Frat Boys Indicted
A tale of “physical brutality, cattle prodding and binge drinking” is how Travis County Attorney David Escamilla described what prompted charges against four members of a UT fraternity.
The president of the Texas Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) - Texas Rho Fraternity, Chase Bolding, vice-president Jimmy Berry, and pledge trainers Austin Sherrill and Will Evans are charged with failure to report hazing and furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The charges arise from the November 2006 “Jungle Week” in which one of the SAE pledges, Tyler Cross, died after falling from a balcony of a private dorm on November 17, 2006.
The affidavits describe how members of the fraternity engaged in hazing rituals that included the use of cattle prods, striking pledges’ hands with thrown darts, and compelling them to gather cactus barehanded.
At one point, two pledges sustained minor burns after Sherrill “picked up a hot clothes iron and caused it to come in contact with [their] faces” according to court documents. The pledges were told not to attend classes until their burns healed.
The culmination of Jungle Week was “Senior Boo.” The indictment alleges frat members encouraged nine pledges to consume half-gallon-sized bottles of tequila, whiskey, and peppermint schnapps.
Later that night, the pledges were put in the back of rental truck where a keg of beer was provided. Some were also shocked with a cattle prod.
The charges are class A and B misdemeanors, which are punishable by a year in jail and a fine up to a $4,000, and up to six months in jail and a $2,000 fine respectively.
Don’t ya just love it how hazing is “illegal,” “banned” and “doesn’t occur” on campuses and in the military? So because it’s not allowed, that means it doesn’t take place, right? Sure. If you wanna join certain organizations, beware and be prepared. Stay safe.
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And I have a contest I’ll be running next week too.
