Wake Forest students charged with abusing pig

Durham Herald-Sun (Durham, NC) ^ | April 30, 2002 | Associated Press

[Constitution Day]

Wake Forest students charged with abusing pig

The Associated Press
April 30, 2002   9:14 am

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Wake Forest University officials are investigating a fraternity whose members already have been charged with abusing a 200-pound pig at a party.

The 23 members of Sigma Phi Epsilon were charged with animal cruelty and abandonment after a drunk, dehydrated and sunburned pig was found unconscious at a public park.

The maximum penalty for a conviction on a class-one misdemeanor such as animal cruelty is 90 days in jail.

Wake Forest spokesman Kevin Cox said that the university's dean of students is investigating the incident. Cox said it would be up to the dean to impose fines or suspensions against the fraternity.

County officials said the fraternity members rented a picnic shelter at Tanglewood Park for a party thrown April 20 by newly initiated members in honor of more senior fraternity members.

A letter sent to the university by the park describes a raucous Saturday night party that ran until after 2:30 a.m. The nearly 200-pound hog, which was bought from a livestock dealer in Burlington, was kept in the ladies' restroom at the shelter.

Animal-control officers were called the next morning after the pig was found in the woods by a couple walking their dog. The pig was missing its tail and was unable to stand.

"It reeked of alcohol," said Barbara Cassidy, the director of Forsyth County Animal Control. "That pig could have easily died. I don't understand how someone could think it would be fun to abuse an animal like that."

The dehydrated hog had patches on its skin where it was burned while being exposed to heat lamps used as props at the party, Cassidy said.

Animal control officers took the ailing animal to the county animal shelter, where it is recuperating under the care of a veterinarian.

Tanglewood officials also said they plan to charge the fraternity $827 for damage at the picnic shelter that included smashed light fixtures, a destroyed park bench and a broken toilet lid.

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[Phantom Lord]

So some fraternity boys had a little fun with a fat drunken girl at a party. Big deal.

Sorry, couldnt resist.

[poet]

Was is bill or hillary?

[wbill]

Were there blanks in the gun?

(Animal House Bump)

[Helix]

a drunk, dehydrated and sunburned pig

... can be attributed to inexperience in properly preparing pit BBQ.

[Carolinamom]

Why is this "class one misdemeanor...up to the Dean" instead of the POLICE?

[aomagrat]

"It reeked of alcohol," said Barbara Cassidy, the director of Forsyth County Animal Control.

Hmmmmmmm.... Beer saturated bacon... Hmmmmmmmmmm....

[phasma proeliator]

somebody better call PETA

[Sungirl]

Rotten spoiled heartless immature kids.

These pi$$ pots need to be beat up by some inmates.

[phasma proeliator]

Sungirl...advocating violence to stop violence?

[Constitution Day]

Why is this "class one misdemeanor...up to the Dean" instead of the POLICE?

Probably something worked out with the University and the local PD?
Just a guess.

[Constitution Day]

Beer saturated bacon...

Hmmmm indeed! Two of my favorite things. 8^)

[Sungirl]

Violence won't stop those brats anyway....but they need harsh punishments since their parents were obviously off duty all their lives. Didn't you ever get spanked as a kid? Don't tell me you're one of those parents who discipline by 'talking to them'.

[GussiedUp]

what IS it with you suthreners and the livestock, CD??

Those frat boys must be from up north! We real southerners would have had a barbeque pit nearby and no trace of that piggy would have been left! :)

[phasma proeliator]

No, I agree that this is "over the line". I, too, would get a good, hard spank when I deserved it (all too often) - and i still believe in strong, fair, consistent punishment.

I don't mean to be insulting, but (just from what I 'know' of you) you seemed to be contradicting yourself by suggesting violence.

[Jeff Chandler]

Pre-marination.

[Sungirl]

Sometimes I will go above and beyond what I really mean when I say 'tear the mans legs off'...or 'tear out his eyes'. It just means I think that severe punishment is in order.
To me, violence would be hurting or killing a helpless animal for no good reason.