The Davis Police Department is currently investigating a potential alcohol-related hazing incident that occurred at the Sigma Chi fraternity house. According to police logs, on Oct. 30 an 18-year-old Sigma Chi pledge allegedly consumed more than 30 ounces of vodka. Sigma Chi Rush Chairperson Tim Keller called emergency crews to the 500 block of Oxford Circle at about 11:46 p.m., where the pledge was reportedly unconscious and vomiting blood. According to Davis Police Lt. Steve Pierce, who was called to the scene that evening, the police are currently investigating the nature of the pledge's drinking. He said the ongoing inquiry is focusing on whether the pledge's drinking was part of some kind of ritual or was just a decision he made on his own. The pledge received treatment and was released later the same evening. According to the police log, pledge president, Jeremy Zuber told police the man was required to drink more than 30 ounces of vodka as part of pledge initiation.
Two cases are on appeal to the Supreme Court of the Model Illinois Government. although the cases rise out of different facts and different judicial circuits, both pertain to the same consititutional issue--the constitutional of the Hazing Act, 144 l11. Rev. Stat.221,222. The Act is being challenged as a deprivation of due process under Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution of the STate of Illinois of 1970 for being vague and overbroad. Article 1, Section 2 reads: "No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor be denied equal protection of the laws." This is a case of first instance.
In October 1990, the Res Ipsa Loquitur Legal Fraternity at the Southwastern Illinois School of Law staged its annual rush. Jacqueline Farnsworth Farwell, a first year student at Southwestern, pledged with IRL. As part of the rush activities, the pledges were required to spend a night outside in a pre-select location. Farnwell's location was the Oak Knoll Cemetery. The purpose of this activity, as explained by Thomas Patton Dobbs, President of RIL, in his trail testimony, was to provide the new pledges with an extended opportunity to reflect upon their commitment to the law and the fraternity. Each pledge was permitted to wear a parka and given a wool blanket and candle. According to the testimony of Rufus Johnson, the RIL pledge master, Farwell was left at the cemetery at approximately 12:30 am on Saturday morning. The pledge team returned to the cemetery at approximately 7:15 am and were not able to locate Farwell at the spot where she was left. However, after a brief search, the men found Farwell's frozen body sitting against a gravestone some fifty yeards away. She was wrapped in her parka and blanket. Her candle had burned down to the stub in her hand. The coroner's report stated that Farwell had frozen to death, causing her heart to stop.
The state attorney for Dupo County sought conviction of the seven officers of RIL, including the pledge team, on an array of manslaughter charges. All seven members were found non-guilty of the manslaughter charges in jury trial. However, all seven were found guilty under the Hazing Act. The state's attorney asked for the maximum penalty of six months imprisionment for each defendant.
A Texas A&M fraternity has been indicated on criminal hazing charges after a pledge lost a testicle as a result of a wedgie. The pledge was lifted off his feet by the underwear, causing damage to one of his testicles, said Jean Zdziarski, the assistant director of Student Life at Texas A&M. The damage required doctors to later remove the testicle.
The Kappa Alpha chapter as Texas A&M was charged with organizational hazing and could be fined more than $10,000. Additionally, the fraternity was suspended by the University until August 1999.
