An incident involving a college student from New Jersey has brought attention to potential safety issues related to hazing incidents on campuses nationwide. Recently, a 19-year-old student from Rutgers University was hospitalized in serious condition after being electrocuted during what was reported as a hazing event at the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house. Reports indicate that another student got hurt trying to pull him away from the power lines.
In response, the national organization of Alpha Sigma Phi has permanently banned the Rutgers chapter, effectively shutting down operations at the College Avenue House.
Alpha Sigma Phi’s President and CEO, Gordy Hemminger, stated that the chapter violated multiple safety guidelines, suggesting that had there been no hazing that night, the injuries might not have occurred. Following this, Rutgers University placed the fraternity on disciplinary probation and issued a cease-and-desist order.
As investigators look into the details surrounding the hospitalization, there are increasing concerns about the safety of off-campus Greek housing and the risks of hazing.
David Stallman, president of CampusPeak, expressed that parents often expect universities to maintain more oversight over off-campus housing than they actually do. Opinions vary among university lawyers about how much responsibility schools should take for safety issues in these facilities.
In light of the alleged hazing incident, it was revealed that the fraternity house had a troubling history of inspections, with numerous code violations noted since 2014, including significant structural and fire safety concerns. Just a month prior to the incident, the property’s inspection certificate was confiscated due to these ongoing issues, yet many violations remained unaddressed when inspectors last returned.
There have been suggestions that universities should be more transparent regarding the safety of off-campus housing, which could benefit parents seeking secure living arrangements for their children. Meanwhile, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the possibility of criminal charges against those involved in the incident, and the injured student is reportedly receiving medical treatment and recovering.
Stallman pointed out that with many off-campus properties being large business ventures, families should be vigilant about the safety claims made in lease agreements. There’s a lot at stake, not just for the students, but for the broader community as well.
