Ten current or former students at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge face criminal charges in connection with the hazing death of 18-year-old fraternity pledge Maxwell Gruver.
The Baton Rouge Advocate reports that Gruver of Roswell, Ga., died last month of acute alcohol intoxication with aspiration. His blood alcohol content was measured as .495, the East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's office says.
Nine men were charged with misdemeanor counts of hazing; one man also faces a negligent homicide charge.
Gruver died on Sept. 14 after a night of drinking at the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house. Fraternity members hazed pledges and made them participate in a game in which they had to consume alcoholic drinks if they answered quiz questions wrong, LSU police say
After Gruver's death, all fraternity activities at LSU were put on hold, and the university created a Task Force on Greek Life to review the culture and environment on campus.
It is important to understand that there will be no return to ‘normal,’” LSU President F. King Alexander said. “Student safety is always our primary concern. Greek organizations are a valuable part of campus life at LSU, but hazing and other dangerous behavior will not be tolerated.”
Video from LSU Tiger TV:
