A Central Michigan University student has been charged with misdemeanor hazing after an alleged incident at an off campus fraternity house left another student with a swollen eye, according to reports from CBS Detroit and the Associated Press.
Dale, 20, is accused of rubbing peanut butter on Andrew, a fellow student with a severe peanut allergy, while Andrew was passed out. The charge is misdemeanor hazing resulting in physical injury. If convicted, Dale could face up to 93 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. He has pleaded not guilty.
His attorney, Bruce Leach, said he is confident that once the facts are laid out in court, his client will be found not guilty. Leach also said Dale has never been in trouble before.
The incident reportedly took place in October at Alpha Chi Rho, a chapter that Central Michigan does not recognize and that was shut down in 2011 over earlier hazing incidents. Andrew, 19 at the time of the report, did not tell his parents until about five months later. His mother then wrote about it on Facebook in March to raise awareness, saying her son could have died because of his allergy.
The national Alpha Chi Rho organization released a statement saying it was appalled by what happened and does not condone hazing in any form. It also said the chapter was not an officially recognized one. The university is reportedly looking into the incident, though the status of that review has not been made public. A settlement conference is set for April 19.
