JUNE 4, 2009 – A Cal Poly Pomona student was seriously burned during an initiation last March, leading the campus to suspend nine students and the fraternity, a college spokesman announced Wednesday. The student was one of 14 pledges who were blindfolded and driven to the high desert by members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon. They were placed around a bonfire before the blindfolds were removed and gasoline was splashed on the fire for dramatic effects. However, some of the gas landed on a student, who suffered second-degree burns to his arms, legs and chest, school officials said. Last month, four members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo were arrested and charged with contributing to the death of a pledge, which died of alcohol poisoning following an initiation.
Displaying all posts for ‘Hazing’
Cal Poly Pomona Fraternity Suspended for Hazing Incident
Four Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Students Arrested Thursday in Hazing Death
MAY 22, 2009 -San Luis Obispo police officials arrested four Cal Poly students in the December, 2008 hazing death of a prospective fraternity member. Carson Starkey died of alcohol poisoning after he and fellow pledges were required to drink large amounts in a short period of time, police said. Starkey an 18-year-old from Austin, Texas, was found unresponsive in the early-morning hours following the off-campus Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity party. He was taken by ambulance to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His blood-alcohol content was measured to be between 0.39 and 0.45 percent, more than three times the legal limit. Haithem Muthana Ibrahim, 20, of Lafayette, and Zacary Westen Ellis, 22, of San Luis Obispo were arrested on suspicion of felony hazing causing death or great bodily injury, and furnishing alcohol to a minor, causing death or great bodily injury, a misdemeanor. Russell Martin Taylor, 22, of Fresno and Adam Edward Marszal, 21, of Carmichael were arrested on suspicion of the same misdemeanor charges. All four were freed Thursday on bail. Authorities said the pledges were given large amounts of alcohol to consume, including 151-proof Everclear, and instructed to sit in a circle and consume the alcohol in a rapid fashion. A bucket was placed in the middle of the group to collect any vomit, authorities said, and steps were [...] Read more »