Goose and KSig-Davidson chapter now in GLO heaven
March 30. 2003 2:39PM
Fraternity closed over goose killing
The Associated Press
The ruling committee of a Kappa Sigma fraternity has closed down its Davidson College chapter over a hazing incident in which six freshmen were required to kill a goose to become members.
At its quarterly meeting in Dallas, the fraternity's five-member international governing board voted unanimously Saturday to revoke the chapter's charter, said Mitchell Wilson, executive director of the fraternity.
"It's very sad," Wilson said. "It impacts not just these young people, but alumni from decades and decades of Kappa Sigma."
The action, effective immediately, means the 64-member chapter, which was suspended after the killing, is no longer in operation.
A new chapter, made up of students not affiliated with the current one, could form at Davidson later. Mitchell said that would not happen for at least two years.
The action could mark the end to a story that began in February, when police arrested seven Davidson College students for luring a goose with bread crumbs, beating it with a golf club and throwing it into the trunk of a car.
The students were charged with animal cruelty, which is punishable by up to 12 months in prison, and conspiracy to commit animal cruelty.
The incident sparked outrage, and animal rights groups called for the students to be sent to prison. Because the students had no prior records, they were not eligible for prison time under North Carolina law.
Fraternity members were given deferred prosecution, a program for first-time offenders, at a court hearing this month.
In addition to required counseling, the fraternity members can't own a pet for the year they're on deferred prosecution.
Information from: The Charlotte Observer
|