St. Louis Post-Dispatch
January 14, 2003
A student at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville has pleaded guilty in a fraternity hazing incident that sent another student to the hospital.
Frederick James Spencer, 20, of Florissant, was sentenced Jan. 6 to one year's probation and 200 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty of hazing leading to bodily harm, a felony. Five other members of Phi Beta Sigma and a fraternity pledge face charges of hazing or perjury in the case.
The latter charge relates to testimony in May to a Madison County grand jury.
The fraternity members are accused of beating a pledge, Prentice Motley, 21, of Decatur, Ill., with paddles and forcing him to stand in the rain for several hours last April.
Motley later collapsed at a wedding he was attending and was hospitalized for a ruptured kidney. He made a full recovery.
The university has not held proceedings for the students or the fraternity. Greek Life Director John Davenport said the Madison County state's attorney's office asked that the university hold off on action until after criminal proceedings have ended.
Davenport said Monday that Phi Beta Sigma is on suspension pending a hearing. He expects the fraternity to be punished.
"I think at a minimum the group should be off campus for a few years," he said.
The students will also face university discipline.
Davenport said he had stepped up
efforts to inform fraternities and sororities about the dangers of hazing since
the incident last year.
