List of hazing deaths in the United States

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In 1905, Stuart Pierson was being initiated into Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, at Kenyon College. The other students sent him to a railroad bridge, which they believed was not in use; however, an unscheduled train arrived, and Pierson was killed.

This is a list of hazing deaths in the United States. This is not an exhaustive list. An exact list is not available as there is no system for tracking such deaths and there are often disagreements as to whether hazing is related to certain deaths. Inclusion in this list requires that the incident was described by the media as a hazing-related death; incidents involving criminal or civil proceedings that did not find a definite link with hazing may still be included if they meet this criterion.

According to the National Collaborative for Hazing Research and Prevention at the University of Maine, hazing is defined as "any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses or endangers them, regardless of a person's willingness to participate."[1] Although hazing is often associated with the activities that take place as a prerequisite for joining a group, it can also include activities that take place as an established member, such as the 2011 death of George Desdunes. Desdunes died of alcohol poisoning following a ΣΑΕ ritual that is the reverse of traditional hazing rituals. Freshman pledges kidnap older members, blindfold, and bind their wrists and ankles with zip ties and duct tape. The fraternity brothers are asked trivia questions about ΣΑΕ and drink if they get an answer wrong.[2]

1800s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution Notes
1838 Groves, John ButlerJohn Butler Groves Class hazing Franklin Seminary (Kentucky) According to family historical records, Groves died in a hazing incident. No further details are available.[3]
1847 Torrance, Jonathan D.Jonathan D. Torrance Class hazing Amherst College Torrance left school after suffering from a severe illness that he attributed to upperclassmen soaking his sheets. He eventually died from this illness and Amherst president Edward Hitchcock attributed the death to hazing rituals, which were referred to as "freshman visitation".[3]
October 17, 1873 Leggett, Mortimer N.Mortimer N. Leggett Kappa Alpha Society Cornell University Leggett was brought out into the woods at night as part of an initiation ceremony. He died after falling into a gorge while blindfolded. Two members who were guiding him also fell, but survived.[3][4][5]
June 6, 1892 Rustin, WilkinsWilkins Rustin Delta Kappa Epsilon Yale University A pledge was led blindfolded through the street during his fraternity initiation towards Moriarty's Cafe, a popular student hang-out. He was told to run and did so at top speed. He ran into a sharp carriage pole, injuring himself. He was rendered unconscious, but the injury was not thought to be serious at the time. He suffered an intestine rupture and died five days later of peritonitis.[3][6][7][8]
September 19, 1885 Turnbach, EdwardEdward Turnbach Class hazing Unknown public school in Hazleton, Pennsylvania He was made to run through a gauntlet of schoolmates in which they punched him with their fists. He was punched in the kidneys severely and died several days later.[9]
February 20, 1894 Jackson, HenriettaHenrietta Jackson Class hazing Cornell University The fatality was not a freshman, but a female cook who died when undergraduates misdirected chlorine gas into the kitchen as part of a hazing prank. The gas was intended to interrupt the Cornell freshman banquet.[3][10]
September 29, 1898 Jones, David C.David C. Jones Class hazing Decatur High School (Decatur, Indiana) Jones was participating in a hazing custom on September 6 in which all the freshmen boys were put over the fence on the first day of school. There was a "lively" fight as well. Jones injured his spine severely and died at the end of the month.[11]
October 27, 1899 Berkeley, Edward FairchildEdward Fairchild Berkeley Kappa Alpha Society Cornell University Berkeley was attempting to pin a piece of paper to a tree or bridge (accounts vary) when he fell into a canal and drowned. Members insisted that the errand was not a form of hazing and was merely meant to keep him occupied until his formal initiation later that day.[3][12]
November 22, 1899 Martin Bergen Class hazing Lawrenceville Academy (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) 12-year-old Bergen died following a hazing tradition called "piling" in which the freshmen boys are forced to pile on top of one another, ending in the upperclassmen jumping on the boys' abdomens with their knees. Bergen ended the session without issue aside from some soreness for 2–3 days. He developed peritonitis from internal injuries and died several days later.[13][14]

1900s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution
and location		 Notes
November 3, 1900 Brown, Thomas FinleyThomas Finley Brown Class hazing Porter Military Academy
Charleston, South Carolina		 12-year-old Brown was forced to drop blindfolded into a swimming pool. He dropped approximately 12 ft (3.7 m) into the pool, which contained almost no water. He died from internal injuries.[15][16][17]
December 6, 1900 Booz, OscarOscar Booz Class hazing United States Military Academy
West Point, New York		 Booz began at West Point in June 1898 in good physical health. Four months later, he resigned due to health problems. He died in December 1900 of tuberculosis. During his long struggle with the illness, he blamed the illness on hazing he received at West Point in 1898, claiming he had hot sauce poured down his throat on three occasions as well as a number of other grueling hazing practices, such as brutal beatings and having hot wax poured on him in the night. His family claimed that scarring from the hot sauce made him more susceptible to the infection, causing his death. Among other things, Booz claimed that his devotion to Christianity made him a target and that he was tormented for reading his Bible.[18]

The practice of hazing at West Point entered the national spotlight following his death. Congressional hearings investigated his death and the pattern of systemic hazing of freshmen and serious efforts were made to reform the system and end hazing at West Point.[19][20][21]

September 15, 1903 McBride, RalphRalph McBride Secret society "L. of S.S.B" Bluffton High School, Bluffton, Indiana Fifteen-year-old McBride died five months after he was hazed roughly during the initiation into a high school secret society. Three other boys were hazed roughly at the same time, leading another of the boys' fathers to press charges for assault and battery against the boys. The other boys survived, but McBride developed sepsis and died following a high fever and delirium. Attempts were made to save his life via removing necrotic bone of his leg, but it was unsuccessful. Ten students were tried for assault and battery but were acquitted, citing the lack of proof that the death was related to the hazing instead of an unrelated illness.[15][22][22][23]
November 8, 1903 Loew, MartinMartin Loew Phi Psi Chi (Local dental fraternity) University of Maryland, Baltimore Shortly after being initiated into ΦΨΧ, German-born Loew was found deceased in his dorm room while his South African roommate was found unconscious.[24] Upon awakening, Loew's roommate described the hazing. A week prior, Loew was undressed, blindfolded, and taken into a room where he was laid on a block of ice. He was then carried upstairs to a balcony and thrown over the railing, a drop of 24 feet. Underneath the railing were students holding a sheet. When he fell onto the sheet, he was tossed up and down until he was unconscious. After reviving, he was beaten severely. He was given whisky and quinine that evening. The following Saturday, he submitted to an unknown form of hazing and his roommate underwent the same hazing ritual that Loew underwent the weekend prior.[25]
1903 Canning, RalphRalph Canning Childhood hazing Barton, Vermont Three young boys, aged 11, 10, and 7, read about hazing practices in college and decided to try it themselves. They built a fire in a pasture behind the schoolhouse and led nine-year-old Ralph Canning to the spot. They heated a number of stones until they were red hot. The boys forced Canning to both sit and stand on the hot stones and held him there despite his screams. The boys then either walked or jumped on him (depending on the source). He was finally allowed to leave and he crawled home, where he died two weeks later.[15][26]
September 1904 Miller, FrankFrank Miller Class hazing Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana		 Miller and other freshmen were taken to a bridge over the Wabash River. When he refused to cheer for the sophomores, he was stripped, painted black from head to toe (black and gold are Purdue's official colors), and thrown into the river. He was forced to swim until he was exhausted in the very cold water. He died of pneumonia four days later.[15][27]
April 1904 Fillwock, FreddieFreddie Fillwock Class hazing Rawson School
Findlay, Ohio		 Ten-year-old Fillwock was fatally injured during a hazing event by older boys at the school. He was being physically hazed by several boys who were several years older than him when he broke away from the crowd. He ran toward his home but fell, striking the back of his head on a stake. Several other boys piled on top of him. When he was picked up, his spine was injured, his skull fractured, and several ribs were broken. He died several days later.[28][29]
October 28, 1905 Pierson, Stuart L.Stuart L. Pierson Delta Kappa Epsilon Kenyon College
Gambier, Ohio		 Pierson was killed while being initiated into a fraternity. He was sent to a railroad track as part of a hazing ceremony, and killed by an unscheduled train.[30]
February 10, 1906 Taylor, WilliamWilliam Taylor Class hazing A school in Lima, Ohio Thirteen-year-old Taylor was buried in a snowdrift after rough hazing by classmates. He died a few days later of pneumonia.[15][31]
January 3, 1906 Leat, Cecil F.Cecil F. Leat Class hazing Hilliard High School
Columbus, Ohio		 On November 9, 1905, Leat was thrown into a rail, then to the ground where he was beaten severely. He died the following January from the injuries.[32]
November 19, 1907 Anna Johnson Class hazing University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota		 Anna Johnson is one of the earliest examples of female hazing deaths. She had been hazed for several days by sophomore girls when she was locked in a third-floor dorm room to prevent her from attending the junior reception for freshmen that evening. She attempted to escape by climbing down a braided rope made from lace curtains. The rope broke and she died in the fall.[33]
March 1909 Stinson, CharlesCharles Stinson Class hazing White School
Indianapolis, Indiana		 Stintson was strung up by the ankles to a tree near the school and left for an extended period of time. He died several hours after being taken down.[34]

