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RADFORD, Va. - An investigation is underway after a college student and potential pledge was branded at a rogue fraternity party near Radford University. It allegedly happened at a home on the 1200 block of Downy Street in Radford where members of the disbanded national fraternity chapter of Pi Kappa Phi live.
According to search warrants, the male student was forced to drink a large amount of liquor, then was burned after he passed out. The search warrants were filed Nov. 29 and detail what the victim says happened the night of the party, on Sept. 14.
The victim was one of 15 other potential new members who were not only forced to drink, but had their phones taken from them as part of an agreement with strippers who were also at the party.
The victim says he was greeted by the fraternity president who “approached the group and provided them with approximately eight handles of Burnett’s Vodka. The group was instructed to drink the eight alcoholic beverages between them within five minutes.” According to the warrant the group was provided with a trash can outside and instructed to use it in the event they needed to vomit.
After an allotted time, each potential new member was escorted inside the home and told to place their cellphone inside a black bag kept by a member at the front door. According to the warrant, the victim told police this was done because the strippers did not want anyone to take pictures of them.
Once inside the home, the victim was taken to a room where the floor was lined with plastic. He was placed in a seat in the middle of the room where he, along with the other potential new members, received lap dances from strippers. The victim, who was reportedly drunk at the time, told police he was “lightly whipped” by a stripper before losing consciousness from the alcohol.
The victim says he woke up on a couch in the basement of the home the next morning wearing only his boxer shorts and socks, the rest of his clothes removed, with a pain in his buttocks. That’s when he discovered that he had been burned.
“Upon returning to his dorm room, the victim discovered he had a serious wound,” the warrant stated.
Over the next several weeks the victim made multiple doctor’s visits and ultimately, surgical medical procedures. The doctor determined the wound was from a thermal burn.
When police asked the men at the fraternity about the burn, they told police the victim's wounds were from chemical burns during an attempt to clean the couch with Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner while the victim was sleeping. A doctor denied that claim.
One man interviewed told police that the couch was urinated or vomited on by another member of the party so they decided to move the sleeping victim. The man told police they then used the cleaner to clean the couch, then placed the victim back on the couch after it was clean.
Police said that fraternities on campus are known to brand members with fraternity insignias to represent membership or association. The wound dimension on the victim is described as “symmetrically outlined with measurements of approximately 3.35 inches long and 1.57 inches wide. The wound is approximately a half inch deep and appears to be a point, with the other end being a semi-circle.'
The victim's doctor says the victim has permanent disfigurement/damage to the skin and will have a significant scar.
Police have now confiscated several phones as well as computers, along with DNA swabs and drug paraphernalia from the home and members who were there.
In 2016, members of the fraternity chapter pleaded guilty to hazing after a similar incident where then-members made pledges do push-ups on bottle caps, among other hazing rituals.
Radford University Relations Vice President Joe Carpenter says RU dismissed the fraternity from campus. The chapter also lost its national affiliation from the Pi Kappa Phi headquarters.
'These most recent allegations we find reprehensible,' Carpenter said. “They don't represent Radford University.”
Carpenter said the university is working with the Radford City Police Department fully on the investigation.
'Upon hearing this, we took it very seriously. We made sure we gave the necessary support to the student to help him, in this regard, and we also immediately contacted the City of Radford Police,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter said they recommend that students only join university-sanctioned organizations, including fraternities and sororities. He said all approved organizations are listed on their website.
Additionally, Carpenter said all campus organizations are bound by strict rules against hazing and the more than 1,000 students who participate in them are well-educated about the rules and how to protect themselves.
Carpenter pointed out that per university regulations, sororities are only allowed to recruit in the fall semester and fraternities are only allowed to recruit in the spring. This recruitment party happened during the fall. Carpenter said like previous members who violated student policies, students found guilty of violating rules, would be punished by the university.
'I will say that any students that are implicated in their investigation, we will also hold them, as the facts are gathered and are confirmed, we will hold them fully accountable under the student conduct code,” Carpenter said.
