Alleged hazers face $10K fine and up to 20 years...

[DeltAlum]

Maybe this is a way to get someone's attention:

Arrest warrants issued in SMU hazing case

11:13 AM CST on Monday, December 8, 2003
By MICHAEL GRABELL / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas police have issued eight arrest warrants against fraternity members
involved in an apparent hazing incident last month at Southern Methodist
University, authorities said.

SMU junior Braylon Curry was hospitalized for 11 days after drinking 3 or 4
gallons of water in addition to hot sauce Nov. 15.

A pledge in the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the 21-year-old engaged in what
appeared to be a water-drinking competition at an off-campus apartment,
located at 6615 Shady Brook Lane, police said.

The incident left him in coma, suffering from pulmonary edema, a condition
where water enters the lungs, and hyponatremia, a sodium imbalance brought
on by excess fluid consumption, doctors said.

An alumnus of the fraternity, Uche Kalu, 23, was arrested Monday morning on
charges of assault with a deadly weapon, said Deputy Chief Bill Turnage of
the Dallas Police Department's northeast division. Seven more warrants
would be served throughout the morning on three college students and four
alumni, he said.

"They had prior knowledge that consuming that much water could cause death
or serious bodily injury," he said.
If found guilty, they could face up to 20 years in jail and a fine up to
$10,000.

The national organization of Alpha Phi Alpha has suspended its chapter at
SMU pending the outcome of an investigation.

[hoosier]

I saw elsewhere that the victim's older brother told his parents (after the current incident) that he had also been hospitalized after his initiation and the water torture.

This is a strange case though - five alumni and three students face charges. Sounds like the alumni are determined that their chapter will not follow any anti-hazing rules.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
This is a strange case though - five alumni and three students face charges. Sounds like the alumni are determined that their chapter will not follow any anti-hazing rules.

Interesting you bring that up. It seems to me that in a lot of serious hazing cases, alumni are involved. I wonder if they think they have nothing to lose since the chapter survived through their time as an active?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Interesting you bring that up. It seems to me that in a lot of serious hazing cases, alumni are involved. I wonder if they think they have nothing to lose since the chapter survived through their time as an active?

Well how would they prove it? It would be someone's word against someone else's. I think if you've done a crime, the statute of limitations can be at least for several years though so maybe if someone has evidence of some sort (ie pictures and videos - which is very possible since they are proud of their "accomplishment") alumni can be arrested.

-Rudey
--Imagine being arrested in your office for something you did while in your house.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Rudey
Well how would they prove it? It would be someone's word against someone else's. I think if you've done a crime, the statute of limitations can be at least for several years though so maybe if someone has evidence of some sort (ie pictures and videos - which is very possible since they are proud of their "accomplishment") alumni can be arrested.

-Rudey
--Imagine being arrested in your office for something you did while in your house.

I think he meant that the alums are coming back and doing stuff now - not that they are being charged for something that happened years ago.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by 33girl
I think he meant that the alums are coming back and doing stuff now - not that they are being charged for something that happened years ago.

Oh, that's right. I was a little confused by Rudey's post, but understand it now.

I do mean that alums are coming back to the chapters and causing problems in the present.

[hoosier]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
It seems to me that in a lot of serious hazing cases, alumni are involved.

You may have more current info than I do, but I've been watching GC and Fraternal News and Google for two years, and I haven't seen alumni involvement in hazing, except in the SN-Indiana case, the Fraternity Life 2 on MTV series, the two female drownings in CA, and a couple cases involving the black GLOs. Of course, my memory has been affected by time, beer, and the occasional swapping of swats years ago.

Back in my UG days, most of the hazing was done by the sophomores, and a few demented upperclassmen. The older guys seemed to be elsewhere while the pledges were harassed.

[DeltAlum]

There are a number of threads in this forum that mention alums (especially recent ones) involved in problems.

Unfortunately, I just don't have time to go look for them at this point.

[Rudey]

My mistake. I didn't know that's what you were talking about. Who does that crap?? I've never even heard of that.

-Rudey

[33girl]

Originally posted by Rudey
Who does that crap??

cough cough Delta Omega Chi cough cough