1910s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution
and location		 Notes
February 9, 1910 Clarence W. Gore Class hazing University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon		 Gore fell ill following a hazing session in November, during which he was told to keep up a bonfire for an extended period of time, resulting in several hours of hard labor. He never recovered from this illness and died in February.[35]
September 12, 1912 Rand, WilliamWilliam Rand Class hazing University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina		 Rand, along with other freshmen, was forced to leave his room after midnight by sophomores and carried onto the football field. The freshmen were forced to dance, sing, and do other hazing stunts on top of a barrel standing on end. At some point he either fell or the barrel was kicked out from under him. He fell on top of a broken bottle on the ground, severing his jugular vein. The four sophomores ran away, while his roommate called for help. Rand bled to death seven minutes after the fall, before medical help could reach him.[36]
July 24, 1913 Donald A. Kenny and Christopher Gustin Fraternal order hazing Loyal Order of Moose
Birmingham, Alabama		 Kenny and Gustin died by electrocution during an initiation ritual. The men were made to look upon a red hot emblem of the Order, then blindfolded, disrobed and had a chilled rubber version of the emblem applied to their chests, while a magneto was attached to their legs and an electric current was applied to them by a wire to their shoulders. The aim was evidently to make them believe that they were being branded. Both men fainted, but, as it was thought that they were feigning, the lodge officers did not stop the initiation until it was evident that the two were dying and the lodge physician was unable to revive them.[37][38]
September 19, 1913 Francis Obenchain Class hazing Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana		 Obenchain died from a broken neck following the "Tank Scrap" tradition, a brutal physical altercation between freshman and sophomores.[39]
May 26, 1914 William Bowlus Class hazing St. John's College
Annapolis, Maryland		 Bowlus was a cadet in the junior class at the time of his death. He, along with several other upperclassmen, attempted to enter a freshman's room to haze the occupants. Five freshmen were in the room at the time and one fired a shot, striking him in the abdomen. The men refused to identify which one fired the shot, and a grand jury declined to indict.[40][41]
November 25, 1915 Sweet, ThurberThurber Sweet Class hazing Virginia Military Institute
Lexington, Virginia		 Sweet was the 17-year-old son of Chicago millionaire C.A. Sweet when he entered VMI. He left the institute in October, claiming he had been severely beaten by the other students by bayonets. Physician Dr. J.M. Scott attended to him, telling him his spinal injuries might result in paralysis. Sweet's health continued to deteriorate until he died at the hospital on November 25.[42]
October 1916 Blue, Paul N.Paul N. Blue Class hazing Morningside College
Sioux City, Iowa		 Blue died following a hazing incident in which the freshmen were given a severe blow to the head. His injury was complicated by diabetes. He became ill following the blow and died later at the hospital.[43][44]
1919 McCullough, FrankFrank McCullough Class hazing Colgate University
Hamilton, New York		 Members of the sophomore class left freshmen, including McCullough, on an island to swim back to shore. He drowned.[3][45]

1920s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution
and location		 Notes
September 21, 1921 Mount, LeightonLeighton Mount Class hazing Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois		 Mount disappeared on the evening of a class hazing event and was discovered deceased two years later in a hole beneath a pier between heavy slabs of concrete. Several feet of knotted rope were found around the skeleton, and physicians who examined the body gave the opinion that lime was placed over the body before it was hidden, as well as reapplied several times after to prevent the body from being discovered. Police were suspicious of hazing as a cause of death because another student, Arthur Persinger, was found bound, gagged in the same way, hanging off the pier with his head down toward the water as a form of hazing. Persinger survived.[46][47]
January 6, 1925 Stringfellow, ReginaldReginald Stringfellow Class hazing University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah		 Stringfellow died following several instances of "tubbing", which was a hazing ritual that involved submerging the victim's head underwater for an extended period of time.[48][49]
September 30, 1928 McElroy, NolteNolte McElroy Delta Kappa Epsilon University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas		 Sophomore football player Nolte McElroy was electrocuted during an initiation ritual in which he was forced to wear wet pajamas and crawl through two bedsprings that had been charged with electric current by connecting them to city lighting wires through a rheostat. 184 initiates had gone through the same ritual in the 15 years prior, without incident, including 5 before him on that evening. It is unknown why he alone was electrocuted.[3][50][51]

1930s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution
and location		 Notes
September 13, 1931 Aune, LloydLloyd Aune Class hazing Stout Institute
Menomonie, Wisconsin		 Aune, a freshman, was killed when his spinal cord was severed during a hazing incident in which he was wrestling with sophomores.[52] Clifford Tweed, one of the sophomores involved in the grappling death, described the event as good-natured: "I had a toe-hold on him when he cried out. All of us picked him up immediately." He suffered a broken spine in the struggle and died a few days later.[53]
April 11, 1935 Beitzel, RichardRichard Beitzel Phi Delta Theta Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania		 Beitzel was walking through a field as part of a fraternity initiation stunt in February 1935. He fell against a tree stump, injuring his leg. He developed sepsis and died several weeks later.[54][55]
February 25, 1936 Lewis, TaylorTaylor Lewis High school fraternity Unnamed high school
Miami, Florida		 In November 1934, Taylor was struck on the hip and spine with a heavy plank during a hazing session. He died a little over a year later at the age of 17. He was confined to the hospital for most of the time between his injury and his death.[56]

1940s

Date of death Victim Organization Institution
and location		 Notes
March 10, 1940 Spake, Jr., Hubert L.Hubert L. Spake, Jr. Theta Nu Epsilon University of Missouri–Columbia
Columbia, Missouri		 Spake died following a fraternity initiation ceremony in which he imbibed heavily. He was found face down in bed and was ruled to have suffocated on his pillow.[3][57]
October 6, 1943 Rogers, WayneWayne Rogers Class hazing Appleton High School
Appleton, Wisconsin		 15-year-old sophomore Rogers was assaulted on a church lawn during the evening of September 7, 1943 (the first day of school) by a group of seven others, including seniors from his school as well as a junior high school student and students from St. Norbert College.[58] They clipped hair from his body and applied oil of wintergreen to his skin. His face began swelling, and he went into convulsions from which he did not recover.[59] An investigation into the death was launched, concluding with an official ruling that the death was due to an unrelated case of nephritis.[58] Rogers' parents were "extremely dissatisfied" with the conclusion, alleging that an autopsy was not performed on their son and the county coroner had not even been notified of the death.[60]
February 19, 1945 Perry, RobertRobert Perry Phi Beta Pi Saint Louis University
St. Louis, Missouri		 Perry died a day after he was critically injured in a fire that occurred during his fraternity initiation ceremony. His nude body was coated with a flammable substance: a lampblack and collodion mixture. Electrical shocks were administered to his skin. An induction coil short-circuited, lighting him on fire.[3][61][62]
February 20, 1945 Jarosz, Jack P.Jack P. Jarosz Military US Navy Lt. Thomas H. Fike was found guilty of "conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline" before a general court-martial following the death of Jarosz during a "shellback" ceremony, in which the sailor was told to touch the brass prongs of a trident when he gave a wrong answer. He died by electrocution. The intent was to cause a mild shock. Another sailor had undergone the same ceremony prior to Jarosz and suffered no ill effects. The ship's electrician testified that Fike told him to take all precautions in installing the device and that he witnessed Fike testing it out himself, finding the shock to be mild. Fike was acquitted of manslaughter and neglect charges.[63]
January 26, 1946 Bragg, LeRoy RobertLeRoy Robert Bragg and Stanford Fluitt Occupational hazing SS Frederick Galbraith Crew members Bragg, 14, and Fluitt, 16, died aboard the ship from an overdose of saltpeter during a traditional equator crossing initiation. Crew members who had never crossed the equator were referred to as "pollywogs" and were promoted to "shellback" status following the crossing. During the shellback ceremony, the boys were blindfolded then marched out onto the deck, where they had numbers painted on them. They were then marched back into the mess hall to wait their turn for the next phase of the initiation, which involved drinking the saltpeter mixed with water. Bragg had obtained work on the ship illegally using fraudulent paperwork stating he was 17.[49][64]
April 5, 1948 Peterson, JamesJames Peterson Senior honorary society Montana State University
Bozeman, Montana		 As part of the initiation ceremony for the society, Peterson and other pledges were instructed to break into the campus heating plant to sound a whistle. A night watchman fired a pistol to "bluff" the students, killing Peterson.[65]