Todd Shelton, assistant executive director of communications with the national fraternity Pi Kappa Phi headquarters gave 10 News this statement:
“Pi Kappa Phi closed its chapter at Radford University in June 2016. As part of the closure, the student members were directed to cease and desist all activities in the name of the fraternity. Pi Kappa Phi will pursue appropriate legal remedies to stop the unauthorized use of our name on campus.”
No arrests have been made.
Copyright 2017 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.
The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life is a dynamic team with varied experience and expertise to support the Fraternity and Sorority Community at NC State.
Shelly Brown Dobek Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life
Responsibilities
Strategic Oversight of Department Operations
Village Development
Outreach/Connections
Communications
Background: Shelly is a Delta Zeta from Southern Illinois University. Shelly earned her Master’s Degree from SIUC and worked at Bowling Green State University coordinating Leadership Programs, Sorority Housing and advising the NPHC for three years before joining the NC State staff in the Fall of 2001 as Associate Director of Greek Life. In July of 2013, she was appointed Interim Director of Greek Life. She was promoted to the role of Director of Greek Life in May 2014. Shelly spends her weekends traveling to campuses around the country presenting workshops on recruitment, intake, hazing and social justice. She has two girls, Emma and Reese, both active in soccer and dance. She was elected to the Executive Board for the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors for 3 terms, and served as the 2012 President.
Joshua Welch Associate Director
Responsibilities
University Owned-Housing
Risk Reduction
Supervision of Chapter Resident Directors / House Directors
Background: Josh is a graduate of Western Carolina University where he joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. Before joining the staff at NC State he served as a national staff member for Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s Fraternity Service Center and as the Assistant Director of Residence and Greek Life at the University of Central Missouri. Josh has a passion for risk reduction and the principles of problem-solving. He has been invited to serve as a facilitator and instructor for several national programs such as IMPACT & UIFI as well as to Headquarters’ leadership programs offered by several Inter/national fraternities and sororities. Additionally, he is a trained facilitator for the Alcohol Skills Training Program (ASTP). He has more than ten years of experience working with fraternities, sororities, and housing.
Associate Director
Responsibilities
Chapter Services
Standards of Excellence
Officer Training
Academic Support
Background: Julie is a graduate of James Madison University, where she became a member of Delta Gamma Fraternity. She received a Master of Education in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. Julie has worked professionally in fraternity and sorority life for six years. Prior to joining the staff at NC State, she worked as the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life at George Mason University and the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Involvement at the University of Montana.
Assistant Director
Responsibilities
Council Oversight: NPHC and Panhellenic
Order of Omega
Circle of Sisterhood
Certified Peer Educators
Community Development
Background: Emily received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, where she became a member of Alpha Phi International Fraternity. She completed her master’s degree in College Student Personnel at Bowling Green State University, where she also served as a Fraternity & Sorority Life Intern advising the NPHC executive council & member organizations. Before joining the Wolfpack, Emily spent a year and a half at Elon University as the Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life for Community Development, advising Panhellenic, IFC, and NPHC executive boards, as well as managing fraternity/sorority housing.
Assistant Director (interim)
Responsibilities
Council Oversight: IFC and MGC
FSL Ambassadors
Diversity & Inclusion
Community Development
Background: Winn is currently pursuing his Ph.D. Student in Public Administration at North Carolina State University. His passion for education and knowledge informs his focusing on Policy Analysis and Evaluation. Winn completed his Master’s Degree in Higher Education at NC State and served as the advisor to the Interfraternity Council and Multicultural Greek Council during that time. Winn is an active volunteer for It’s On Us, serving as the Regional Advisor for the Southeast Region. Winn received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Rhodes College where he became a member of Pi Kappa Alpha. Winn is graciously serving in the Assistant Director role for the Fall 2019 semester while the Department completes a national search to fill the position.
Cassandra McIntyre Administrative Specialist
Responsibilities
Chapter and Council Officer Database Management
Greek Village Assignments and Out of House Billing
Daily Operations of Department Office
Background: Cassandra comes to NC State after serving five years as the Executive Assistant to the Director of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She brings 20+ years of business experience to Fraternity and Sorority Life. Before her role at the museum, she worked as an office administrator in the Budget, Planning and Analysis division of the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, now DEQ. Her background includes years in elementary education and training in business analytics and accounting. When she is away from work, she enjoys traveling, relaxing with a good book, and spending time with her family.
