UK = The University of Kentucky
EKU = Eastern Kentucky University
Students may have been involved
By Ashlee Clark
Lexington Herald-Leader
Posted on Thu, Jun. 26, 2008
An investigation into a violent hazing incident at Eastern Kentucky University has now spread to the University of Kentucky.
UK officials confirmed Wednesday that they have begun investigating whether members of UK's Kappa Alpha Psi chapter were involved in the March incident that left an EKU student hospitalized.
"We are now asking officials at Eastern and with the national chapter to cooperate with us in our own investigation to determine if UK students or the chapter have been implicated in this matter, and of course the university will take appropriate action," UK spokesman Jay Blanton said.
EKU student Brent Whiteside, 23, was hospitalized March 8 for injuries received while he was a candidate for admission to the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at Eastern.
EKU has confirmed that hazing occurred and suspended the Kappas from campus for eight years.
Richmond police issued warrants last week for three men they say were involved in the hazing. Thomas Barnes, 21, Gabriel M. McLaren, 22, and Alonzo C. McGill, 32, will be arraigned in Madison County on July 8.
On Wednesday, the attorney whose firm represents McLaren and McGill denied the allegations and said the EKU fraternity used the two men as scapegoats.
The Kappa Alpha Psi national office notified UK at the end of the spring semester that it would investigate the school's chapter of the fraternity. Kappa officials also ordered the chapter to cease fraternity activity, Blanton said.
The combination of the Kappa national office's demand and the results of EKU's inquiry prompted UK to do its own investigation, Blanton said.
Neither UK nor EKU has received formal information from Kappa Alpha Psi regarding the national fraternity's investigation of the chapters.
Richard Lee Snow, executive director of the Philadelphia-based fraternity, declined to comment on his organization's findings at EKU and UK or individual charges.
"I'm not in the position to share any of the individual sanctions," Snow said.
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