LITTLE ROCK — Felony charges filed against four men, including an Arkansas Tech University football player, over a fraternity hazing that critically injured another student prompted the Russellville school to sever ties with its Kappa Alphi Psi chapter Wednesday.
Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons filed second-degree battery charges Tuesday in Pope County Circuit Court against Arkansas Tech senior Cliffaluion Deonte Bradley, 22, of Russellville; Calvin Williams, 26, of Conway; Stephen Bender, 24, of Little Rock; and Klyantel Summons, 22, of Little Rock.
Deshawn Scoggins was beaten so severely with wooden paddles and wooden canes April 21 in the garage of an off-campus residence that physicians had to put him in a medically induced coma for about a week, according to an affidavit filed with the criminal charges.
Scoggins, 23, told investigators that the beating resulted from pledging Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
“Deshawn had heard that this was part of the initiation process for the fraternity,” the affidavit says. “He did not ... know that the beating would be so [severe].”
Scoggins will recover, Arkansas Tech spokesman Sam Strasner said in an interview Wednesday. “The last that we knew, there was some indication that he might be interested in enrolling for [classes] this fall semester.”
Only Bradley is an Arkansas Tech student, Strasner said.
Williams and Bender were enrolled at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway during the spring semester but are not enrolled there for the fall semester, UCA spokesman Venita Jenkins said.
Second-degree battery is punishable by a maximum of six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Arkansas Tech announced in a news release Wednesday that it no longer recognizes the Pi-Upsilon chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi as a student organization, effective immediately. The university had placed the chapter on suspension in April, and the national fraternity quickly followed by placing the chapter on “cease and desist” until the school completed its investigation.
“With the permanent removal of Pi-Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi as a recognized student organization at Arkansas Tech, all local activities of the chapter must stop and all privileges associated with being a recognized student organization are immediately revoked,” the release said.
The chapter had three active members when it was suspended, the school said.
The university also has begun student disciplinary procedures for Bradley. Under that process, a committee will decide on any punishment, which can range from small disciplinary actions to expulsion, Strasner said. Bradley can appeal the committee’s decision.
The school already has suspended Bradley from its football program and other extracurricular activities, Strasner said.
“Arkansas Tech University has a zero tolerance policy for hazing rituals,” said Susie Nicholson, vice president for student services and university relations.
“Students involved in, encouraging, aiding and or assisting in hazing or hazing related activities are subject to a conduct review resulting in possible suspension or expulsion from the university,” Nicholson said in the release.
The past two years, Bradley has been a backup tight end for the team, Strasner said.
If Bradley remains a student after his discipline is determined, a decision on whether he can again play football at Tech will more than likely “be at the discretion of the head football coach,” Strasner said.
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 08/23/2012