1950s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
March 1, 1951 Kaplan, AllenAllen Kaplan Class hazing Northwestern State College As part of a class hazing prank, Kaplan was told he was being set up on a blind date atop a bluff overlooking the Red River. There was no blind date, but another student jumped out from behind a bush, pretending to be the date's enraged husband holding a shotgun. He fired the gun into the air. The rest of the boys ran back to campus, but Kaplan never returned. it is unclear what happened next, but he was later found in the river below the bluff.[66]
May 25, 1951 Evens, Jr., FredFred Evens, Jr. and Thomas Kleppner Lambda Chi Alpha University of Miami Pledges Evens and Kleppner were taken 30 miles away from campus and told to find their way back. They fell asleep on the roadway and were struck by a vehicle. Kleppner was killed instantly, while Evens succumbed to his injuries several days later on May 30.[67][68]
May 3, 1950 Niswonger, DeanDean Niswonger Alpha Tau Omega Wittenberg College Niswonger and fellow pledge Jerry Wendell were taken out into the country as part of a hazing ritual in which they were to find their way back to campus. They decided to sit down on the road to wait for a ride, fell asleep, and Niswonger was hit by a truck.[69]
Weekend of October 7–8, 1950 Foletta, GeraldGerald Foletta Sigma Pi University of California, Berkeley Foletta was pledging Sigma Pi when he was driven out into the country to find his way back to campus. He was hit by a vehicle while walking back to the university.[70]
October 22, 1953 Calvin Dougherty Class hazing Milligan College 17-year-old Dougherty was injured in a race ordered by upperclassmen when he ran into a tennis cable. His pancreas ruptured and spleen had to be removed. He died several days later.[71]
February 10, 1956 Clark, ThomasThomas Clark Delta Kappa Epsilon Massachusetts Institute of Technology Clark was taken to a remote spot and told to find his way back to campus. He fell through the ice covering a reservoir and drowned.[72]
October 7, 1957 Caulk, MaxMax Caulk Delta Tau Delta Santa Barbara College Caulk drowned during a fraternity ritual in which he was thrown from the pier into the ocean.[73]
September 17, 1959 Swanson, RichardRichard Swanson Kappa Sigma University of Southern California Kappa Sigma pledges were told to swallow a quarter-pound piece of raw liver soaked in oil, without chewing. The meat lodged in Swanson's throat, and he began choking. The fraternity brothers did not tell police and ambulance workers about the hazing ritual, and instead attributed Swanson's respiratory distress to a "nervous spasm". He died two hours later.[74] The incident inspired the 1977 film Fraternity Row, as well a CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode titled "Pledging Mr. Johnson".[75]
May 19, 1959 Sherwood, HenryHenry Sherwood Letterman's club Yakima High School (Yakima, Washington) Sherwood died from drowning during a session in which he and other initiates were wearing burlap sacks and being paddled in the water. His disappearance went unnoticed for several minutes. His body was located, but revival efforts were not successful.[76][77]

1960s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
September 11, 1963 Murphy, MichaelMichael Murphy High school band Charleston High School, Charleston, West Virginia Fifteen-year-old Murphy was killed in a band initiation incident in which three fellow band members were striking his stomach in at attempt to give him a "pink belly".[78]
August 1966 Jenkins, Lamonte R.Lamonte R. Jenkins Football team Roman Catholic High School (Philadelphia) 17-year-old Jenkins drowned following a hazing incident in which he was thrown into the water by fellow teammates.[79]
October 9, 1967 JrJohn Clifton Baylor Chamber of Commerce Baylor University Clifton died following an initiation ritual in which he was told to drink a concoction of five different kinds of laxatives and garlic and then run in place.[80] He regurgitated the concoction and then aspirated it, causing significant damage to his larynx and trachea. He began to have difficulty breathing while running and soon collapsed. He suffered a hemorrhage in his lungs and died of cardiac arrest.[81]
February 8, 1969 Graeler, ScottScott Graeler Stag Club Muskingum College Graeler, a college football player, died of heart failure following an initiation ceremony. The details of the ceremony were not disclosed, but his death was ruled to have been caused by overexertion.[82] The president of the club, John Falcon, was convicted and fined $100 on a charge of excessive hazing.[83]

1970s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
March 1970 Bedinger, DonnaDonna Bedinger Alpha Gamma Delta Eastern Illinois University Bedinger and another female student were driven to a wooded area three miles away from Eastern Illinois University and left as the other sorority members drove away. The ritual was known as "pledge sneak". Bedinger ran after the vehicle and tried to catch its rear bumper but missed, striking her head on the road. She died a few days later from head trauma.[84]
December 22, 1972 Bronner, FredFred Bronner Chi Chi Chi Los Angeles Pierce College Three fraternity members dropped Bronner off on a secluded road with the intention that he would hike back to campus, approximately 10 miles. They told him to think about how "obnoxious" he was. He was found December 30 at the foot of a 500 foot cliff in Angeles National Forest.[85]
September 13, 1973 Fishkin, MitchellMitchell Fishkin Delta Phi Lehigh University Fishkin's fraternity brothers intended to drive the pledge to the other side of the mountain, then make him walk back to the fraternity. En route, he jumped from the moving vehicle and died.[86]
November 12, 1974 Flowers, WilliamWilliam Flowers Zeta Beta Tau Monmouth College (New Jersey) Flowers, along with other pledges, were digging a deep hole in the sand (said to be a symbolic grave), when the walls collapsed and Flowers was buried, causing his death. His death spurred an anti-hazing statute in New York.[87] Flowers would have been the first black member of ZBT at Monmouth had he survived.[88]
September 12, 1975 Ben, TheodoreTheodore Ben Class hazing Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Freshman Theodore Ben was killed following a class hazing ritual. He slammed into a wall while carrying another student up and down a hallway, a hazing ritual known as a "dog line". His skull was fractured and he fell into a coma. He died four days later at the hospital.[89][90]
August 23, 1976 Click, Samuel MarkSamuel Mark Click Pi Kappa Alpha Texas Tech University Click was killed during a scavenger hunt as part of a hazing event. He was attempting to collect a letter that was under a railroad tie. He was hit by a train and killed.[3]
1976 Redenbeck, DennisDennis Redenbeck Phi Gamma Delta Iowa State University Redenbeck died of alcohol intoxication after drinking massive quantities of liquor and beer.[3]
November 5, 1976 Fitzgerald, ThomasThomas Fitzgerald Pershing Rifles St. John's University Fitzgerald was a student at another university who had applied for admission into St. John's and the Pershing Rifles. He was kidnapped and intimidated with a bayonet when the blade accidentally pierced his chest, killing him.[3]
April 21, 1977 Brazile, RobertRobert Brazile Omega Psi Phi (not recognized by national fraternity) University of Pennsylvania Brazile died of a heart attack following weeks of intense hazing that included beatings, paddling, being forced to run long distances, and sleep deprivation.[3]
February 5, 1978 Swinson, NathanielNathaniel Swinson Omega Psi Phi (not recognized by national fraternity) North Carolina Central University Swinson died following a hazing ritual in which he was forced to run several miles and complete a grueling exercise routine. Swinson had sickle cell anemia, which was exacerbated by the strenuous workout.[91]
February 24, 1978 Stenzel, ChuckChuck Stenzel Klan Alpine Alfred University Stenzel (some sources list his surname as Stevens) was awoken and taken with other pledges, stripped, placed in the trunk of a car, and told to drink a pint of Jack Daniels, a six-pack of beer, and a bottle of wine between then. Three of the men were unconscious when they opened the trunk. He was left in his dorm for several hours until they finally brought him and two other unconscious pledges to the hospital. The other two men regained consciousness after 72 hours, but Stenzel died of severe pulmonary edema.[84][92]
January 11, 1979 Wiseman, BruceBruce Wiseman Theta Xi Louisiana State University Wiseman and six other pledges were in the middle of an initiation ceremony in which they were guided blindfolded down a highway. Their fraternity brothers, who were guiding them, attempted to get them off of the road when a car approached, but they failed to do so in time and the group was hit. Wiseman was killed and three others suffered broken legs.[93]

