As reported by the Centre Daily Times, three female Penn State students have been charged with misdemeanor assault and conspiracy stemming from an alleged five-hour hazing incident in which they beat a former female freshman so badly that the woman sustained lasting injuries.
The three women, B.J., 21, H.J., 22 and F.R., 22, are accused of repeatedly assaulting A.T. between April 2 and April 4 of this year. The criminal complaint was filed on August 7.
A.T. told police that part of the hazing ritual expected for Omega Essence pledges included the attack.
Omega Essence is the "little sisters" group affiliated with the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. The fraternity, on the Penn State campus, is unrecognized as a student organization.
According to university spokeswoman Lisa Powers, all three defendants were expelled from Penn State, indefinitely, following the criminal charges. B.J. and F.R. had been set to graduate this year, however, Powers said that their degrees are being upheld until their expulsions are forgiven. The three are allowed to petition for their reinstatement, after one year, but there are no guarantees that Penn State will allow them to return.
Powers, in an e-mail, wrote, "We take the crimes of hazing and harassment seriously at Penn State. Hopefully we are sending a message that this will not be tolerated."
The school's investigation, according to Powers, showed that all three defendants violated sections of the student code of conduct in regards to hazing, abuse, endangerment and harassment.
Additionally, H.J., was found to have provided false information.
A.T. went to police on April 9, approximately one week following the attack, and reported that she was punched and slapped by the other three students. During the attack A.T. stated that she suffered two blackened eyes.
The information provided by A.T., and included in the criminal report, further detailed that within a five-hour period between April 2 and April 3 she was slapped on her face, neck, body and legs with both a wet and a dry washcloth. Also during the attack, A.T. contends that while at F.R.'s home she was forced to consume mayonnaise, hot sauce and spices.
Then, on the evening of April 4, A.T. was taken to another home for a second beating; this time the slapping had escalated to punching and kicking by B.J. and F.R.
Police reports show that B.J. admitted that the three women had assaulted A.T.
A.T.'s attorney, Scott Cooper, claims that A.T. was left badly injured following the attacks. Cooper further stated that his client, still receiving medical treatment, has finished up her classes – via her computer – and will be transferring to another university.
Cooper said, "Any hazing shouldn't be tolerated. Even more so in light of what's been going on up there (Penn State). They are showing what may have gone on in the past will no longer be tolerated."
A hazing incident such as this one is grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. If someone has physically injured you contact a personal injury lawyer to file your suit. Monetary awards are often considered for your damages.
