9 A Phi A Members Charged With Hazing At Univ Of Florida

Source: CNN

Nine men have been charged with hazing for their alleged part in an initiation rite into a University of Florida fraternity earlier this year.

The defendants, between the ages of 21 and 26, are accused of “endangering the mental or physical health or safety” of five pledges to the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, according to documents filed this week in Florida’s 8th Judicial Circuit court.

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In that document, the nine are accused of “striking (the pledges) with paddles and/or striking with hands and/or requiring the performance of calisthenics” on January 22. No other details have been released.

In February, days after the case came to light, university President Bernie Machen announced in an e-mail to students that Alpha Phi Alpha was being temporarily suspended in light of what he called a “serious physical hazing incident.”

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