1980s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
August 31, 1980 Call, SteveSteve Call Delta Kappa Phi University of Lowell Call was required to perform extensive calisthenics as part of his pledging. He died of hyperthermia.[56]
January 25, 1980 Ballou, Lurie "Barry"Lurie "Barry" Ballou Sigma Nu University of South Carolina Ballou choked to death on his own vomit after he passed out from drinking massive quantities of alcohol in a drinking ritual as part of his pledging. His blood alcohol content (BAC) was 0.46 when he died.[94]
April 2, 1980 Parella, JosephJoseph Parella Delta Kappa (local fraternity) Ithaca College Parella died after undergoing a long-standing initiation tradition of calisthenics. One source described the events as taking place in a steam room.[3] Another lists Delta Kappa fraternity’s initiation rites as involving the 14 pledges doing 100 pushups, running up and down a steep hill, doing 100 more pushups, then sprinting up and down the hill again. Parella began having trouble breathing, so the fraternity brothers carried him into the hallway and removed his clothing to cool him off. He continued to decline, prompting them to administer CPR and called an ambulance. Parrella died from heatstroke.[95]
1981 Cerra, RickRick Cerra FEX (local fraternity) University of Wisconsin–Superior Cerra collapsed and died after being forced to do calisthenics while wearing heavy clothing on a hot day.[3]
March 29, 1982 Siegel, VictorVictor Siegel Alpha Omega Lambda Towson State University Siegel was killed in a car accident. Sleep deprivation stemming from hazing rituals was considered to be a contributing factor. At the time of his death, Siegel was wearing a Playboy bunny costume and driving to get signatures of alumni as part of the pledging requirements.[3]
1983 Watts, VannVann Watts Omega Psi Phi Tennessee State University Watts died of an alcohol overdose with a BAC of 0.52. Another member of his pledge class said that he had been beaten with switches as well and his head had been shaved. Other members denied the allegation.[3]
1984 Goodrich, Bruce WardBruce Ward Goodrich Corps of Cadets Texas A&M University Goodrich died of heatstroke after performing strenuous calisthenics. Another student was found guilty of destroying evidence (a company exercise schedule) and three others pleaded guilty to hazing charges.[3]
1984 Lenaghan, JanJan Lenaghan Zeta Chi American International College Lenaghan died after a ritual involving eating small plates of spaghetti followed with large quantities of wine. Other fraternity members placed him in a bathtub after he lost control of his bowels, unaware that this was a sign of impending death. His BAC was 0.48 at the time of death.[3]
1984 Long, Jeffrey FranklinJeffrey Franklin Long Tau Gamma Theta (local fraternity)[96] California State University, Chico On the night of Long's death, pledges were encouraged to consume two gallons of wine before participating in a drag race. Long was struck by a vehicle driven by another pledge.[3]
1986 Seeberger, MarkMark Seeberger Phi Kappa Psi University of Texas at Austin Seeberger died of alcohol poisoning after he and two other Phi Kappa Psi pledges participated in a fraternity hazing ritual where they were handcuffed in van and made to consume 16 to 20 ounces of rum. His BAC was 0.43.[97]
1988 Callahan, JamesJames Callahan Lambda Chi Alpha Rutgers University Pledges of Lambda Chi Alpha, were encouraged to drink large amounts of alcohol in an attempt to make them sick. An autopsy confirmed that Callahan had a BAC of 0.434 when he died.[87]
1989 Harris, JoelJoel Harris Alpha Phi Alpha Morehouse College Harris died following a hazing ritual where they were required to recite historical events of the fraternity. Pledges that made errors were faced with a number of repercussions in the form of physical punishment. Harris eventually collapsed during a ritual involving slaps, blows, and punches. The ritual lasted between three and five hours. Harris was found to have an abnormal heart rhythm linked to congenital heart disease. As a result of his death, Alpha Phi Alpha voted to halt pledging within the fraternity, instead allowing members to join directly.[91]

1990s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
1990 Haben, NickNick Haben Lacrosse club Western Illinois University Haben died of alcohol poisoning. He participated in drinking games required for admission into the lacrosse club, and was found dead in his dorm room the next morning. Haben's teammates said they had carried him there just before midnight, and propped him up with pillows with his face toward the floor, so he wouldn't choke if he vomited. His BAC was 0.34 at the time of his death.[98]
1991 Nisbet, MikeMike Nisbet St. Pat's Board University of Missouri, Rolla Nisbet was found dead after choking to death on his own vomit after a ritual drinking game required of initiates into St. Pat's Board, an organization on campus which raised money for the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration.[3]
March 1992 Batipps, Gregory R.Gregory R. Batipps Alpha Phi Alpha University of Virginia Batipps died in a car accident after falling asleep behind the wheel. His roommate told police that Batipps had been sleep deprived because of pledging activities, returning home at 3 am and leaving at 7:30.[99]
1992 Joynt, J.B.J.B. Joynt Phi Sigma Kappa Frostburg State University Joynt died following a pledge sneak in which pledges were rough-housing with members.[3]
1993 Saucier, ChadChad Saucier Phi Delta Theta Auburn University Death from alcohol intoxication following an annual bottle exchange between members and pledges.[3]
1994 Ware, LeslieLeslie Ware Alpha Phi Omega (not recognized by national fraternity) Alcorn State University Ware was shot at 1 am while stealing a chair, by the boyfriend of the chair's owner. The surviving pledges originally said they were retrieving the chair for a member who requested it, but subsequently changed their statement, claiming they were pulling a prank on their own. The chapter was banned and officially inactive at the time.[3]
1994 Linn, TerryTerry Linn Delta Chi Bloomsburg University Linn died of alcohol poisoning following Delta Chi's pledging "hell night". His BAC was 0.40.[3]
February 14, 1994 Davis, MichaelMichael Davis Kappa Alpha Psi Southeast Missouri State University Davis died after being brutally beaten as part of a hazing ritual. He was unconscious when he was driven home and put to bed. He had broken ribs, a lacerated kidney, a lacerated liver, and bruises all over his chest, neck, back and arms. He died from bleeding in his brain.[100]
February 10, 1997 Oja, BinayaBinaya Oja Theta Chi Clarkson University As part of Oja's initiation, pledges gathered in a semicircle around a bucket and were instructed to take turns drinking hard liquor. If any pledges did not drink the liquor fast enough, they were instructed to guzzle a full glass of beer. The point of the game was allegedly for pledges to drink to the point of vomiting. Oja was found dead the following morning. News reports suggested that he was pressured heavily to drink, but other pledges and various sources both within and connected to Theta Chi reported that Oja was drinking more than the others in an attempt to impress members of the fraternity and that some fraternity brothers tried to convince him to stop drinking.[75]
September 29, 1997 Krueger, ScottScott Krueger Phi Gamma Delta Massachusetts Institute of Technology Krueger died of alcohol intoxication as part of a ritual celebration intended to forge a bond between each freshman and an upperclass mentor. The freshmen at the party were required to collectively consume a certain amount of liquor. M.I.T. officials were reluctant to call it hazing.[101]
November 11, 1998 Ivey, JackJack Ivey Phi Kappa Sigma University of Texas at Austin Ivey's parents alleged that fraternity members tricked their son into drinking too much, stripped him down to his underwear, and tied him up before driving him around in the back of a truck on the night of his death in 1998. He died of alcohol intoxication, with a BAC of 0.46. Phi Kappa Sigma settled with his parents for $2 million.[102]
December 11, 1999 Lawless, KevinKevin Lawless Sigma Tau Omega Iona College Lawless collapsed and died following the consumption of "large quantities of beer, wine and vodka" at a bar as well as the apartment of one of the fraternity brothers. Another freshman passed out but recovered.[103]
March 15, 1999 Petz, StephenStephen Petz Knights of College Leadership (local fraternity) Ferris State University Petz died of alcohol intoxication after drinking heavily as part of his initiation.[3] The night prior to his death, he played a game called the "wheel of torture". Petz's mother explained, "They sat in a circle, [and] would spin the wheel. And when it was your turn to spin, you had to drink what the wheel said." Petz consumed 27 shots of liquor, and passed out. He was found in serious condition at 8 am the next morning. His fraternity brothers drove him to the hospital an hour later.[104]

