PhiBetaSigma uses wood, ruptures kidney

[hoosier]

SIUE paddling victim files suit

STEVE HORRELL, Of the Intelligencer March 11, 2003

Phi Beta Sigma put on the spot
A man whose kidney was ruptured when members of a fraternity at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville allegedly paddled him, has filed a negligence lawsuit against the fraternity.

The paddling left 22-year-old Prentice L. Motley, of Decatur, in intensive care at a local hospital for several days.


On Monday, Motley filed the suit in Madison County Circuit Court against Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.


The incident occurred during March, April, and May of 2002. Afterward, Madison County State's Attorney Bill Haine filed hazing and perjury charges against Malike Perkins, 23 of East St. Louis; Frederick J. Spencer, 20 of Chicago; Richard Harris, 20 of Chicago; Doue Carter, 22 of Edwardsville; Deanthony A. Moore, 23, of the Cougar Village, SIUE; and Adedamola Oshin, 19, of Oak Park.


Perkins faces a jury trial next month before Circuit Judge Charles Romani. He was indicted by a Madison County grand jury in May on one count of felony hazing and two counts of misdemeanor hazing.


Greg Conroy, a spokesman for SIUE, declined to comment Monday about whether the university has taken disciplinary action against Phi Beta Sigma but said that hazing has always been prohibited by the university's student code of conduct.


The alleged hazing took place as Motley was pledging Phi Beta Sigma. Motley, a junior who is majoring in management information systems, is taking six semester hours of classes at the university and plans to carry a full load in the fall, Conroy said.


The suit alleges that the fraternity was negligent by:


• hazing Motley;


• physically assaulting and battering him during the process of accepting him into the fraternity;


• not properly supervising fraternity members during the pledge process; and


• not properly training its members in the proper methods of pledging.


The suit alleges that Motley suffered severe and permanent injuries, internally, externally, and emotionally.


The suit, filed by Collinsville attorney Steven C. Giacoletto, seeks in excess of $50,000.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier

The paddling left 22-year-old Prentice L. Motley, of Decatur, in intensive care at a local hospital for several days.

The incident occurred during March, April, and May of 2002. Afterward, Madison County State's Attorney Bill Haine filed hazing and perjury charges against Malike Perkins, 23 of East St. Louis; Frederick J. Spencer, 20 of Chicago; Richard Harris, 20 of Chicago; Doue Carter, 22 of Edwardsville; Deanthony A. Moore, 23, of the Cougar Village, SIUE; and Adedamola Oshin, 19, of Oak Park.

So, we have a 22 year old pledge (OK, new member) being paddled by two 23 year olds, one 22 year old, two 20 year olds and a 19 year old?

What's wrong with this picture? When do people grow up?

Is this worth felony charges?

[Little E]

I'm just curious Hoosier, but where do you get all these depressing articles about hazing? You seem to have a plethora of supplies...

[BSUPhiSig'92]

Well, I am the Greek Advisor at SIUE and let me tell you this situation has been one big nightmare from the go. Fortunately this has served as a wake up call for a lot of our chapters and started some dialogue at the chapter and council level about hazing. One of the members has pled guilty but the legal process is still dragging out on the others. As a result, the University still hasn't had the formal disciplinary hearings on the members (at the request of the State's Attorney's office) so the chapter and its members are on interrum suspension. But the higher ups here are seeking permanent suspension of Phi Beta Sigma at SIUE. The ironic part is that we have had several members of Sigma transfer here from other schools this year, and they don't understand why the University won't let them start up another chapter!

[shadowstar]

i think stuff like this is just crazy. first of all, i think it's ridiculous for "paddling" or whatever you want to call it to happen at all. i know things like this and worse are done on our campus and it's going to take something bad happening before anyone really takes notice (although there is starting to be some discipline for hazing stuff from the school). but, secondly, the responsibility can't rest solely on the initiated members of a house that hazes. anyone who is being hazed has the complete right to say no to any activity or to walk out at any time. hazing isn't right, but i don't think letting yourself be hazed is any better. and i'm sure that if this act of hazing led to something so serious that there were probably activities that happened before that could also be called hazing. i guess i just really think that the responsibility not to haze or allow hazing to happen needs to be on the shoulders of initiates and pledges from the beginning.

[LatinaAlumna]

I find it hard to phathom that ANY greek advisor would openly post information regarding (alleged or proven) student misconduct on an internet website for all to see. Either you skipped the class on "Legal Issues in Student Affairs," or you don't care about your job. Further, how do you expect the students (of any chapter) to trust you now?

[damasa]

Originally posted by Little E
I'm just curious Hoosier, but where do you get all these depressing articles about hazing? You seem to have a plethora of supplies...

No, he has an extensive and seemingly never ending supply of sources/incidents.

Things like this continue to happen in the greek community and they continue to darken the image of greeks all over. It's sad but hell, after watching the Fraternity Life series on MTV and reading about all these incidents, I don't know if people are ever going to learn.....

