turn in another chapter in such a way, when they are not that innocent either.
The situation is being looked into, and there is a chance that Sigma Chi's charter will be revoked, and/or they will be kicked off campus. I can keep you updated if you want.
Jen
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