2000s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
October 2000 Heideman, AdrianAdrian Heideman Pi Kappa Phi California State University, Chico It is unclear if Heideman was forced to drink heavily, but he died of alcohol poisoning following an initiation event.[105]
Jan. 29, 2001 Green, Joseph T.Joseph T. Green Omega Psi Phi Tennessee State University Green suffered an asthma attack and died while jogging and doing calisthenics as part of his fraternity pledging. He had a temperature of 103.7 °F when he died.[84]
November 4, 2001 Meredith, ChadChad Meredith Kappa Sigma University of Miami After a night of drinking, Meredith was told to swim across Lake Osceola but struggled due to his intoxication. He drowned 34 feet from shore. Meredith's parents sued the fraternity and were awarded $12,600,000, the largest verdict ever awarded in a fraternity hazing death. In 2005 Florida passed the Chad Meredith Act, which allows prosecutors to seek felony charges for hazing.[84]
October 10, 2002 Santos, AlbertAlbert Santos Pi Kappa Alpha University of Nevada, Reno Santos drowned in Manzanita Lake as part of a fraternity ritual. It is unclear if the death was a result of hazing or a prank, but the fraternity was banned from UNR following the incident.[106][107]
February 12, 2002 (date found) Klein, BenjaminBenjamin Klein Zeta Beta Tau Alfred University Two Alfred University fraternity members, Bradley Calkins and Thomas Lam, pled guilty to assault and hazing charges, respectively, following the suicide of Klein. The men admitted to assaulting Klein on February 9 to prevent him from speaking out against the fraternity's hazing practices. "We were all afraid that if he left, he would get our fraternity in trouble because he was drinking and telling others about hazing practices in our fraternity," one of the men said. Calkins admitted he hit Klein in the head with a boot after binding his hands and feet with duct tape in a hotel room during a regional fraternity. Lam admitted to encouraging the practice and not taking any steps to halt it. While he was still tied up, he was placed in the bathtub with the shower turned on and not released until he promised he would not leave the hotel room. Klein was found deceased three days later in a creek behind the fraternity house of an apparent suicide via drug overdose. He was found with cuts and bruises on his body from the assault. A month after Klein's death, Alfred University voted to eliminate the Greek system from their campus.[108]
February 14, 2002 Reardon, DanielDaniel Reardon Phi Sigma Kappa University of Maryland, College Park Reardon died of alcohol poisoning following a hazing ritual. He was comatose for one week before life support was removed.[109] The chapter is still active on UM's campus, but they have overhauled the way they bring members into the fraternity. The recruitment brochure for the 2012 year says it has "no pledging and no hazing. None. Never. Ever. Pledging and hazing has no place in a brotherhood."[110]
September 9, 2002 High, KristinKristin High and Kenitha Saafir Alpha Kappa Alpha California State University, Los Angeles According to a lawsuit filed by the family, on the night they died, they spent several hours at the beach doing calisthenics before being ordered to walk backward into the ocean. Kenitha, who couldn't swim, was hit by a wave and knocked over. Kristin attempted to rescue Kenitha. Both girls drowned. A lawsuit filed by the girls' families alleged that the women had been blindfolded, had their arms tied, and were wearing clothes and shoes when they entered the water.[111]
March 12, 2003 Jennings, Walter DeanWalter Dean Jennings Psi Epsilon Chi State University of New York at Plattsburgh Jennings was pledging Psi Epsilon Chi when he was forced to drink numerous pitchers of water through a funnel. His brain swelled and he died as a result of water intoxication. The fraternity had lost its recognition by the campus five years prior.[112]
Oct. 20, 2003 Nester, KellyKelly Nester Sigma Kappa Omega Plymouth State University Nester was killed in a car accident in which she and 10 other pledges were blindfolded and packed into an SUV, which lost control and flipped. A lawyer for Nester's family said: "The understanding is that this was to be a punishment trip because some of the pledges hadn't done some of things required of them. The intent was, apparently, either to scare them or drop them someplace, forcing them to find their way home." New Hampshire police said that the driver may have been driving erratically, rocking the Jeep back and forth and jamming the brakes. The sorority was an unrecognized local sorority made up of members who had either left or been kicked out of Alpha Sigma Alpha.[113]
September 17, 2004 Bailey, GordieGordie Bailey Chi Psi University of Colorado at Boulder Bailey died of alcohol intoxication following a fraternity initiation ritual that involved heavy drinking.[114] The Gordie Foundation was set up in his memory, "to provide today's young people with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, binge drinking, peer pressure and hazing".
November 25, 2003 Davis, ShawnShawn Davis Occupational hazing Republic Energy Drilling Company A drilling rig employee received 18-year prison sentence in the hazing death of 23-year-old Shawn Davis, a new employee of Republic Energy Drilling Company. Veteran employees were attempting to initiate Davis by hoisting him upwards via a cable used to pick up pipe and place it on the rig floor. Davis resisted, but the employees succeeded in putting the belt on Davis and hooking him to the cat line. Another employee noted that the kelly, the device located on the rig floor that is used to drill into the ground and spins at seventy rotations per minute, was turning and, based on his experience, he knew that any slack in the cat line could get caught on the kelly as it turned. Unbeknownst to other employees, this is what happened shortly before he was hooked to the cat line. They hastily attempted to unhook the cat line as it pulled Davis out of the door of the top doghouse. Davis was dragged, face first, out of the building. Davis hit the bottom half of the doghouse door, taking it off the hinges. He was then dragged to the kelly bushing where he was spun around approximately ten to twenty times as his body hit several different pieces of equipment and surfaces. They immediately shut down the equipment and called 911, but he died of blunt force trauma.[115]
March 8, 2004 James, WilliamWilliam James Southside Masonic Lodge, Patchogue, New York Freemasons James was killed during an initiation ceremony into an unsanctioned "Fellowcrafts Club" attached to a local lodge, when another member mistakenly fired a gun loaded with real bullets instead of blanks. Police say that the members—all Masons—sat James in a chair and placed cans on a small platform around his head. The alleged shooter, Albert Eid, was standing approximately 20 feet away holding a gun. A second man was supposed to knock the cans off when the gun was fired to make the inductee think they had been struck by bullets to create fear and anxiety. Eid had two guns—one with blanks and one with real bullets—and apparently pulled the wrong one out of his pocket and fired, hitting James.[116]
February 2, 2005 Carrington, MatthewMatthew Carrington Chi Tau California State University, Chico Carrington was forced to drink large amounts of water and do calisthenics in a basement flooded with raw sewage with fans blowing on him. He died from water intoxication. The ritual dated back 20 years at the fraternity. As a result, California passed Matt's Law, which allows for felony prosecution of some hazing rituals, which had historically been misdemeanors.[84][117]
Aug. 28, 2005 Luong, KennyKenny Luong Lambda Phi Epsilon University of California, Irvine Luong died after being tackled in a ritual football game that pitted the 10-member pledge group against approximately 40 active members and alumni. The game lasted for more than 3 hours and was played without the use of pads. Prior to the football game, the pledges were forced to complete vigorous calisthenics such as close-fisted pushups on gravel; jumping in the air while standing, landing on their chests without using their hands to break their fall; and drinking two gallons of water in one sitting.[118]
December 10, 2005 Phoummarath, Phanta "Jack"Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath Lambda Phi Epsilon University of Texas at Austin Phoummarath was given at least four bottles of liquor to drink on the evening of his death. His BAC was measured at 0.41. Fraternity members failed to seek medical attention for at least 12 hours after he was rendered unconscious.[84]
November 17, 2006 Cross, TylerTyler Cross Sigma Alpha Epsilon University of Texas at Austin Investigators say Cross fell from a fifth-floor balcony as a result of being highly intoxicated after a hazing ritual. Cross' family claims that he was beaten with paddles, forced to consume large amounts of alcohol, and deprived of sleep.[119]
March 28, 2007 DeVerselly, GaryGary DeVerselly Phi Kappa Tau Rider University DeVerselly died after slipping into an alcohol-induced coma after consuming most of a bottle of vodka during Phi Kappa Tau's "Big Little Night," an event to encourage bonding between older members and new recruits.[84]
November 8, 2008 Griffin, BrettBrett Griffin Sigma Alpha Mu University of Delaware Griffin died of alcohol poisoning after participating in a fraternity ritual, in which the pledges lined up in the basement of the fraternity house, ate raw onion slathered with hot sauce, and drank concoctions that made them vomit. Griffin then drank a 750 ml bottle of Southern Comfort. He was propped up on his side on a couch with a bucket or trash can in which to vomit, and later found "foaming out of his mouth." He died with a BAC of 0.341.[120]
October 5, 2008 Smith, Johnny D.Johnny D. Smith Delta Tau Delta Wabash College Smith died of alcohol poisoning while pledging Delta Tau Delta at Wabash. Following the death, Wabash shut down the fraternity house and discontinued their lease of the fraternity house. Smith's BAC was 0.40 at his death.[121][122]
November 18, 2008 Kowiak, HarrisonHarrison Kowiak Theta Chi Lenoir-Rhyne University Kowiak was fatally injured while playing a capture-the-flag-like game as part of initiation. According to a lawsuit filed by Kowiak's family, Kowiak and another pledge were dressed in brightly colored clothing and led out onto a dark field with instructions to make it to the other end while fraternity brothers tried to stop them. Kowiak struck his head on the ground after being tackled.[84]
November 20, 2008 Starks, MichaelMichael Starks Sigma Nu Utah State University Starks died of alcohol poisoning after drinking heavily as part of the initiation ritual.[84]
December 2, 2008 Starkey, CarsonCarson Starkey Sigma Alpha Epsilon California Polytechnic State University Starkey died of alcohol poisoning with a BAC between 0.39 and 0.44. He had attended a "brown bag" event, where fraternity members ordered pledges to drink specified amounts of alcohol from unknown bottles wrapped in paper bags.[84]
March 1, 2009 Partamian, ArmanArman Partamian Pigs (unofficial local fraternity) State University of New York at Geneseo Partamian died of alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.55. The Pigs had been penalized for hazing practices in 1996, when two students were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning.[84]
October 21, 2009 Wade, DonnieDonnie Wade Phi Beta Sigma Prairie View A&M University Wade collapsed during exercise drills and died because of "acute exertional rhabdomyolysis," a syndrome linked to sudden deaths of military recruits and athletes. A lawsuit by Wade's family alleges that Wade was deprived of fluids while undergoing the intense exercise session that included running bleachers, holding his legs six inches off the ground, doing pushups and jumping jacks, and living on a strict bread-and-water diet.[123]