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by damasa
No, he has an extensive and seemingly never ending supply of sources/incidents.

Things like this continue to happen in the greek community and they continue to darken the image of greeks all over. It's sad but hell, after watching the Fraternity Life series on MTV and reading about all these incidents, I don't know if people are ever going to learn.....

Yahoo! Groups has something called fraternalnews, which I'm a member of. He could be getting the items from there.

[James]

Originally posted by BSUPhiSig'92
Well, I am the Greek Advisor at SIUE and let me tell you this situation has been one big nightmare from the go. Fortunately this has served as a wake up call for a lot of our chapters and started some dialogue at the chapter and council level about hazing. One of the members has pled guilty but the legal process is still dragging out on the others. As a result, the University still hasn't had the formal disciplinary hearings on the members (at the request of the State's Attorney's office) so the chapter and its members are on interrum suspension. But the higher ups here are seeking permanent suspension of Phi Beta Sigma at SIUE. The ironic part is that we have had several members of Sigma transfer here from other schools this year, and they don't understand why the University won't let them start up another chapter!

[James]

The university cannot legally stop them from starting up another chapter. They could own them in a lawsuit of the university tried.

Originally posted by BSUPhiSig'92
Well, I am the Greek Advisor at SIUE and let me tell you this situation has been one big nightmare from the go. Fortunately this has served as a wake up call for a lot of our chapters and started some dialogue at the chapter and council level about hazing. One of the members has pled guilty but the legal process is still dragging out on the others. As a result, the University still hasn't had the formal disciplinary hearings on the members (at the request of the State's Attorney's office) so the chapter and its members are on interrum suspension. But the higher ups here are seeking permanent suspension of Phi Beta Sigma at SIUE. The ironic part is that we have had several members of Sigma transfer here from other schools this year, and they don't understand why the University won't let them start up another chapter!

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Little E
I'm just curious Hoosier, but where do you get all these depressing articles about hazing? You seem to have a plethora of supplies...

What damasa says.. and he gets them from the same place that I do.. There's a Yahoo group that shares greek-related articles.

[Little E]

I don't mean to get off topic, but it is just so depressing reading all the hazing problems. College kids are stupid, always have been, always will be, but this section just depresses me to look at it. Even though it is good to know what really goes on in some places...bah!
These poor kids who get hurt! I feel bad for the them, but fuck! Get some guts to say no sometime! After all, would you really treat your blood sibling to this treatment? NO so why would you to your fraternal? hum....

[hoosier]

Originally posted by ktsnake
What damasa says.. and he gets them from the same place that I do.. There's a Yahoo group that shares greek-related articles.

Another good source is Google News. You can put in any term (try hazing, frat, or sorority) and up pops a nationwide - even worldwide - summary with links to hazing stories.

Hoosier's background comes from a mucho hazing chapter, in the days when all chapters did it. He was a leader in the campus IFC anti-hazing efforts, and when he was editor of his fraternity's magazine included an anti-hazing (or positive alternative) article in every issue.

You asked "why do guys endure this?" In my experience, it's peer pressure, and few are personally strong enough to resist. Are you watching MTV's fraternity show. The pledge master says "drop and do push-ups, and count 'em out loud" and all the pledges do. If he said "take off your clothes, and run around the block" to prove you love the fraternity, they would all do it.

I also think some anti-fraternity campus administrators have gone overboard with discipline. An example is the campus dean who got an email of a two-year old picture, and felt he could punish today's chapter for something that happened then. I think the anti-fraternity people are using anti-hazing to advance their cause.

[BSUPhiSig'92]

LatinaAlumna,yes, I am the Coordinator of Greek Life at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and have been since 1999. There are actually several advisors, besides me, who post here from time to time. I have made no comments on this case that have not appeared in the press or been released in court. I am not that stupid! I would say the overwhelming majority of my students trust me. The members of this chapter are no longer students of this institution, and I have revealed nothing that isn't public record. Unfortunately, most people who post on this board only see Greek issues from the student perspective, I post here to promote awareness of the issue of hazing so people will realize that there is more to it than having your charter shut down. The members of this chapter are facing felony charges with penalties of up to five years in prison. That will be for the courts to decide, but students need to understand what an impact their actions can have on the rest of their lives!

James, if the students wish to have a chapter of Phi Beta Sigma on this campus, they may legally do so, but the University does not have to recognize it, and I seriously doubt under the current circumstances if either the Grad Chapter or the National Organization will either.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by LatinaAlumna
I find it hard to phathom that ANY greek advisor would openly post information regarding (alleged or proven) student misconduct on an internet website for all to see. Either you skipped the class on "Legal Issues in Student Affairs," or you don't care about your job (or you are a fake). Further, how do you expect the students (of any chapter) to trust you now?

He didn't reveal anything that isn't public informationm, and yes, he really is the Greek advisor, he interviewed for a position at my University but our charming administration chose the other candidate.