Latest news with #AlphaTauOmega
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Yahoo
WSU Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity shut down until 2030 for hazing
Washington State University (WSU) is shutting down one of its fraternities until 2030 due to multiple hazing violations. According to a violation report on the university's website, new members of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity were coerced into drinking alcohol and taking drugs, forced into physical activities as punishment, and subjected to a power imbalance between members. The report also states that the fraternity house must be alcohol-free for two years upon re-recognition. Earlier this year, another WSU fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega, was stripped of recognition until 2026. An appeals court ruled that the university was liable for the death of student Sam Martinez. The freshman from Bellevue died of alcohol poisoning in 2019 while pledging. This ruling marked the first time a university within Washington has been held accountable for a hazing-related death. According to court documents obtained by KIRO 7, a fraternity member gave Martinez and another 'pledge' a half gallon of rum and told them to drink it in less than an hour during the fraternity's annual Big Brother Party. Martinez's blood alcohol content was at 0.372 during his autopsy, according to the coroner. Martinez' parents filed a lawsuit in 2020, arguing that the university, the fraternity, and others were responsible for their son's death. In 2022, a King County Superior Court judge dismissed the case against the university, writing that WSU did not owe a duty of care to Martinez. However, in January, the appeals court decision overturned that ruling. In 2021, the Whitman County Prosecutor's Office charged 15 former members of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity in connection to Martinez's death. Some were sentenced to probation, while others served anywhere from a single day to 19 days in jail. Only one defendant was accused of providing alcohol to Martinez.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Troy University fraternity's 128-mile walk aids Veterans fund
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – A fraternity at Troy University is once again spending spring break, talking the talk and walking the walk. The Alpha Tau Omega fraternity is in the middle of their annual 'Walk Hard' fundraiser. The group walks from Troy to Panama City Beach to raise money for Jeep Sullivan's Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures organization. 35 fraternity members left campus Friday on the 128-mile trek. They arrived in Vernon today. They're expected to arrive at the Panama City Beach City Pier on Wednesday. Walk Hard began 16 years ago and has grown every year since. Many of the students have made the trip before. 'We've got 35 total walkers. 19 of them are on at least their second walk. But I'll tell you what's really impressive is we have we have two who are four-year walkers. They have walked every year freshman to senior year,' Executive Assistant to Chancellor of Troy Kyle Shook said. The group hopes to raise $135,000 this year to support the physical and mental rehabilitation of wounded warriors. Each participant has raised a certain amount prior to the walk. But it's not too late to donate to their cause. If you'd like to help out, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two UCF fraternities under investigation for hazing, university says
The police department at the University of Central Florida is investigating two fraternities following allegations of hazing, a university spokesperson confirmed Friday. Police officers visited two addresses matching those for Alpha Tau Omega and Delta Upsilon fraternities this week, according to the crime log on the UCF police department's website. The crime log lists the investigation at Alpha Tau Omega's address as 'hazing' while Delta Upsilon's is listed as 'college hazing, risk of injury or death.' Both cases are listed as 'open' as of Friday evening. Courtney Gilmartin, a UCF spokesperson, confirmed investigations at two fraternities but said no additional information records were available because the investigations were ongoing. Alpha Tau Omega's UCF chapter has been sanctioned previously by UCF, including twice in 2018 when two fraternity brothers were arrested and charged in connection with an alleged gang rape at an off-campus party. The investigations come as UCF sanctioned the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity earlier this year following an hazing incident. The university found images of Phi Gamma Delta pledges being blindfolded on a couch, with one holding a Nazi swastika.
