A student at Bowie State University (BSU) filed a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the fraternity he was pledging, claiming he was brutally hazed during the process.
According to WUSA TV, Kevin Hayes filed suit Monday in Prince George's County Circuit Court, seeking $3 million and citing charges of battery/hazing, false imprisonment and gross negligence.
Hayes, 20, was pledging for the Alpha Phi Alpha (APA) fraternity at BSU, a school in the University System of Maryland, in the fall semester of 2013. At the time, according to his lawsuit, he said fraternity brothers Mike Ross and Keenan Goins beat him in various ways that included punching, kicking and paddling.
Hayes described the beatings as "punishments" for getting information on the APA chapter and national organization wrong. What's more is Hayes alleged he was specifically told not to "snitch" on the brothers for hazing by way of them threatening him and his mother.
"Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. strictly prohibits hazing in any form whether physical or mental as a term or condition of membership in the organization. Hazing is illegal and a crime in most jurisdictions. Aspirants to the organization should participate only in the sanctioned membership process of the Fraternity. Aspirants must not agree to submit to hazing in order to obtain Fraternity membership," the APA national organization said in a statement. "Pledging has been officially abolished as a means of obtaining membership in Alpha Phi Alpha and pledge 'lines' have been officially abolished by the Fraternity. Aspirants must not submit themselves, or agree to submit themselves, to any membership activities that are prohibited by the Fraternity.
"Members of Alpha Phi Alpha are forbidden from requiring any aspirant to engage in prohibited membership activities. Members of Alpha Phi Alpha are not authorized to require any aspirant to engage in prohibited membership activities."
The state of Maryland has anti-hazing laws in place that strictly prohibits practices that may cause physical injury for the point of being accepted into a group, WUSA TV reported.
"Bowie State University is aware of the lawsuit filed today alleging an incidence of hazing by a fraternity on our campus. We understand that the university is not named as a party in the suit and we are not able to comment about any allegations cited in the suit," BSU said in a statement. "Bowie State University has a stringent anti-hazing policy that is coupled with a strong anti-hazing education program," the university said. "The university considers hazing to be indefensible and contrary to the interest of the university community. We work continuously with Greek and other student organizations to assure understanding that no activity that causes mental, physical or social harm will be tolerated."
