Maxwell Gruver died in a hazing ritual while pledging at the Louisiana State University chapter of Phi Delta Theta. He reportedly had condiments thrown at him while reciting the Greek alphabet and was forced to drink alcohol if he made mistakes. Phi Delta Theta suspended the university's chapter after the incident and ten men were arrested. [1] Four of the men were indicted on charges of negligent homicide in March 2018. [2]
Gruver was one of several pledges who died in hazing rituals nationwide in 2017, including Timothy Piazza at Penn State University, Andrew Coffey at Florida State University, and Matthew Ellis at Texas State University. [2]
Gruver's death was said by the coroner to have been caused by "acute alcohol intoxication with aspiration." [2] In 2017, a warrant was issued for 10 members of the college fraternity Phi Delta Theta for the charge of hazing. On the night before his death Gruver attended what was called a "Bible Study" where pledges were asked questions about the fraternity and had to drink alcohol each time they answered incorrectly. They also had to perform some physical exercises during the "Bible Study" including wall sits while other members walked across their knees. The warrant stated that pledges were also required to lift other members while standing on a book. The pledges drank to excess and Gruver passed out on the couch and checked on him until 3:00 am at which time he was left alone between 3:00 am and 9:00 am. Gruver had also vomited remnants of spaghetti which blocked his airway. In the morning his pulse was weak and he was taken to a hospital. Medical examiners confirmed he had died around 4 am that morning. [3]
The grand jury declined to bring charges in one case and failed to reach consensus in four others. They indicted four men on charges of negligent homicide. There was no consensus whether the national fraternal organization was criminally liable for the death. [2]
Matthew Naquin was convicted of negligent homicide in July 2019 for his role in the hazing. Naquin had previously been asked by other fraternity members to tone down interactions with pledges that they described as "extreme and dangerous". [4]
The Louisiana State University chapter of Phi Delta Theta was suspended after the incident by the fraternity's national organization. They also terminated the memberships of the accused, issuing a statement that the termination "effectively severs ties with those alleged to be involved." [3]
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Phi Kappa Tau (ΦΚΤ), commonly known as Phi Tau, is a collegiate fraternity located in the United States. The fraternity was founded in 1906. As of January 2024, the fraternity has 161 chartered chapters, 81 active chapters, 7 associate chapters, and about 3,500 collegiate members. SeriousFun Children's Network, founded by Beta chapter alumnus Paul Newman, is Phi Kappa Tau's National Philanthropy. According to its Constitution, Phi Kappa Tau is one of the few social fraternities that accepts both graduate students and undergraduates.
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Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) is a North American Greek-letter social college fraternity. It was founded at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on March 9, 1856. Of all existing national social fraternities today, Sigma Alpha Epsilon is the only one founded in the Antebellum South. Its national headquarters, the Levere Memorial Temple, was established on the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 1926. The fraternity's mission statement is "To promote the highest standards of friendship, scholarship and service for our members throughout life."
Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ), commonly known as SigEp, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College, which is now the University of Richmond, and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue, Diligence, and Brotherly Love. Sigma Phi Epsilon is one of the largest social fraternities in the United States in terms of current undergraduate membership.
Tau Kappa Epsilon (ΤΚΕ), commonly known as ΤΚΕ or Teke, is a social college fraternity founded on January 10, 1899, at Illinois Wesleyan University. The organization has chapters throughout the United States and Canada, making the Fraternity an international organization. Since its founding in 1899, Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity has never had an exclusionary or discriminatory clause to prevent individuals from joining and has instead admitted members based on their "personal worth and character". As of fall 2023, there are 221 active ΤΚΕ chapters and colonies with over 298,000-lifetime members.
Kappa Sigma (ΚΣ), commonly known as Kappa Sig or KSig, is an American collegiate social fraternity founded at the University of Virginia in 1869. Kappa Sigma is one of the five largest international fraternities with currently 318 active chapters and colonies in North America. Its endowment fund, founded in 1919, has donated more than $5 million to undergrads since 1948. In 2012 alone, the Fraternity's endowment fund raised over $1 million in donations.
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