Alleged Hazing -- Arrests and Charges -- TKE, Montclair State (NJ)

[exlurker]

See:
http://belleville.patch.com/articles...-in-msu-hazing

Excerpts from ^:

By Chris Nesi | Email the author | 3:24pm

Two Montclair State University students have been arrested and charged with aggravated hazing after an investigation revealed they had engaged in the illegal hazing of a pledge . . . police said Friday.

. . . Cedar Grove police said in a news release two members of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity subjected the 18-year-old victim to "both mental and physical punishments" that ultimately required surgery to treat an infection resulting from a laceration to his elbow.

The alleged incidents occurred in late February and early March . . . .
. . . Joseph D. Cordasco, 20, of Belleville, and Christian A. Calderon, 21, of Union City, two members of the Rho Zeta chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, were arrested on April 27 and 28, and charged with aggravated hazing. . . .

In a statement, the university said it "strongly condemns" hazing and has a "zero-tolerance policy" towards anyone who participates in it. *

"As soon as the university learned of this incident we took immediate disciplinary action against the fraternity allegedly involved in this incident. *With criminal charges having now been filed by the authorities, the university will pursue disciplinary proceedings and will continue to support the Cedar Grove Police Department in their ongoing investigation," the statement read in part.

. . . Steven Ramos, the chief executive officer of Indianapolis, Ind-based TKE, was not aware of the incident until asked about it by a reporter. Ramos said TKE's national organization will take immediate action.*Social activities and recruiting will end at the MSU chapter pending the completion of an investigation. The national organization might take other steps as well, up to removing officers or suspending the MSU chapter altogether.*

. . . *Ramos was unaware of any previous problems at the MSU chapter, he added.*

[lucgreek]

Can't believe the national office did not know about this until being asked by a reporter. Where is the regional director, province director, chapter advisory board and the chapter advisor? Hopefully these questions are answered soon.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

Can't believe the national office did not know about this until being asked by a reporter. Where is the regional director, province director, chapter advisory board and the chapter advisor? . . . .

Oh lucgreek, lucgreek, lucgreek. No need to be surprised about any HQ not being aware. I recall about four or five years ago being entertained by newspaper accounts related to a sorority and a fraternity at Dartmouth -- both chapters of national orgs. Several accounts noted "no comment" or "no further information available" type responses and stopped there.

The good ol' Dartmouth student paper's reporter, however, apparently had the brilliant idea of using a phone.

The lawyer for the national fraternity answered, and told the paper that he hadn't heard about the situation, much less what was currently going on with it. He then offered a comment / opinion.

I snickered to myself back then, and I just snicker these days, too. There are plenty of "bubbles" that people in GLOs live and work in, at various levels and for a variety of reasons. It's not surprising to me that people at an HQ office, or even lower down on the totem pole, may have only vague ideas of "what's shakin' " currently.

[Senusret I]

Greek life in the state of New Jersey should have been drowned in the river at birth.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Greek life in the state of New Jersey should have been drowned in the river at birth.

HEY!!

Seriously though I'm not terribly surprised. Not terribly familiar with the system at MSU, but some of the stuff I've seen at various chapters at my old school shocked me.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by Psi U MC Vito

HEY!!

Seriously though I'm not terribly surprised. Not terribly familiar with the system at MSU, but some of the stuff I've seen at various chapters at my old school shocked me.