DSP-UVa douses pledges with (bad stuff)

[hoosier]

The brothers of the Alpha Mu chapter of Delta Sigma Phi would like visitors to this forum to understand that the situation outlined in this topic has been fully resolved, the chapter has been rebuilt around a non-hazing philosophy, and the house contains no men who were involved with the chapter at the time of these events. If you're looking for more information about us, please see our website. Thank you.

U.Va. frat pledge reports being doused with vinegar, urine

Associated Press
© November 6, 2003 | Last updated 11:28 AM Nov. 6
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A University of Virginia student reported that he and other students were doused with vinegar and urine as part of a fraternity pledge ritual, and said he decided to tell authorities because he was tired of the abuse.

The 19-year-old Delta Sigma Phi pledge also reported that his apartment was vandalized, Charlottesville police Lt. Gary Pleasants said. Physical altercations also took place there, but the man did not give details, police said.

"His arms were shaking" after arriving home to his ransacked apartment, according to a police report. "His body was wet and smelled of vinegar and urine. He said that he was a pledge of a fraternity."

The student complained of "increasingly violent and disgusting hazing rituals including dousing the pledges with vinegar, urine and other substances," the report said.

"He was fed up with the abuse and wanted to press charges," the report said. The man, whom police declined to identify to protect his safety, told police that his entire pledge class had decided to quit pursuing membership in Delta Sigma Phi.



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University officials and representatives from the fraternity's national organization are investigating.

Scott Wiley, executive director of the national fraternity, said that his office is investigating allegations that the fraternity's risk-management policy had been violated, but he refused to elaborate further.

Charlottesville police responded to a call on Oct. 28 that two men had broken into the student's apartment and dismantled furniture and other items and threw them outside. The student's roommates later identified a man who damaged the student's property, saying they had seen him drive away.

No arrests have been made, but police have suspects, Pleasants said.

The U.Va. chapter is under temporary probation by the national organization as the investigation takes place, Wiley said.

U.Va.'s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life started its own probe, and it will present a report to the university's dean of students, who will decide on what, if any, punishment is given the house.

[Tom Earp]

[OleMissGlitter]

Gosh, I just wish that sort of stuff wouldn't happen.....it makes me sad......

[exlurker]

Originally posted by hoosier
U.Va. frat pledge reports being doused with vinegar, urine

Associated Press
© November 6, 2003 | Last updated 11:28 AM Nov. 6
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — A University of Virginia student reported that he and other students were doused with vinegar and urine as part of a fraternity pledge ritual, and said he decided to tell authorities because he was tired of the abuse.

The 19-year-old Delta Sigma Phi pledge also reported that his apartment was vandalized, Charlottesville police Lt. Gary Pleasants said. Physical altercations also took place there, but the man did not give details, police said.

"His arms were shaking" after arriving home to his ransacked apartment, according to a police report. "His body was wet and smelled of vinegar and urine. He said that he was a pledge of a fraternity."

The student complained of "increasingly violent and disgusting hazing rituals including dousing the pledges with vinegar, urine and other substances," the report said.

"He was fed up with the abuse and wanted to press charges," the report said. The man, whom police declined to identify to protect his safety, told police that his entire pledge class had decided to quit pursuing membership in Delta Sigma Phi.

University officials and representatives from the fraternity's national organization are investigating.

Scott Wiley, executive director of the national fraternity, said that his office is investigating allegations that the fraternity's risk-management policy had been violated, but he refused to elaborate further.

Charlottesville police responded to a call on Oct. 28 that two men had broken into the student's apartment and dismantled furniture and other items and threw them outside. . . .

The U.Va. chapter is under temporary probation by the national organization as the investigation takes place, Wiley said.

U.Va.'s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life started its own probe, and it will present a report to the university's dean of students, who will decide on what, if any, punishment is given the house.

Hmmm: "his entire pledge class had decided to quit pursuing membership in Delta Sigma Phi" -- sounds like a good decision, if all (or even part) of what is alleged took place. The seemingly eternal questions come to mind:

-- if the members loathe the new members/pledges enough to treat them like that, WHY did they bid them in the first place?

-- what is the fascination with filth? Urine in this case, feces for suburban Chicago's "powderpuff" fiasco.

-- where are the values of respect for others, kindness, compassion, brotherhood, and gentlemanly behavior?

[DeltaSigStan]

Man, Kappa Delta isn't even that old a chapter and this happens.

Once again....we don't need this during a rebuilding stage.

[sigtau305]

[Tex1899]

Kappa Delta is Virginia Tech. UVA is Alpha Mu, originally chartered in the 20's.

[DeltaSigStan]

My bad

[Kevin]

vinegar and urine... I wonder if that's in their ritual book?

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally posted by exlurker
Hmmm: "his entire pledge class had decided to quit pursuing membership in Delta Sigma Phi" -- sounds like a good decision, if all (or even part) of what is alleged took place. The seemingly eternal questions come to mind:

-- if the members loathe the new members/pledges enough to treat them like that, WHY did they bid them in the first place?

-- what is the fascination with filth? Urine in this case, feces for suburban Chicago's "powderpuff" fiasco.

-- where are the values of respect for others, kindness, compassion, brotherhood, and gentlemanly behavior?

I've often wondered this with any GLO that hazes.........it just seems completely pointless to me. All the time they spend hazing pledges/new members could be spent really getting to know everyone, bonding/strengthening the brotherhood/sisterhood, and even learning new things about oneself. These incidents cost big money to GLO's every year in lawsuits and insurance fees, which is money that could be better spent on brotherhoods/sisterhoods, ritual appreciations, educational programming, and putting greek life in a more positive light.

Think people.......is any of it worth it at all? Really worth it? What about in cases where a brother or sister dies as a result? Is it all really worth the life of a brother or sister? I dont care which governing council your GLO is a member of NPC, IFC, NPHC.......or even an independent group......there is no justification for this behavior sorry.

[WCUgirl]

Well said, ThetaPrincess.

I don't understand how some of the stuff that these pledges are made to do promotes brotherhood. If you ask a brother (or a sister, the girls do it too!), their reason is usually "Well, I had to do it, so they have to do it too." Well, if you had to do it, and it made you not want to be a part of the organization at the time you were doing it, wouldn't you want to change that when you got to the other side?

I don't know, just my two cents.

[SparkliiQTMTSU]

That is horrible! I cant believe that people would actually do that. GRRR makes me Angry!!!


Nichole

[Optimist Prime]

That sucks. They would have made good brothers too.

[CatStarESP4]

Originally posted by ThetaPrincess24
I've often wondered this with any GLO that hazes.........it just seems completely pointless to me. All the time they spend hazing pledges/new members could be spent really getting to know everyone, bonding/strengthening the brotherhood/sisterhood, and even learning new things about oneself. These incidents cost big money to GLO's every year in lawsuits and insurance fees, which is money that could be better spent on brotherhoods/sisterhoods, ritual appreciations, educational programming, and putting greek life in a more positive light.

Think people.......is any of it worth it at all? Really worth it? What about in cases where a brother or sister dies as a result? Is it all really worth the life of a brother or sister? I dont care which governing council your GLO is a member of NPC, IFC, NPHC.......or even an independent group......there is no justification for this behavior sorry.

Ditto, ThetaPrincess24! Great statement!

[AlphaXi4983]

well said, thetaprincess

glad to hear they all depledged after what happened.