A pledge at the University of Alabama said he was shoved, stepped on, and had things thrown at him, which led to charges against several students.
Two counts of hazing were brought against Christopher Theodore Molineaux, 22, Grant Henry Rakers, 21, Joshua Donald Ferrito, 22, and Charles William Grey, 20. The charges are related to events that are said to have happened at the Pi Kappa Phi house on August 25 and 30.
Court papers that were filed on Wednesday say that the alleged hazing was caught on tape in the TV room and the band room.
Rakers told his lawyer, Ben Preston, what he had to say, but Preston said he was still looking over the proof. “Let’s not judge until we see the facts,” he stated. The families of Molineaux and Ferrito did not want to say anything.
In a statement, Grey’s lawyer, Tommy Spina, said that his client “is accused of failing to report” and “did not touch or harm anyone.”
“I don’t get why not coming forward is a crime,” Spina said.
“It seems like people may be afraid of getting in trouble with their peers or the group if they report hazing incidents.” “Making reporting a crime could make people even less likely to come forward,” Spina said. “Rather than punishing reporting, there should be incentives and protections for whistleblowers to ensure that those who speak out against hazing feel safe and supported.”
As part of the fraternity’s “Rules Night” on August 25, video footage reportedly showed several pledges being led into the band room and “forced to their hands and knees.” One of the pledges filed charges based on these claims.
“While on their hands and knees, pledges were yelled at, stepped on, pushed, had items thrown at them, and had beer poured on them,” it states.
The pledges were said to have been made to line up against a wall and “perform forced calisthenics, including wall sits and push-ups,” according to documentation from the August 28 event. People in the group yelled at the pledges during initiation.
The filing says that Molineaux and another member of the club “pushed and hit one of the pledges.”
“Molineaux can be seen on the video grabbing [the pledge] by the front of his shirt, shoving him back against a wall, shaking him, and then shoving him down to his (Molineaux’s) right, causing [the pledge] to lose his balance and fall over,” it adds.
The papers say that Rakers, Ferrito, and Grey were there for both events and did not stop or report the hazing. Stefan Maksimovich, 22, was charged in connection with the event on August 28. Maksimovich’s family did not want to say anything.
As a result of an investigation, the University of Alabama said that hazing is highly forbidden and that warrants were served on several members.
“Hazing violates University policy, the Code of Student Conduct, and the law, and it is a matter that the University takes seriously,” the school said in a note.
When asked for comment on Friday, Pi Kappa Phi did not reply right away.
