Texas A&M University fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon sued for $ 1 million after some pledges say they were burned

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KTRK) – A suspected fraternity hazing group at Texas A&M University faces a $ 1 million lawsuit after some bonds say they were burned.

The lawsuit was filed last week after two pledges indicate they were scrambled in March by members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

The promises stated that they were forced to do “kinesthetic activities” and were given foreign substances, including saliva, raw eggs, and an industrial cleaner known as SC-200.

The two plaintiffs who filed the complaint are sophomores at the university and are from the Houston area.

They claim to have suffered severe burns and to have had to undergo several skin grafts.

The university said the fraternity was suspended for two years for violating the student code of conduct, as well as Texas state law. After the two-year suspension, the fellowship will be on two-year probation.

Texas A&M sent ABC13 a statement regarding this incident.

“Texas A&M will not tolerate actions or behavior that degrades, intimidates, humiliates or endangers students,” university officials said. “We will continue our hazing prevention education programs, which include describing what constitutes hazing and the consequences of these poor choices.”

“At first it was fun and games, you know, but things started to get a little out of hand,” Houston-based attorney Jose Calderon said as an event involving Sigma’s Texas A&M chapter described. Alpha Epsilon and his two clients who were pledges.

He identified the degreaser that was allegedly poured on them as SC-200, which the lawsuit said caused serious injuries to his customers.

“They’re going to have these scars for the rest of their lives,” Calderon said. “There is no doubt about it.”

Calderon said he and his clients were hopeful that a Harris County jury trial would lead to change at the Texas A&M campus.

“The hazing has gone on for too long,” he said. “We hope this case sets a precedent that this will not be tolerated.”

The fraternity’s national public relations director, Johnny Sao, sent a statement in response to questions from ABC13.

“While Sigma Alpha Epsilon does not comment on matters related to litigation, we want to be clear that hazing in any form will not be tolerated, and members who engage in this type of activity will be required to responsible wherever possible, ”Sao said. . “Hazing has absolutely no place in Sigma Alpha Epsilon.”

This is not the first hazing incident the university has faced in recent years. In 2018, his Phi Gamma Delta fraternity was suspended for breaking alcohol and hazing rules when a freshman died.

Joseph Little, an 18-year-old from Houston, died early in the school year. Little was said to have had a seizure at an off-campus housing complex two days before his death.

SEE MORE: Texas A&M Phi Gamma Delta fraternity suspended for breaking drinking and hazing rules before Houston teenager died

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