There's been a lot of talk about hazing lately, and once again, publicity no GLO needs. This time the Alphas engaged in some suspicious hazing behavior.
http://www.ksbitv.com/home/6342592.html
Fraternity Pledges Severely Beaten
Tuesday, March 6, 2007; Posted: 5:37 p.m. (CDT)
Members of an Oklahoma State University fraternity could face some serious charges later this week. Stillwater police say six members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity could be charged with assault and battery or hazing for accusations of paddling five pledging members.
Police say the five pledges received a series of beatings almost every day for three weeks.
"The paddling would be anywhere from one swat to several swats," says Lieutenant Mike Metcalf, with the Stillwater Police Department. "On one victim his buttocks was, the flesh was torn away down to the muscle."
Police say the beatings took place in an off-campus apartment. They say the pledges were supposed to learn the fraternities history. They would then be quizzed over what they had learned.
Metcalf says, "If they messed up on giving the answer they would be pulled out in front of the rest of the group. They would be told to stand in a certain position while the other members would take and hit them with paddles on the buttocks."
It's an incident that has OSU students in shock.
Lisa Osborn, a senior at OSU, says, "I think it's ridiculous and that it shouldn't be happening."
Amber Govan, an OSU senior says, "I thought hazing was completely and absolutely gone."
Conner Mahan, a freshman at OSU and member of a different fraternity, says, "A fraternity is supposed to be for people to bond together and I find it hard to believe that people can bond when they're being physically and mentally harmed from each other."
Govan says she is familiar with the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. She says the group is usually about community service.
Govan says, "They're all about helping people. I'm just kind of surprised."
Police seized several paddles from the apartment where the hazing took place.
As for the fraternity, the national office released this statement:
"We believe hazing does not accurately reflect the high ideals and principles on which we were founded. Under no circumstances does the fraternity ever condone it."
As for police they say this is one of the worst cases of hazing they've seen in quite a while.
Metcalf says, "It was a pretty gruesome site compared to what I've seen of other injuries."
Oklahoma State University has released this statement:
"We are addressing the incident through our student conduct committee, while cooperating fully with local law enforcement authorities."
The names of the suspects are not being released at this time. The Payne County District Attorney says he will likely file formal charges later this week. After charges are filed the suspects names will be released.
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