2010s

Date of death Victim Organization University Notes
October 15, 2010 Mason, SamuelSamuel Mason Tau Kappa Epsilon Radford University According to Mason's mother, Samuel died of alcohol poisoning after taking part in the fraternity's "family drink" ritual, where pledges are given a large amount of alcohol and told to finish it among them. In this case, she claims it was in a 5-gallon gas can.[124] His BAC was 0.48 at the time of his death.[125]
2010 Carter, VictoriaVictoria Carter and Briana Latrice Gather Delta Sigma Theta East Carolina University Carter and Gather died in a traffic accident around 6:30 am on the way to a hair appointment that had been set up to prepare for initiation. Gather and Carter had undergone a number of grueling hazing activities that week, including the "Delta TV," in which the pledges were forced to get into and hold a push-up position, do "wall sits" and maintain that stance for a long period of time, and do the "Delta Chair": standing on one leg and holding heavy bricks over their heads. The pledges also wore "Delta Lipstick": hot sauce rubbed on their lips, and ate a "Delta Apple," a large raw onion; they were also asked to eat large amounts of cottage cheese, and drink buttermilk. The driver of the vehicle, a fellow pledge who survived, pled guilty to misdemeanor death by motor vehicle. According to the lawsuit filed by the family, she was suffering from "excessive and overwhelming fatigue, exhaustion and sleep deprivation and fell asleep behind the wheel" due to the pledging exercises.

The night and morning hours prior to the accident, the pledges had been practicing the “probate death march,” an aspect of the initiation ceremony. They did not have the opportunity to sleep as a result of the long hours of practice.[126]

February 25, 2011 Desdunes, GeorgeGeorge Desdunes Sigma Alpha Epsilon Cornell University Desdunes died of alcohol poisoning following a ΣΑΕ ritual that is the reverse of traditional hazing rituals. Freshman pledges kidnap older members, blindfold them, and bind their wrists and ankles with zip ties and duct tape. The fraternity brothers are asked trivia questions about ΣΑΕ and drink if they get an answer wrong.[2]
2011 Champion, RobertRobert Champion Florida A&M Marching Band Florida A&M University Champion was a drum major in the university's marching band, the Marching 100. He collapsed after undergoing a ritual referred to as "Crossing Bus C", in which band members must walk from the front of the bus to the back while other band members kick, punch, and hit him with straps, drum sticks and other objects. Fellow band members told detectives that the ritual is required in order to be considered for leadership positions.[127]

The university president, James Ammons, resigned shortly after, as did two faculty members. The band was suspended for over a year. The leader, Dante Martin, was convicted of manslaughter and hazing charges and sentenced to six years in prison.

November 2, 2012 Bogenberger, DavidDavid Bogenberger Pi Kappa Alpha Northern Illinois University Bogenberger died of a cardiac arrhythmia triggered by alcohol poisoning. "The event that night involved the pledges rotating between several rooms in the fraternity house, being asked a series of questions, and then being provided cups of vodka and other liquor to drink," police said in a statement. "This resulted in the pledges drinking a large quantity of alcohol in about a two-hour time period." Pledges were told to drink regardless of whether they answered questions correctly.[128] In 2015, 22 former Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity members were convicted of various charges related to the death. None of the men were sentenced to jail time, mostly receiving fines and community service. Richard Schmack, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, said it was the largest hazing prosecution in U.S. history.[129]
February 2012 Torrance, WilliamWilliam Torrance Delta Gamma Iota Vincennes University Torrance died of alcohol poisoning after a bid night ceremony.[130]
2012 Dhanens, PhilipPhilip Dhanens Theta Chi California State University, Fresno Dhanens died of alcohol poisoning after a hazing event in which 15 pledges were placed in a room where they were told they had to drink eight bottles of hard liquor in order to leave.[131]
March 26, 2012 Tipton, RobertRobert Tipton Delta Sigma Phi High Point University 22-year-old Robert Eugene Tipton Jr. was pledging Delta Sigma Phi when he was found unresponsive in an off-campus apartment on March 26, 2012. He was pronounced dead at the hospital later that day. The state medical examiner ruled that an oxymorphone overdose was the cause of death and no criminal charges were filed. The family filed a lawsuit against the fraternity, the university, and members of the fraternity alleging that Tipton was “violently” assaulted and battered during a fraternity “counseling session,” and suffered blunt force trauma to the head, which led to his death. The suit also alleges that a fraternity member deleted text messages from Tipton’s phone after his death to cover up the hazing. The suit contends the school was aware of “outrageous conduct” by the fraternity and misrepresented “information about the frequency or incidence of hazing, violence, injuries, substance abuse, and/or other dangerous and/or illegal activities at HPU or within Delta Sigma Phi.”[132]
April 20, 2013 Marvell Edmondson and Jauwan Holmes Men of Honor (local, unsanctioned fraternity) Virginia State University Edmondson and Holmes drowned during an initiation rite for the underground fraternity known as Men of Honor. Seven students locked arms and attempted to cross the Appomattox River together. Fraternity members told police they completed the same rite several months earlier without issue and the water was shallow enough to make it across without swimming. On April 20, however, the river had swelled considerably due to a recent storm and was moving more swiftly. The students quickly became submerged and were swept downstream. The other five men were rescued by members of the fraternity. Four fraternity members pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter and hazing charges.[133]
December 8, 2013 Deng, Chun “Michael”Chun “Michael” Deng Pi Delta Psi Baruch College Deng died following a hazing ritual called "glass ceiling" while on a retreat in the Poconos. He was blindfolded and wearing a backpack filled with 20 pounds of sand. He fell over after being pushed, striking his head. After he lost consciousness, fraternity members delayed seeking medical assistance for two hours. He died two days later.[134]
July 1, 2014 Villa, ArmandoArmando Villa Pi Kappa Phi California State University, Northridge Villa died following an 18 mile group hike with other pledges near Big Tujunga Canyon Road in Angeles National Forest. According to an attorney who represented Villa's parents, the group ran out of water at some point during the hike and Villa left the group in search of more water. He was later found unresponsive lying face down in a culvert. Other pledges told authorities that they didn’t realize Villa “was any worse off than the other hikers,” according court documents.[135] He died from heatstroke.[136][137][138] His family is suing CSUN and the fraternity.[139] Prosecutors declined to charge the fraternity president, stating that a group hike on a hot day with inadequate water supply did not fit the traditional definition of hazing. They argued that hazing deaths are usually the result of excessive alcohol consumption, drugs or physical injury inflicted by fraternity members, and Villa's death was not due to those causes.[135]
November 14, 2014 Burch, NolanNolan Burch Kappa Sigma West Virginia University Burch, 18, died of alcohol poisoning following an initiation function referred to as "Big-Little" on November 12. Burch was taken back to the fraternity house following the function because of his “high level of intoxication.” Shortly before midnight, another member of Kappa Sigma noticed that Burch's face had a blue coloration to it and was unable to wake him. The fraternity brothers started CPR and called 911, but he died two days later. His blood alcohol content was measured at .493 percent. The fraternity brother who provided Burch with the bottle of alcohol was charged with one count of hazing and one count of conspiracy to commit hazing.[140]
November 17, 2014 Duffy, TrevorTrevor Duffy Zeta Beta Tau (unaffiliated, unsanctioned fraternity) University at Albany Duffy, 19, died of alcohol poisoning two days after a pledging ritual in which he was to consume a 60 ounce bottle of Belvedere vodka. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.58. The ZBT chapter lost its recognition in the fall of 1997, but continued to operate underground. In 2011, the national fraternity Zeta Beta Tau formed a new chapter at Albany with the underground fraternity continuing to use the same name. The recognized ZBT chapter on University of Albany's campus was not involved in the incident.[141][142]

