Fraternity brothers at Sigma Chi allegedly hit pledges with a automobile as a part of a hazing ritual now below investigation by the College of Central Florida, based on an incident report obtained by the Orlando Sentinel late Wednesday.
A sorority member whose home sits subsequent door to Sigma Chi’s instructed police she heard yelling, noticed a automobile strike a younger man after which heard somebody shout “assist!” and “my bones, my bones, they’re damaged,” the report stated.
UCF confirmed on Friday that it’s investigating allegations of hazing at Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon. Each have been suspended by the college and their nationwide organizations whereas the investigations are underway.
The report offered some particulars on how UCF police ended up on the Sigma Chi home within the early hours of Feb. 24.
A member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority known as UCF’s police division at about 3 a.m. that day. She reported that she heard yelling and noticed a gray Kia automobile from the Sigma Chi home hit somebody — she assumed a pledge — whereas driving about 10 to fifteen miles per hour, based on the report.
She reported seeing a number of males all carrying white shirts or polos with khaki pants, which she instructed police was frequent fraternity pledge apparel. Different residents of the sorority later instructed police “one of many boys bought hit by a automobile.”
A detective assigned to the case wrote within the report, “Sigma Chi brothers had allegedly pressured new members to face in entrance of vehicles whereas members of the group hit them with vehicles.”
Police interviewed three Sigma Chi brothers who stated that they had no information of anybody being hit by a automobile or harm and that they had been enjoying basketball simply earlier than police had arrived. One officer described a fraternity brother as being “evasive” when questioned.
A Kia matching the eyewitness description tried to go away the realm driving with its headlights off, however police stopped the automobile. It’s unclear what police discovered after they stopped the car.
Cops additionally checked contained in the fraternity home and with native hospitals, however they didn’t discover a sufferer they thought was associated to the incident at Sigma Chi, the report stated.
Investigations into each Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon’s alleged hazing incidents stay open as of Wednesday night, UCF spokesperson Courtney Gilmartin stated.
In an announcement despatched via Instagram on Tuesday night, Sigma Chi stated it couldn’t touch upon an ongoing investigation. It had not responded to a follow-up query concerning the hit-and-run allegations as of Wednesday night.
“We’re dedicated to cooperating with the college and with UCF PD throughout this course of to resolve any actions and misunderstandings,” the fraternity’s assertion learn.
Sigma Chi has been a repeat offender at UCF, having been suspended eight occasions between 2015 and 2020, together with 4 suspensions in 2019 alone. A type of 2019 incidents concerned allegations the fraternity had blindfolded a pledge and compelled him to make use of cocaine.
In an emailed assertion Monday, Gilmartin stated each fraternities had been placed on an “interim group suspension,” which suggests they can’t conduct actions on or off campus.
Gilmartin stated the college recommended those that got here ahead to report the incidents.
“UCF unequivocally condemns hazing in all kinds, and we’re dedicated to holding people and organizations accountable for actions that threaten the protection and well-being of our college students and others,” she stated.
The fraternity’s nationwide group didn’t reply to a request for touch upon Monday. However Gilmartin stated the nationwide group had suspended the UCF chapter.
Justin Kirk, Delta Upsilon’s worldwide government director, stated in an announcement Monday that the group positioned its personal, separate suspension on the UCF Delta Upsilon chapter. The suspension is a short lived one whereas the investigation is underway and means all actions should stop. It might last as long as 60 days.
