2 Florida men convicted of felony hazing (for caning a pledge)

Associated Press ^ | December 15, 2006 | Bill Kaczor

[Zakeet]

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Two Florida fraternity brothers were convicted of felony hazing Friday in a trial seen as a test of a new law restricting the practice, but jurors were unable to reach a verdict on three other defendants.

The five Kappa Alpha Psi brothers at Florida A&M University, the first people charged under the anti-hazing law, were accused of punching an aspiring member, Marcus Jones, 20, of Decatur, Ga., and beating his buttocks with canes during an initiation, or aiding those who did.

Jurors found former chapter president Michael Morton, 23, and Jason Harris, 23, guilty of breaking a law that makes it a felony to cause "serious bodily injury" through hazing.

[Snip]

Morton was accused of striking Jones on the buttocks, while Harris was accused of facilitating the hazing. The other three defendants were accused of hitting Jones with canes.

[Snip]

The two face sentences ranging from probation to five years in prison.

[CaliPhant]

I was never beaten, but hazing wasn't so bad, and it brought the pledge class closer together. People should realize you've got to tone it down a great deal in this day in age.

[trumandogz]

The line between fraternity hazing and homo erotic masochism is very thin.

Those wild frat boys are confusing the Frat House with the San Francisco bathhouse.

[newzjunkey]

Uh... did you forget the sarcasm tag?

[trumandogz]

Uh.....no, when a group of men participate in an activity where one in whipped or cained, it can only be described as kinda gay.

[Caesar Soze]

Any organization that would degrade its members in such a manner is not worth joining. Anyone who would degrade themselves in such a manner to join an organization is not worth having as a member. That was always my view on fraternity hazing. I thought it was common sense, but I guess sense isn't all that common.

[starbase]

Uh.....no, when a group of men participate in an activity where one in whipped or cained, it can only be described as kinda gay.

I agree totally, very close to homo erotic masochism. Remember that story a couple weeks ago where police interrupted a hazing with "grunting" and "sobbing" and found "men" in diapers and fairy wings puking and crying. Please! Doesn't everyone see the roots of this "let's put on diapers and fairy wings and beat each other"? It's so obvious.

And in the above case, they were beating his butt no less.

[trumandogz]

I did not see that story but I would have to agree that frat boys in diapers and ferry wings is very gay.

I would not be surprised if there is a gay bar in San Francisco where "men" wear diapers and ferry wings.

I would also think that there is a gay bar or bathhouse in the city where gay men cane or whip each other.

It is all Queer to Me!

[Jimmy Valentine]

This is a predominately black membership fraternity. Due to P.C. considerations thay have goten away with all kinds of things, with some chapters even branding their pledges.

Rules that would throw my house out of any school tend not to apply to others.

[starbase]

Here's that charming story for those who missed it:

Pledges In Apparent Hazing Ritual May Have Been Sexually Assaulted(diapers,fairy wings&panties)

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Kappa Alpha Psi is a black fraternity. Some black fraternities still brand their members. The whys and wherefors of pledge training are up to the organization. Canning might be a bit much.

[trumandogz]

I do not think that it being a black fraternity is relevant.

Back when I was at UT Austin a white frat got kicked off campus for leading nude pledges around their multi level house with a claw hammer attached to their testicles. Other pledges had fruits and vegetables crammed up their a$$eS.

[trumandogz]

As argus stated on the thread you linked.


"Sounds like Saturday night at Barney Frank's townhouse."

[starbase]

LOL! Too true.

[trumandogz]

Or just to be fair.


Mark Foley's beach house over Spring Break.

[starbase]

Hah! You're killing me!!

[onward_xtian_soldier]

This ridicule and scorn is unwarranted. Fraternity pledge ordeals build lifelong, worthy and strong bonds of friendship between and among men, as proper military training and service does. Since two few of our sons are opting for the latter, the former is valuable and worthy. I have been privileged to experience both, and am offended by the snickering tone of posters here as well as by the attack on our values represented in the story.

[napscoordinator]

My school I graduated from. How embarrasing! I just don't remember this kind of activity going on in the early 90's. sarc.

[beezdotcom]

I do not think that it being a black fraternity is relevant.

Actually, it is, at least a little bit. Black fraternities typically have a less "intertwined" relationship with campuses. The end result is that less pressure has been exerted on them to quell hazing.

[starbase]

...and am offended by the snickering tone of posters here...

And I am offended by guys wearing diapers sticking vegetables up their butts, but to each his own.