Phi Beta Sigma was suspended indefinitely Thursday by its national headquarters after the allegations came to light. Linda Hausman, manager of student organization services, said she agreed when the victim asked WVU not to release his name, age or home state. "Our primary concern is the well-being of the student,'' she said today. "Right now, we're concerned that he physically and emotionally recover. We want to give him time to spend time with his family and get his thoughts together.'' Hausman said at least one other pledge also appears to have been beaten. Neither he nor his parents has filed a complaint. Phi Beta Sigma does not have a chapter house. The beatings "happened over several weeks and with a great degree of frequency'' in private homes, Hausman said. The pledge's parents made a verbal complaint to university officials Tuesday, then followed it with the formal complaint to police. The pledge has received medical treatment but did not require hospitalization. "I believe his injuries were caught in time so that he will not have any permanent damage,'' Hausman said. Morgantown police Cpl. P.K. Scott said the pledge has not yet given a statement to police. "All we have is a report from the parents saying that their son suffered injuries. That's all it is now, an allegation,'' he said. Hazing is illegal under state law and a violation of university policy. If convicted, the fraternity and its members could face a variety of actions, including expulsion. "The university has no tolerance for that type of behavior. It's unacceptable and unlawful,'' WVU spokeswoman Becky Lofstead said today. "We will deal with this allegation through our proper channels.'' Phi Beta Sigma was ordered by WVU to stop all meetings and social activities Tuesday afternoon, and the national headquarters suspended the chapter "until further notice'' Thursday, Lofstead said. A letter from Phi Beta Sigma's regional headquarters in Sewell, N.J., said the fraternity does not allowing hazing "in any way, shape or form'' during rush. It also promised to cooperate in the university's investigation. Hazing was outlawed by the West Virginia Legislature in 1995. In 1996, Omega Psi Phi and 11 of its members were charged with beating then-18-year-old pledge Lavar Grant.
MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University officials and city police are investigating charges that fraternity members repeatedly beat an unidentified pledge whose parents discovered his injuries.
