KA Louisiana Tech fraternity members accused of hazing

[hoosier]

Louisiana Tech fraternity members accused of hazing
12/9/2004, 4:04 p.m. CT


The Associated Press _

RUSTON, La. (AP) — Louisiana Tech University is investigating a hazing accusation in which a pledge was allegedly forced to eat a hamburger that had chewing tobacco sprinkled on top.

The university received the allegations come from the father of James "Andy" Cummings, a sophomore from Bossier City, said Jim King, Tech's vice president of student affairs. Cummings' father, Brad, is a Bossier Parish police juror.

Andy Cummings filed a complaint with Ruston police on Dec. 1, the date of the alleged incident.

King said Cummings' father accused members of the Kappa Alpha Order of turning a hose on his son and forcing him to eat the hamburger with tobacco. Andy Cummings was not injured or made ill, King said.

Gary Stokley, the house's faculty adviser, said he does not believe that the allegations are accurate. Kappa Alpha was selected Tech's top fraternity the past three years, he said.

"I don't think it happened the way the person said," Stokley said Wednesday. "But we need to go through the proper due process."

The school's investigation will last a week or less and will be reviewed by a committee made up of students, faculty and staff, King said.

Fraternity members could not be reached for comment.