See also

References

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  2. 1 2 Winerip, Michael (April 12, 2012). "When a hazing goes very wrong". New York Times.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Nuwer, Hank (August 22, 2001). Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-21498-X.
  4. ↑ Bryant, Hallman (2001). Understanding A Separate Peace: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents. Greenwood. p. 188. ISBN 0-313-31165-X.
  5. ↑ "The tragedy at Ithaca". Chicago Daily Tribune. October 20, 1873. p. 4.
  6. ↑ "Students' prank caused death". The Monroeville Breeze. June 9, 1892. p. 6.
  7. ↑ "Much Sorrow At Yale". The Inter Ocean. June 12, 1892. p. 27.
  8. ↑ Dwight, Frederick (2009). "Quarter-Century Record, Class Of 1894 Yale College". Kessinger Publishing. p. 471.
  9. ↑ "Killed By Hazing". Chicago Daily Tribune. September 20, 1885. p. 10.
  10. ↑ "Cornell Outrage". The Sun and the Erie Country Independent. February 23, 1894. p. 1.
  11. ↑ "Hazing was the boy's death". Logansport Pharos-Tribune. October 1, 1898. p. 18.
  12. ↑ "Dies on the way to initiation". The New York Times. October 29, 1899. p. 1.
  13. ↑ "Killed by hazing". Harrisburg Telegraph. November 23, 1899.
  14. ↑ "Boy of 12 died from prep school hazing". The World (New York, New York). November 23, 1899.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 "Many are badly injured, some of victims disfigured, cases of hazing at girls schools". The Topeka Daily Capital. January 15, 1906. p. 1.
  16. ↑ "Death Follows a hazing". The Osage City Free Press. November 8, 1900. p. 6.
  17. ↑ "Grave for Thomas Finley Brown". Find a Grave. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  18. ↑ "Father of the victim testifies that his wrote it was hard to be a Christian at West Point". San Francisco Call. December 18, 1900.
  19. ↑ "Bullies and Cowards: The West Point Hazing Scandal 1898–1901". Greenwood Press. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  20. ↑ Ambrose, Stephen (1966). Duty, Honor, Country. A History of West Point. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 277. ISBN 0-8018-6293-0.
  21. ↑ Hill, Michael (November 18, 1990). "West Point Orders About-Face on 108-Year Tradition of Hazing Cadets". Los Angeles Times.
  22. 1 2 "Was death due to hazing?". The Indianapolis Journal (Vol. 53, Number 259). September 16, 1903.
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  28. ↑ "Big Boys of Findlay School Fatally Hurt Youngster". The Wichita Beacon. April 8, 1904. p. 2.
  29. ↑ "Died From Hazing". Butler County Democrat. April 7, 1904. p. 1.
  30. ↑ Was This Student "Hazed" To Death?, Albuquerque Evening Citizen (republished in Chronicling America); published November 3, 1905; retrieved September 1, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Hazing kills schoolboy". The New York Times. February 11, 1905. p. 1.
  32. ↑ "Says hazing caused death". Pittston Gazette (Newspapers.com). January 30, 1906. p. 2.
  33. ↑ "Girl Freshman Killed". Crittenden Record-Press. November 28, 1907.
  34. ↑ "Hazing Caused Death: Student in an Indianapolis School hung by his ankles". Arkansas City Daily Traveler. March 23, 1909. p. 7.
  35. ↑ "Hazing has still another victim". Weekly Rogue River Courier. February 18, 1910.
  36. ↑ "Governor orders investigation in death of student". Asheville Citizen. September 14, 1912. p. 1.
  37. ↑ Southern Reporter vol. 80, p. 86
  38. ↑ Preuss, Arthur, A Dictionary of Secret and other Societies. St. Louis: B. Herder Book Co. 1924 p.258
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  41. ↑ "Hazing students cleared". Morning Sentinel (Orlando, Florida). October 31, 1914.
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  43. ↑ "Hazing brings death to Iowa college boy". Santa Ana Register. October 24, 1916. p. 3.
  44. ↑ "Victim of morningside college hazers is dead". The Chanute Daily Tribune. October 18, 1916. p. 7.
  45. ↑ "Kane boy is drowned in lake at University; Frank McCullough victim of Colgate hazer". The Kane Republican. September 25, 1919.
  46. ↑ "Probe Death of Student". Lincoln Evening Journal. May 1, 1923.
  47. ↑ "Men in hazing death face stiff quiz". Santa Ana Register. May 2, 1923. p. 1.
  48. ↑ "Nowadays We'd Call It 'Waterboarding'". Stanford Magazine. Stanford University. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  49. 1 2 "Students to cease tubbing: hazing practice abolished following death of freshman". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. January 10, 1925. p. 3.
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  52. ↑ "Hazing death inquiry underway". Manitowoc Herald-Times. September 15, 1931.
  53. ↑ "Jury finds student killed by hazing". The Escanaba Daily Press. XXIII (155). September 18, 1931. p. 1.
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  55. ↑ "Richard Beitzel, College Athlete, Fatally Stricken". Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania). April 12, 1935. p. 19.
  56. 1 2 "Hazing Results in Boy's Death: Taylor Lewis dies in Miami of injuries received in 1934". The Index-Journal (Greenwood, South Carolina). March 7, 1936.
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  58. 1 2 "Two in Court After Hazing". The Milwaukee Journal (Appleton, Wisconsin). 26 November 1943.
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  63. ↑ "Officer cleared partly in sea hazing death". The San Bernardino County Sun. April 3, 1946.
  64. ↑ "Two die after Ceremony for equator crossing". The Galveston Daily News. February 19, 1946. p. 3.
  65. ↑ "Will file charges against Martin in Bozeman killing". The Daily Inter Lake. April 7, 1948. p. 7.
  66. ↑ "Hazing prank ends in death of Louisiana college student". The Oneonta Star. March 10, 1951. p. 1.
  67. ↑ "Freak car accident claims second victim". The Edwardsville Intelligencer. May 31, 1951. p. 1.
  68. ↑ "Boy run over during Fraternity Hazing". The Daily Notes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. May 28, 1951. p. 1.
  69. ↑ "Hazing Death Action Taken". The Marysville Tribune. May 16, 1950. p. 1.
  70. ↑ "Fraternity suspended after hazing death". The San Bernardino County Sun. October 12, 1950. p. 4.
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  72. ↑ "Find Body of Victim in Hazing". The Owosso Argus-Press. February 18, 1956.
  73. ↑ Mount, Bob; Lyttle, Richard (October 8, 1957). "Oxnard college student Max Caulk dies in fraternity hazing at Santa Barbara". Oxnard Press-Courier. p. 1.
  74. ↑ "Hazing death investigation is demanded". Spokane Daily Chronicle. September 18, 1959.
  75. 1 2 Nuwer, Hank (January 29, 2004). The Hazing Reader. Indiana University Press. p. XXVI. ISBN 0-253-34370-4.
  76. ↑ "High School Hazing Death". Mt. Vernon Register. May 20, 1959. p. 1.
  77. ↑ "Moxee youth dies from club initiation hi-jinks". Ellensburg Daily Record. May 20, 1959. p. 2.
  78. ↑ "State Supt. asks schools to set up stricter disciplinary policies". The Raleigh Register (Volume 84, No. 71). September 16, 1963.
  79. ↑ "Accidental drowning ruled in hazing death". Standard Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania). August 24, 1996. p. 2.
