Tampabay.com

FEBRUARY 16, 2012

UF opens another hazing investigation

 About a week after the University of Florida suspended one of its fraternities after what it called a serious physical hazing incident, the university's police department has opened up another investigation into fraternity hazing that may have happened two years ago.

UF won't name the fraternity involved and won't say what happened. University spokeswoman Janine Sikes would only say the allegations date from April 2010 to January 2011. The information came to UF late last week.

In his letter to students letting them know about the other incident last week, UF President Bernie Machen urged students to come forward with information about that case or any other hazing cases. 

"The secretive nature of hazing can make it challenging to detect and prevent," Machen wrote. "As a result, it is important for any student who is a victim of hazing, or who learns of any abusive or dangerous conduct toward others, to step forward."

But Sikes says this new information was not the result of that. She did not say where it came from.

The issue of hazing has hung over the university system for months, ever since Florida A&M University band member Robert Champion died in November. Since then, state leaders, including the governor, have urged universities to take a close look at their anti-hazing policies to ensure they're doing everything they can to prevent it from happening.

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