Initiation Hazing Won't Get Criminal Charges

No Criminal Charges in Alleged Hazing

A district attorney no longer plans to pursue criminal charges in an alleged incident of hazing at an initiation ritual of the University of South Alabama's chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon in December of 2006.

"The allegations are it ended up in pledges being dragged around," John Furman, an assistant district attorney told a local newspaper. Furman also said that pledges at the initiation were blindfolded and given paddles and told not to let go of them.

The brothers were then said to have tried to steal the paddles from the pledges, where one pledge thought he had injured his spleen.

Southern Alabama Kappa Alpha Psi brothers given Probation for Hazing

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On Friday, the Press-Register reported that three Kappa Alpha Psi brothers from the University of Southern Alabama received probation for a hazing incident that occurred in the fall of 2005.

Antwuan Lervoi Calhoun, 24, Derrick Greaves, 21, and Bryant Bradley, 25, received sentances of probation for the hazing incident that left one pledge in the hospital. The chapter was shut down immediately after that allegations surfaced.

Two other bothers of the same chapter, Jamion Burney and Ricky Patrick were expected to also plead guilty to third degree assault and receive suspend sentences.

The incident became public when a student, known as Paul Jones, was sent to the hospital with injuries from being struck in the chest and buttocks with a cane. A cane is featured in many of the historically black fraternities step shows, and is well known symbol of the fraternity.

Jones was the only one of the pledges who would co-operate with police. Jones also alleged that after reporting the incident and co-operating with police, he received threatening phone calls and dirty looks until he graduated.

Jones is still under treatment for his injuries he received nearly a year ago.

TKE National Official Says No Hazing Took Place at South Alabama

Official of TKE Doubts Hazing

A representative from Tau Kappa Epsilon's national office is sticking up for his boys at the University of South Alabama, saying that he doesn't believe any form of hazing took place during an incident where a pledge suffered a ruptured spleen.

The representative said brothers did blindfold the pledges and did other things which are prohibited, but the act of hazing never took place.

University officials disagree, sticking to their original stance on the incident. Four other fraternities at the college had face hazing violations in recent years.

No brothers have been charged in the incident as of yet.

More Hazing: South Alabama Frat Boys Reportedly Hazed Pledge

South Alabama Frat Focus of Hazing Investigation

Officials said last week that the University of South Alabama's Tau Kappa Epsilon is suspended until further notice following a hazing incident at the campus.

A recently initiated member of the fraternity reportedly suffered extensive bruising following an incident of hazing prior to the winter break.

Charges have yet to be filed in the supposed Tau Kappa Epsilon hazing.