  80. ↑ "Death stirs hazing ban". The Daily Chronicle (Centralia, Washington). October 12, 1967. p. 9.
  81. ↑ "Grisly concoction kills college youth at club hazing". The Salt Lake Tribune. October 11, 1967. p. 4.
  82. ↑ "Heart failure caused death". Xenia Daily Gazette. April 15, 1969. p. 2.
  83. ↑ "Man given fine in hazing death". The Circleville Herald. May 24, 1969. p. 1.
  84. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Hazed and Accused". Crime Library. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  85. ↑ "Pierce trio make pleas in fatality". The Van Nuys Times. March 16, 1973. p. 1.
  86. ↑ "Autopsy ordered in death of student". Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania). September 14, 1973. p. 22.
  87. 1 2 Rangel, Jesus (May 4, 1888). "15 Indicted in Rutgers Hazing Death". New York Times.
  88. ↑ "Hazing death brings call for ending fraternities". The Anniston Star. November 24, 1974. p. 3.
  89. ↑ Associated Press (20 September 1975). "2 Charged in Hazing Death". The Oil City Derrick. p. 2.
  90. ↑ "2 Men charged with murder in Cheney hazing death". September 20, 1975. p. 22.
  91. 1 2 Parks, Gregory S.; Jones, Shane E.; Hughey Matthew E. (Winter 2013). "Belief, Truth, and Positive Organizational Deviance" (PDF). Howard Law Journal 56 (2).
  92. ↑ Schabner, Dean (October 17, 2014). "Hazing Claiming Younger Victims". ABC News.
  93. ↑ "1 Dead, 5 injured in initiation". The Daily News (Huntingdon, Pennsylvania). January 16, 1979. p. 2.
  94. ↑ "Appeals court upholds hazing death award". The index-journal (Greenwood, South Carolina). December 2, 1986. p. 11.
  95. ↑ Billington, Evin (February 26, 2014). "Going Greek: Unaffiliated Greek Organizations gain popularity at the college". The Ithacan.
  96. ↑ http://www.taugammatheta.com/home.htm
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  98. ↑ Jouzaitis, Carol (November 14, 1990). "College Still Stunned By Hazing Death". Chicago Tribune.
  99. ↑ "Hazing Suspected In U.va Student's Death". Daily Press. April 4, 1992.
  100. ↑ Spiller, Harry (September 15, 2003). Murder in the Heartland: Book II. Turner. ISBN 1-56311-912-9.
  101. ↑ Goldberg, Carey (October 1, 1997). "A Drinking Death Rattles Elite M.I.T.; Latest Fraternity Party Case Underscores Nationwide Problem". New York Times.
  102. ↑ "$2 million settled in hazing death incident". Amarillo Globe-News. August 2, 2000.
  103. ↑ Leo, Standora (April 14, 2000). "7 college men charged in hazing death: DA". New York Daily News.
  104. ↑ "Student Dies After Drinking 27 Shots At Frat Hazing". CBS News. April 2, 2001.
  105. ↑ Indar, Josh (October 31, 2002). "Frat drinking death suit settled". News Review.
  106. ↑ "UNR Fraternity Banned After Hazing Death". 8 News Now. December 16, 2002.
  107. ↑ "UNR death still probed as a hazing". Las Vegas Sun News. Oct 14, 2002.
  108. ↑ "AU Press Release". Alfred University. 3/1/03. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  109. ↑ Cohan, Drew (November 22, 2002). "Md. fraternity sued for hazing death". The Cavalier Daily.
  110. ↑ Johnson, Jenna (March 11, 2012). "Fraternity rush sobers up at University of Maryland and elsewhere". The Washington Post.
  111. ↑ Banks, Sandy (September 15, 2007). "Five years later, still haunted by drowning". Los Angeles Times.
  112. ↑ Foderaro, Lisa (September 15, 2003). "Death in Underground Frat's Hazing Ritual Shakes a SUNY Campus". New York Times.
  113. ↑ Tuz, Susan (July 12, 2004). "Ridgefield woman faces suit in fatal hazing of student". The News-Times.
  114. ↑ "Frat brothers scrawled slurs all over CU student's body". News 7 Denver. Oct 8, 2004.
  115. ↑ "Louis Earl GOODMAN, Appellant, v. The STATE of Texas, State". Court of Appeals of Texas, Fort Worth. March 30, 2006.
  116. ↑ "Man killed during initiation at Masonic Lodge". Fox News. March 9, 2004.
  117. ↑ Vega, Cecilia (March 4, 2005). "Horrifying details in hazing death". San Francisco Gate.
  118. ↑ Miller, Brandon (March 5, 2007). "Pledge Death Witnesses Break Silence". New University.
  119. ↑ "Texas Fraternity Ordered to Pay $16.2M in Hazing Death". Campus Safety Magazine. October 26, 2008.
  120. ↑ "Former fraternity members ruled NOT liable in alcohol-poisoning death of 18-year-old pledge found 'foaming at the mouth' with alcohol level four times the legal limit". Daily Mail UK. 15 November 2013.
  121. ↑ Thomas, Derrick (Nov 26, 2008). "Frat Where Freshman Died Was 'Out Of Control,' Family Says". ABC 6 The Indy Channel.
  122. ↑ Oddi, Marcia (May 12, 2013). "Ind. Decisions - "COA OKs parents' suit against fraternity in Wabash College alcohol death"". Indiana Law Blog.
  123. ↑ Young, Michael (20 April 2010). "Prairie View AandM disbands Phi Beta Sigma fraternity over hazing violations that ended in death". Dallas Morning News.
  124. ↑ Abbott, Ryan (March 21, 2012). "Mom blames fraternity for hazing death". Courthouse News Service.
  125. ↑ Moxley, Tonia (December 18, 2011). "Six avoid jail in Radford University hazing death". The Roanoke Times.
  126. ↑ Blythe, Anne (October 2, 2012). "Suit says sorority hazing led to fatal crash". News Observer.
  127. ↑ NG, Christina (May 24, 2012). "Inside the Bus During Drum Major Robert Champion's Fatal Hazing". ABC News.
  128. ↑ Burnett, Sarah (12/18/12). "Hazing At Fraternity: 22 Pi Kappa Alpha Members Charged After Student Dies". Huffington Post. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  129. ↑ SOKOLOVA, DARIA (May 8, 2015). "22 ex-NIU fraternity members sentenced in 2012 hazing death". Daily Chronicle.
  130. ↑ Mattingly, Kara (Feb 18, 2012). "VU fraternities taking precautions after student death". 14 News WFIE.
  131. ↑ Benjamin, Marc (March 18, 2013). "Family of Fresno State teen who died after hazing sues fraternity". The Fresno Bee.
  132. ↑ Lopez, Robert (March 26, 2015). "Family of dead HPU student refiles lawsuit alleging hazing". News & Record.
  133. ↑ Bowes, Mark (February 12, 2015). "Four men convicted of manslaughter, hazing in VSU drowning deaths". Richmond Times Dispatch.
  134. ↑ Davis, Linsey (July 7, 2014). "U.S. Charges Imminent in Hazing Death of Baruch College Student, Attorney Says". ABC News.
  135. 1 2 Rocha, Veronica (July 20, 2015). "Prosecutors decline to charge fraternity president in CSUN hazing death". Los Angeles Times.
  136. ↑ Cocca, Christina (Jul 3, 2014). "Family of CSUN Student Who Died on Fraternity Trip Wants Justice: "They Left Him There to Die". NBC Los Angeles.
  137. ↑ Baldonado, Kim (Sep 5, 2014). "CSUN Says Hazing Was a Factor in Student's Death".
  138. ↑ Malero, Mateo (September 10, 2014). "Zeta Mu, hazing practices evident in CSUN report". The Sundial – California State University, Northridge.
  139. ↑ "University, fraternity are sued over hazing incident". msn.com.
  140. ↑ "Big Brother arrested for hazing in connection with WVU frat death". Trib Live News. February 11, 2015.
  141. ↑ Clukey, Keshia (April 1, 2015). "UAlbany student death: Fatal hazing details in court". Times Union.
  142. ↑ WNYT Staff (10/22/15). "More arrests made in connection with UAlbany hazing death". WNYT News Channel 13. Check date values in: |date= (help)

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