Oct. 27 (UPI) — A fraternity at Rutgers University in New Jersey is under investigation and has been permanently shut down after a student was critically injured in an alleged hazing incident.
The university issued a cease-and-desist on the Alpha Sigma Phi chapter, hours after the 19-year-old was found unresponsive last week in the basement of the fraternity’s off-campus house.
Rutgers officials said the fraternity admitted the student was shocked with electricity and then came into contact with water. Authorities discovered the injured student after responding to a disconnected 911 call.
“Based on our investigation, hazing did occur and as a result, the fraternity made the decision to close the chapter,” Gordy Heminger, a spokesperson for Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc., said in a statement.
“At some point, water became involved,” Heminger added. “This was not students just listening to music in the dark, as was claimed by an anonymous parent. This was hazing. We are still trying to determine who and how many people were involved, but we believe it will be double digits when all the facts come out.”
After being shut down, the fraternity house in New Brunswick was also condemned following a history of building code violations. An inspection earlier this year found numerous electrical hazards on the property.
The student, who was injured, is no longer in critical condition and is recovering.
Heminger promised that “all members directly or indirectly involved will be permanently expelled” from the fraternity.
“We hope Rutgers will do the same,” he added. “New Jersey has very strong anti-hazing laws and I hope the prosecutor seeks the maximum penalties allowed for those involved.”
