LSU Suspends Fraternity After Suspected Hazing Sends Student To Hospital

Police are investigating a suspected hazing incident at a Louisiana State University fraternity house that ended with one student in the hospital. In the early morning hours of Monday, October 19, an underclassman from New Orleans, whose name has not been released, was hospitalized with alcohol intoxication after a gathering at LSU's Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

LSU police are also investigating another reported hazing involving the fraternity that took place on September 13. Law enforcement was notified the following day and campus police quickly opened an investigation.

The Advocate reports that Associate Dean of Students Jonathan Sanders sent a letter to LSU's Phi Kappa Psi fraternity on Tuesday notifying them that the chapter would be suspended as the university investigates "potential violations of the LSU code of conduct. The fraternity won't be allowed to host or participate in social activities, the letter said, nor will they be allowed to conduct meetings. New members have also been told they cannot have contact with established members of the chapter.

This newest incident brought back memories of a similar hazing with a tragic ending. In 2017, LSU freshman Max Gruver died after being coerced into drinking to excess at his new fraternity.

"This case looks unbelievable similar to the Gruver case," said East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III. "There are a lot of parallels, with one exception: Everyone who has been questioned so far is cooperating with the investigation. We simply want to know what happened in order to take appropriate actions."

Police continue to investigate the incidents, and it is unclear at this time if anyone will face criminal charges.

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