SCSU Bans PSS Sorority After Hazing Allegations

[hoosier]

SCSU Bans Sorority After Hazing Allegations

Phi Sigma Sigma Chapter Withdraws From National Group

UPDATED: 7:55 a.m. EST November 21, 2003

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A sorority is banned from campus activities following hazing allegations at Connecticut State University.


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Allegations Of Hazing At SCSU


University officials suspended the Phi Sigma Sigma chapter from campus activities and the national chapter reported the allegations to school officials. The local chapter subsequently withdrew from the national organization.


"We promised the parents at our parents' orientation that we'd watch them like our own, and so we do," said SCSU Vice President Richard Farricielli. "When we're dealing with any kind of hazing, you want to send a message out there to our students that this just is not allowed."

Pledges said they had to carry survival kits around for a week. They were forbidden from using the campus shuttle buses or the footbridge over Fitch Street, a bridge built to ensure pedestrian safety at a busy crossing.

"When you tell students not to take a shuttle or cross a bridge, their safety is in jeopardy," said Farricielli. "That bridge was put in place for a reason. A student was seriously hurt there."

Students told NBC 30 Connecticut News that the sorority was more of a service club. They said it was part of many positive activities on campus.

"I think it's pretty unfortunate that Phi Sig had to go all the way down," said sophomore Aubrey Foster. "It's a really good group. They've done a lot for the school, with everything like charities and benefits."

SCSU's school policy defines hazing as a activity that meets any of the following guidelines.


* Produces discomfort
* Endangers safety
* Indignity, embarrassment
* Humiliation, ridicule


Southern's policy extends to expulsion for students found guilty of hazing. The school's judicial officer considers such cases.

A sister in the sorority said the objective was to teach pledges that the should not take the easy way out of a situation.

"We were really good, we're a bunch of great girls," said Melissa Fortier, a junior. "It's just ridiculous what they did to us."

Faricielli said the rugby team and other athletic squads are under investigation for allegations of hazing.

"We're not sure -- we might have just hit the tip of the iceberg," he said. "We hope we're wrong. We are in the process of an investigation."