Consequences...

[DeltAlum]

This is an excerpt from the Dallas Morning News as quoted in another BB, so I can't do a link...


"A 26-year-old Dallas man who pressured an SMU fraternity pledge to drink so
much water during an off-campus initiation ritual that he nearly died was
convicted of aggravated assault Friday.

Raymond Lee put a handkerchief to his shaved head and cried after the
guilty verdict was announced. Jurors in his trial will return Monday to
consider Mr. Lee's punishment, which ranges from probation to 20 years in
prison."


In this case, the consequences go well beyond a chapter suspension for this young man.

The scary thing is that things can get out of hand and this could happen to a lot of people. We've seen it here a number of times.

Remember, hazing isn't just against the rules, it's against the law.

[Tom Earp]

DeltAlum, I read the same this morning via email and couldn't agree with You more!

The individual who was prosecuted was in tears as nothing ever happened like this before! They had been doing it for Years!

Well, it happened to not a snot nosed Kid, but an Adult of 25.

We who have been around and have access to this type of things just shake our heads and ask why!

A Life has been lost and others have been changed.

[Kevin]

Either the guy is on the 7-year plan, or he's an alumnus who comes back to haze pledges. My bet is on the choice 2. My younger brother's organization which shall be referred to as the "blackfeet" had alums come back to participate in some of the hazing rituals. I never quite understood why a 30+ year old man with a family would participate in something like that -- but it happened.

Their chapter was invincible it seemed. They had an event where a pledge got so drunk that he passed out in the middle of a road and was run over by a brother. He survived, but with a shattered pelvis.

Rather than kicking this chapter off campus, the administration decided that they would thenceforth call our campus "dry." I never really understood that.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by ktsnake

Either the guy is on the 7-year plan, or he's an alumnus who comes back to haze pledges.

You're both right. I've noticed that in a lot of threads here in Risk Management when individuals are charged -- often they seem too old to be undergrads.

They sure set a great example.

The term "grow up" comes to mind.

[Tom Earp]

DeltAlum I am sure You are right, but wioth the NPHC = D9's there is a higher rate of Alum Initiation and this has happened to many times.

It is to sad to comprehend why things of this nature have to happen.

I just call it stupidity and that is all than it can be all!

[exlurker]

According to the NBC station in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Mr. Lee was sentenced to 10 years' probation:

http://www.nbc5i.com/news/9428239/detail.html

Added: A few more details are in a short report on the site of another Texas station:
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5085855&nav=1TjD