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FIJI investigation concludes no hazing

Phi Gamma Delta house at 527 N. Peachtree Ave.

An official investigation concluded Phi Gamma Delta did not engage in hazing in a video and will not be officially disciplined for what they characterize as a “juvenile prank,” a fraternity official said.

 

Members of Phi Gamma Delta, also known as FIJI, will be required to complete educational sanctions in lieu of any official punishment, executive director of The International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta Rob Caudill said.

 

“The incident did not rise to the level of a violation as defined by Tennessee law, it was serious enough to necessitate member education,” student Dean Kate Williams said.

 

In a 20-second Snapchat video obtained by The Oracle, a man is shown with his hands tied behind his back, his head covered and his ankles tied together. He is being forced into a shower by what appears to be three other men.

 

“The incident was a juvenile prank played by a few members to celebrate another’s birthday,”Caudill said.

 

FIJI President Landon Allison expressed confidence the investigation would find the incident did not constitute hazing.

 

“Tennessee Tech University has created a remediation plan to address the incident,” Allison said. “Normal chapter operations have resumed.”

 

FIJI has been on campus since 1981 and currently has 80 members, including 35 new members, Allison said.

 

In the video viewed by Oracle staff, one of the participants is seen wearing what appears to be one of FIJI’s purple intramural jerseys.

 

The overall quality of the video was shaky and difficult to clearly see. It begins in what appears to be the bed of a truck at night. A male in a black T-shirt, blue jeans and tan cowboy boots has his hands tied behind his back with white rope. His ankles are also bound together. What appears to be a pillow case covers his head and is knotted around his neck.

 

The video skips to a bathroom where a man in what appears to be a purple FIJI intramural jersey is shown with his hands on the subject’s head, forcing him into a small white standup shower on his back. At least two other men are in the bathroom holding the subject’s feet vertically.

 

His clothing appears to be wet from the water being turned on in the shower.

 

Editors with The Oracle decided not to post the video because of poor quality and concerns about legal issues.

 

Students from Journalism 4820 contributed to this report.