Ole Miss Student Beaten: Accused Attackers Smile In Mugshots
An Ole Miss student was brutally beaten during an apparent hazing ritual. According to reports, Jeremy Boyle, who is a member of the University of Mississippi’s Sigma Pi fraternity, was assaulted by at least five members of the university’s Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Although the alleged assailants were arrested, and they are now facing criminal charges, they appear to be smiling in their mugshots.
Although the document was heavily redacted, the Department of Police & Campus Safety incident report indicates the Ole Miss student was beaten at the Sigma Pi house in the early morning hours of October 6. His alleged attackers are accused of hazing, petty larceny, assault, and assault causing bodily injury.
As reported Clarion Ledger, Jeremy Boyle heard unusual noises coming from the backyard of the Sigma Pi fraternity house at approximately 4:00 a.m. When he “went outside to investigate,” he was physically assaulted by five members of another fraternity.
Authorities confirmed Boyle was transported to Baptist Medical Hospital for treatment. His injuries included broken teeth, a concussion, and a ruptured eardrum.
The alleged attackers were later identified as James Declan Basile, Christian Guy, Kyle Hughes, Austin Rice, and Tucker Cole Steil. All five are reportedly members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
The Ole Miss student was reportedly beaten during a fraternity hazing incident. Although the brutal initiation rituals are largely banned on campuses throughout the United States, isolated incidents continue to occur.
As explained by the University of Michigan, hazing rituals have been used as a form of initiation for more than 600 years. Although hazing has been linked to athletic organizations, the military, and secret societies, the rituals are most commonly associated with college fraternities and sororities.
The University of Michigan defines hazing as “any action or situation, with or without the consent of the participants, which recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endangers the mental, physical, or academic health or safety of a student.”
According to StopHazing.org, hazing may include drinking games, performing embarrassing tasks “in a public situation,” and physical and mental abuse.
Statistically, more than 50 percent “of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience hazing.” However, 95 percent of those students will never report they were hazed.
5 University of Mississippi fraternity men arrested after brutal hazing assault: https://t.co/heXts3OQ6F pic.twitter.com/7giVC4jbV3
— Cosmopolitan (@Cosmopolitan) October 22, 2015
Although hazing is a long-held tradition, the rituals have led to serious injury — and death. As a result, 44 states have enacted laws prohibiting the practice.
Unfortunately, hazing is rarely reported as the students do not want to get their classmates in trouble, or they fear retaliation.
Authorities said the Ole Miss student was beaten during a hazing ritual. However, unlike most hazing incidents, Jeremy Boyle was assaulted by members of a different fraternity.
As reported by Fox 5 Atlanta, the alleged attackers were arrested and charged, but it is unclear whether the young men are remorseful as four of them were broadly smiling in their mugshots.
The university has not commented on the situation, or whether they will launch their own investigation. However, reports of hazing at the University of Mississippi are generally handled by the university’s Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct.
With recent hazing on university campuses, Ole miss official hopes our policies for hazing are clear.@NewsWatch_99 pic.twitter.com/579JHsX1dY
— Morgan Teller (@MorgsTell) October 8, 2015
Following reports of hazing, a committee is formed to investigate the claims. After conducting a thorough investigation, the committee reports their findings to the Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct, which will decide whether the students will be punished.
In addition to criminal charges, the accused attackers could face expulsion.
As the Ole Miss student was beaten badly enough to require medical attention, authorities have charged Tucker Cole Steil with felony assault. The other four accused assailants are facing various charges which are all misdemeanors.
[Image via Imgick]
