US police charge fraternity members in growing crackdown

Nearly four dozen University of New Hampshire fraternity members are facing criminal charges, and the suspension of their chapter, over alleged hazing during recruitment, in the largest such prosecution in a growing crackdown by US officials.

The 46 students charged in the case are believed to be participants or observers in the event this past April involving new members at their Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house in the town of Durham.

Neither Durham police nor the university released details of the alleged activities. The University of New Hampshire said, however, that it was told of the incident by the national headquarters of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity – which has had other recent misconduct issues with its chapters at New Hampshire and beyond – and that the university then reported the matter to the local police.

“We have cooperated with police throughout the investigation, and the fraternity was interim-suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation,” said a UNH spokeswoman.

Prosecutors noted that the 46 fraternity members included some who were charged only for being present during the incident and failing to report it. The charges in some cases are a misdemeanour carrying the threat of a $1,200 fine (£1,000), authorities said.

In addition to imposing the organisational suspension on the fraternity, the University of New Hampshire will subject the individual fraternity members to conduct reviews, the UNH spokeswoman said.

Police issued arrest summonses for all 46 students, and by late last week at least 10 had been detained and released with a promise to return for their court arraignments in July.

The arrests come amid an escalating series of attempts by police and parents around the country to use the legal system to force accountability among fraternities after more than 50 deaths since 2000.

They include the family of Daniel Santulli, a University of Missouri student who suffered permanent brain damage from being forced to drink a bottle of vodka at a fraternity party last year. His parents last month reached a settlement with his fraternity and 22 other students, then added demands this month against two more students after learning further details of the case.

Also last month in Ohio, a jury convicted two Bowling Green State University students on hazing charges over last year’s death of classmate Stone Foltz, although it acquitted them of manslaughter and homicide charges. Eight students were originally charged in that case, which also involved a victim forced to drink large amounts of liquor.

The Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter at the University of New Hampshire lists three other incidents, prior to the one in April, of social incidents since 2017 that led to formal reprimands. Its website identifies the chapter as having 82 members, including 14 new entries. Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s chapter at Georgia College & State University was closed earlier this year after an incident that led to eight arrests of fraternity members and one hospitalisation for alcohol-related sickness.

paul.basken@timeshighereducation.com