(Updated) ATO Chapter Suspended After Pledge Gets Hit By Car

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

Per tipster:

The said pledge was struck by the rearview mirror of a truck that was being driven by a drunk driver who isn’t even a student at the school. The driver was charged with DUI. The pledge is fine. The chapter was not involved in anything.

Many behavioral restrictions within fraternal confines are written down in black and white, like no using chapter funds for extracurricular activities, for example. Of course, “no hazing” is a biggie, and the rules against it are thoroughly documented. Even as thorough and long-winded as these regulations are, they could really be summed up by saying “Don’t make a pledge do anything he’s not cool with or you wouldn’t do in front of your mother” — some stuff is omitted, because they fall under the common sense umbrella.

Here’s a list of things you aren’t likely to find listed under “Do Not Do” in the hazing section:

– Do not throw pledges into fires.
– Do not put pledges in roller skates, remove the toe brakes from said roller skates, blindfold them, then push them down steep hills.
– Do not murder pledges.
– Do not operate a pledge cock-fighting ring wherein odds are established and money is wagered.
– Do not run over pledges with cars.

Because, you know, you obviously shouldn’t be doing those things. It’s just common sense. Well, that last unwritten rule amazingly came into play recently at the University of Tennessee at Martin. During a hazing episode, a pledge was actually hit by a car. The Alpha Tau Omega chapter has been suspended and an investigation is underway.

UT Martin Director of University Relations Bud Grimes says the move stems from an incident last week when a fraternity pledge member was hit by a car.

“A student was brought in to the local hospital who had been injured in a vehicle accident. As things turned out and looking into this further, it results from an alleged hazing incident,” Grimes said.

The report from The Commercial Appeal doesn’t mention the condition of the pledge, but we obviously hope he’s okay.

[via The Commercial Appeal]

Image via UTM.edu