6 - Campus Crime

 

Texas A&M Fraternity Investigated After Hazing Leaves Pledges with 'Black Urine' 

A fraternity at Texas A&M has been suspended as hazing allegations are being investigated.

On September 14, multiple Kappa Sigma pledges were allegedly rushed to the hospital following a hazing incident on the Texas A&M campus in College Station. 

These pledges reported they were unable to walk and were urinating a black liquid following the incident. Several have been hospitalized, with one of them describing the event as a "torturous workout." 

Pledges were instructed to arrive at the fraternity's lodge where they would be taken to a secluded area by current fraternity members. 

"You have to put your hands on your heels and squat all as a group," one of the pledges reported. "And they're yelling at you, making you squat together. And that's where we did three, four, or five hundred of those." The pledge then added: "All in the mud, all real, real dark, people yelling at you, shining lights in your face, you're getting dizzy, you're throwing up." 

The pledge then disclosed that some of the members passed out during the event. Those who didn't were forced to complete all the activities. Afterward, at least ten members were reportedly hospitalized. 

KPRC Houston announced that some of the victims were unable to walk, while others were reportedly diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life-threatening muscle injury that causes muscles to break down. 

"My legs wouldn't move more than a few inches and then I peed and it was almost all black," a pledge revealed.

Later, another pledge came forward and disclosed that victims were told to go to different hospitals and lie about their injuries. Victims were instructed not to tell the truth of what happened. 

Another pledge then revealed that Kappa Sigma leaders within the chapter allegedly began ordering fraternity members to stay silent following the incident. 

[Where the incident allegedly took place (The fraternity's lodge); picture above leads to source.]

NBC News reported that Kappa Sigma was aware of the hazing incident on the Texas A&M campus and that the chapter has been suspended pending an investigation. The fraternity released the following statement:

"The Kappa Sigma Fraternity is aware of an incident involving members of our Texas A&M University Chapter. Any member found to violate the Fraternity's Code of Conduct, which strictly forbids hazing, will be held accountable. The operations of our Chapter at A&M are suspended pending an investigation." 

The Brazos County Sheriff's Office then released a statement following the incident:

The university then asserted their zero-tolerance policy for hazing and confirmed the allegations are under investigation: 

"The Texas A&M University does not tolerate hazing and takes allegations of hazing seriously. The Division of Student Affairs is aware of hazing allegations recently reported. The allegations are currently under investigation for possible violations of the Student Conduct Code. The university will fully cooperate with any law enforcement investigations related to these allegations. Given the active investigation, we cannot share additional details at this time."