Rutgers fraternity members sued for hazing that nearly killed pledge
President Gordy Heminger says the chapter members were warned about a ban on hazing and trained on safety procedures only three weeks earlier.
Members of the Alpha Sigma Phi chapter at Rutgers University are being sued by their own fraternity.
The national president said that “dozens” of members will be named in the lawsuit after a pledge nearly died in a hazing incident in October.
Since that hazing at the fraternity house on College Avenue in New Brunswick, all of the members have been evicted from the house and the Alpha Sigma Phi chapter was disbanded.
Fraternity president Gordy Heminger says the 19-year-old student was in the basement with others pledging the fraternity and had water thrown on him.
The teen was critically injured after it was reported that he suffered an electric shock after coming in contact with a live wire.
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President Gordy Heminger says the chapter members were warned about a ban on hazing and trained on safety procedures only three weeks earlier.
“What we have been doing in terms of hazing prevention clearly did not deter this incident here, so we need to do an additional step. To send a strong message that Alpha Sigma Phi does not tolerate hazing,” said Heminger.
President Heminger says they are filing suit because of “the egregious nature of the hazing, the young man almost died. And then, the 911call that was not completed, a violation of our amnesty policy.”
Heminger was referring to the fact that police responded to the fraternity house only after a 911 hangup.
Police would find the teen in distress as fellow students were trying to load him into a car.
“So, the individuals who were directly involved will be named also those who knew about it and were bystanders and did nothing to prevent it will also be named,” said Heminger.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor is still deciding whether students involved in the hazing will face criminal charges.
The student who was injured has not been named.
The teen is said to be recovering from injuries.
Rutgers University says it’s conducting its own review of the incident.
