Alumni relations hit new low at UGa

[hoosier]

News
Fraternity brothers allegedly assault alumnus

By TYLER DUCKWORTH
Published , October 23, 2002, 12:00:01 PM EDT

Members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity alledgedly beat a former member last weekend. University Police say the incident still is under investigation. (Keri Wiginton * The Red & Black)

At 5:46 p.m. Saturday, University police arrived at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house to witness the outcome of a brawl.

The alleged victim was Malcom DeVaughn, an alumnus of the fraternity.

"I wouldn't say he was a victim -- more like a participant," said Neil Olson, president of Phi Delta Theta. "It was a drunken alumni incident; it was not a beating."

But the police report states "DeVaughn was bleeding profusely from his face."

Witnesses said the altercation occurred between DeVaughn and two males, according to the police report.

"I was just assaulted -- that's all there is to it," DeVaughn said. "They fractured my eye socket."

DeVaughn was taken to St. Mary's Hospital for treatment, according to the police report.

"The incident was incited by an alum after he was asked to leave, and he wouldn't leave," Olson said. "It was just a dumb fraternity fight. It was handled properly and professionally by the brothers here."

DeVaughn said, however, he was only making a pitstop.

"I'd gone in the house to use the restroom, and when I was leaving, I was attacked by these two guys," he said. "One of them was 6-feet-7-inches, and I'm 5-feet-11-inches, so you get the idea."

DeVaughn further added that he was, in fact, the victim of an attack.

"I didn't hit anybody," he said. "I was just hit twice by two guys."

Olson's story omitted the second fraternity brother's involvement.

"What happened was one individual, after he was tempted and goaded, he was swung on, and he swung back," Olson said.

DeVaughn's recollection of the altercation, though, was different.

"The UGA police took pictures of me," he said. "I wanted them to. They took pictures of my hands to prove I didn't hit anybody."

The police report notes only that detectives took pictures of injuries and the scene.

The report also states that the incident remains under investigation.