Fraternity banned after pledge’s death
A national fraternity was banned from all campuses in Pennsylvania, and four fraternity members were sentenced to jail in the hazing death of Baruch College freshman Michael Deng in 2013.
Deng, 18, was a pledge at the Asian-American fraternity Pi Delta Psi at the school in New York City when the hazing took place at a rented home near Long Pond, Pa.
Deng was forced to run across the yard blindfolded, carrying a heavy backpack while fraternity brothers repeatedly tackled him. Fraternity members said the hazing ritual, known as the “glass ceiling,” symbolizes racism and other obstacles Asians face in America.
Testimony indicated Deng faced more violent hazing than the other pledges because he attempted to fight back. When Deng was knocked unconscious, the fraternity members brought him into the house and attempted to revive him before racing him to a hospital where he died.
“Not one person out of 37 picked up a telephone and called an ambulance,” Monroe County President Judge Margherita Patti-Worthington said at the sentencing Monday in Stroudsburg, Pa. “I cannot wrap my head around it.”
Fraternity member Kenny Kwan was sentenced to 12-24 months in jail and Charles Lai and Sheldon Wong to 10-24 months after pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter, hindering apprehension and other charges. Raymond Lai, who spent 342 days in jail, was sentenced to time served. All expressed remorse for Deng’s death.
The judge ordered Pi Delta Psi to pay a fine and restitution totaling about $140,000 and banned the fraternity from all Pennsylvania campuses for 10 years. The fraternity has a chapter at Penn State, where the hazing death of Timothy Piazza in February prompted major changes in Greek life and the ouster from campus of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi.
Pi Delta Psi describes itself online as “an Asian cultural interest fraternity fostering ethical behavior, leadership and philanthropy.” The fraternity has about two dozen chapters, most in the Northeast.
The fraternity issued a statement that the Baruch chapter brought “shame and dishonor” on the national organization.
Deng’s family issued a statement expressing hope that the punishments will “save lives by sending a clear message to other fraternities and their members that the outrageous tradition of hazing will no longer be tolerated.”
“Not one person out of 37 picked up a telephone and called an ambulance. I cannot wrap my head around it.” Margherita Patti-Worthington Monroe County president judge