BATON ROUGE, La. -- A pledge at Louisiana State University injured
so seriously during alleged hazing is suing the school and the fraternity allegedly
involved.
In a state district court suit filed this week, Brandon Sylve, 20, of Marrero, seeks damages from LSU and Kappa Alpha Psi for medical expenses, psychological counseling and mental anguish.
LSU recently banned the fraternity from the campus until at least 2006 because of the case. The fraternity acknowledged responsibility for the alleged beatings and agreed to accept LSU's sanctions.
The suit alleges that several fraternity members beat Sylve with canes and
paddles several times a week. Sylve underwent two
operations and spent two weeks in a hospital as a result of the beatings, the
suit said.
The suit claims LSU failed to properly monitor and supervise the fraternity.
University spokeswoman Holly Houk refused comment, citing LSU policy on pending lawsuits.
Kappa Alpha Psi was the third fraternity banned from LSU for various violations in recent years. The most serious case occurred in 1997 when Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge Benjamin Wynne died of alcohol poisoning after a night of binge drinking with other new pledges.