"Balanced man" unbalanced and sued at E. TN

[hoosier]

ETSU student files lawsuit against fraternity

By Sam Watson
Press Education Writer


One of three East Tennessee State University students whose complaints of hazing resulted in a fraternity chapter’s suspension from campus last year has filed suit against the fraternity.

Joshua Duane Buchanan filed suit Oct. 3 in Washington County Sessions Court against Sigma Phi Epsilon, a national fraternity based in Richmond, Va., for negligence based on an incident Nov. 25-26 at the fraternity’s off-campus chapter house in Johnson City.

Buchanan sought less than $15,000 for personal injuries, medical bills and expenses and damages for loss of funds, clothing and personal property, as well as court costs and attorney’s fees, according to the suit.

A hearing in the suit was scheduled for Friday in Sessions Court, but attorneys for both sides had submitted an agreement for continuance to the court. No date had been set.

Scott Thompson, Sigma Phi Epsilon’s national communications director, said Monday he could not comment on the suit since it was pending litigation.

Last December, ETSU announced that it had suspended its Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter until fall 2003 for hazing that could have resulted in students’ harm. The university also had disciplined four individual “Sig Ep” members.

The charges were based on the statements of three pledges — candidates for full fraternity membership — who alleged they were forced to participate in a hazing activity at the chapter house, 719 W. Maple St.

According to ETSU documents filed in the complaint, fraternity members forced the pledges to crawl through garbage that included broken glass during “Hell Week” activities. Fraternity members also harassed the pledges, prevented them from sleeping, pelted them with eggs and threw what pledges believed was urine on them, the documents said.

At least until the fall semester of 2003, Sigma Phi Epsilon will not be allowed to conduct or participate in any activities at ETSU, including membership recruitment, social events and intramural competition.

Once the suspension expires, the fraternity will be allowed to submit a written plan for the recruitment of new members and reorganization to be considered for probationary reinstatement. ETSU administrators have said the suspension could continue beyond the original period if plans are unacceptable.