House Director Delta Gamma
Background: Janet graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, Phi Beta Kappa, with a degree in Linguistics. Most recently, Janet served as the House Director at Alpha Chi Omega at the Ohio State University for five years. They initiated her into membership in 2014. Prior to her time as a house director, she lived in Highlands, North Carolina, where she was a real estate broker. Janet has two daughters with multiple degrees in higher education, including two from NC State. In her spare time, Janet is involved in P.E.O. International,a philanthropic educational organization raising millions of dollars for scholarships for women’s education.
Currently Vacant House Director Delta Zeta
Background:
Winn Decker House Director Sigma Phi Epsilon
Background: Winn is currently pursuing his Ph.D. Student in Public Administration at North Carolina State University. His passion for education and knowledge informs his focusing on Policy Analysis and Evaluation. Winn completed his Master’s Degree in Higher Education at NC State and served as the advisor to the Interfraternity Council and Multicultural Greek Council during that time. Winn is an active volunteer for It’s On Us, serving as the Regional Advisor for the Southeast Region. Winn received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Rhodes College where he became a member of Pi Kappa Alpha.
Robin Hammer House Director Lambda Chi Alpha
Background:
Chapter Resident Director
Alpha Delta Pi (H8)
Background: Brianna graduated from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016 with a Baccalaureate Degree in both Criminal Justice and Psychology. During her undergraduate tenure, she joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. For two years, she served as a Resident Advisor, and also held many other campus leadership positions. It was this service that fueled her desire to pursue a Masters in Higher Education Administration at NC State. In addition to being a Chapter Residence Director, she will serve as the Employer Relations Assistant in the Career Development Center.
Patti B. Harris
Chapter Resident Director Kappa Alpha Order (H13) and Beta Theta Pi (H14)
Background: Patti is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development at NC State University and serves as a doctoral graduate research assistant in the Office of Institutional Research and Planning. Patti graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Communication Studies and a minor in Social and Economic Justice. During her undergraduate career, Patti joined the Kappa Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated in the Spring of 2010. In May 2014, Patti completed her Master of Education in Higher Education from NC State University while serving as Residence Director of Owen Hall. Following her Master’s degree, Patti served as the Director of the NC State College Advising Corps where she served to ensure ALL students have access to a higher.
Chapter Resident Director
Kappa Kappa Gamma (H16)
Background: Whitney is a North Carolina native. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. After graduation, she began her career in higher education where she has been for the last nine years serving thousands of students and families in NC. In 2015, Whitney completed her Masters of Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Wake Forest University. She is a licensed counselor and works part-time at a local private practice. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Counselor Education program. In addition to being a Chapter Resident Director, she is the graduate assistant in the Poole College of Management Career Center.
Chapter Resident Director
Phi Kappa Tau and Alpha Gamma Rho (H3 and H15)
Background: Paul graduated from The University of North Carolina Wilmington in 2019 with a degree in Political Science. During his time at UNCW, Paul served as a Resident Assistant and held various other leadership roles. Paul will be pursuing his Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration.
Chapter Resident Director
Sigma Kappa (H2)
Background:
Twyla Howard Chapter Resident Director Pi Beta Phi (H7)
Background: Twyla is from Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to attending NCSU, she obtained a B.A. in Psychology at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. During this time she was able to gain experience in residence life, student alumni council, and child/youth development. She is a second-year Masters student in the Counselor Education program at North Carolina State University. She looks forward to a positive and memorable year!
Chapter Resident Director Kappa Alpha Theta (H4)
Background: Lindsay graduated from Christopher Newport University with a degree in Psychology and minors in Leadership Studies & Childhood Studies. During her undergraduate career, she joined Delta Gamma Fraternity where she served in various director roles, served Panhellenic as a recruitment counselor, and held many other campus leadership positions. After graduating in 2018, Lindsay has spent the last year working at her alma mater in the President’s Leadership Program & has served multiple Delta Gamma chapters as their Member Education Adviser. Lindsay is now pursuing her Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration here at NC State. In addition to being a Chapter Resident Director, she will serve as the University Housing Graduate Assistant for Residential Education, Leadership, & Assessment.