An Ohio University fraternity pleaded not guilty to hazing on Monday but was ordered to temporarily suspend operations after Athens police said an initiation ceremony sent one freshman to the hospital.
The national chapter of Delta Tau Delta announced Tuesday that it will allow members to continue living in the fraternity house but has forbid them from hosting social events, recruiting prospective members and educating new members about the fraternity.
One pledge said he was blindfolded, forced to drink large quantities of alcohol and repeatedly slapped around
according to a police report. Pledges told police they were told they would not get into the fraternity if they refused drinks or beatings.
Michael Pristera, 18, of Prospect, Ky., sustained multiple injuries including broken bones, a swollen and bloody face, a chipped tooth and handprints on his chest, back and sides.
The international Fraternity takes these allegations seriously said Jim Russell, executive vice president of the national chapter, in a press release. We are working closely with the University officials to investigate the incident.
Southeastern Ohio Emergency Medical Services responded to a call at Jefferson Hall and transported Pristera, a freshman studying marketing, to O'Bleness Memorial Hospital.
Pristera was unconscious when the ambulance arrived. He later told police that he did not want to get his friends in trouble. He did not want to lose his friends or the Delt house so he didn't want to say anything said Officer Jeremy Emerick in the report.
Pristera was discharged from O'Bleness on Friday.
Thomas Rotar, 18, of Chardon, Ohio entered O'Bleness at about 2:30 a.m. saying he was also assaulted at the fraternity. Rotar, a freshman who hasn't declared a major, had visible injuries from being slapped multiple times.
Rotar told police that no one should have to go through what they went through and named nine other pledges who, Rotar said, did not sustain serious injuries. Similar incidents have occurred at Delta Tau Delta before, said Rotar in the report.
Pledge who refused to obey fraternity members were tackled to the ground
slapped around and thrown into walls
according to the report.
Rotar was accompanied to O'Bleness by fellow pledge Greg Tropf, whose injuries are unknown. Rotar was asked to write out a statement and
before he answered
looked over to Tropf. Tropf shook his head no
according to the report.
Fraternity President Paul Kolbe refused to comment.
The members of Delta Tau Delta will be arraigned on Nov. 23 at 8:00 a.m. The fraternity's only prior complaints are two noise violations.
Hazing is a fourth-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum 30 days in jail and fine of $250 for individuals and $2,000 for organizations. The report also listed felony assault as an offense, but police have yet to charge anyone with assault. Assault is a second-degree felony, punishable by two to eight years in prison and a maximum fine of $15,000 for individuals and $20,000 for organizations.
OU has launched its own investigation. If found guilty, the fraternity and its members could face probation or expulsion from campus.
I am very
very concerned about what I read in the police report
said Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi. This type of behavior is not acceptable.
Neither Lombardi nor Carol Preston, assistant director of Greek Life, said that they know of any prior complaints regarding hazing at OU in the past few years.
OU's Delta Tau Delta chapter was founded in 1862 and is the oldest continuously existing chapter in the world, according to the chapter's Web site.
Last academic year, seven deaths were linked to hazing-related activities nationally, according to hazingprevention.org.
