Washington and Lee University suspended one of its fraternities for three years on Wednesday after one member used a Taser on a pledge, college officials said.
No one was seriously injured in the hazing incident during an event sponsored by Phi Kappa Psi, university president Kenneth Ruscio said in a statement to the student body.
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The incident was reported by a tipster, and the school’s public safety department launched an investigation immediately, the school said. After a hearing Tuesday night, the student-led Interfraternity Council voted to suspend the chapter for 18 months — but Ruscio decided that wasn’t a harsh enough penalty.
“This was a case of clear physical abuse, harmful enough as it was, but under the circumstances potentially even more dangerous,” he explained. “It was a specific act that occurred in a climate of intimidation that existed throughout the fraternity’s new member education program.”
The use of a stun gun was also reported to prosecutors, who could not be reached for immediate comment. The name of the students involved were not released.
This article originally appeared at NBCNews.com
Tracy Connor