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Brett Barr, a former University of Arizona student, has sued the university’s Board of Regents and a fraternity at the school, accusing the fraternity of hazing. Barr claims that the hazing left him “injured, depressed, anxious and fearful.”
According to reports, Barr has accused the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and the state’s public university system governing body of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and acting negligently during a fraternity event.
The alleged fraternity event happened on March 22-23, 2017. Barr was a freshman and an Alpha Sigma Phi pledge at the time of the alleged hazing.
Barr and other pledges were reportedly forced to drink alcohol, were blindfolded and were assaulted. Barr says he suffered head trauma, a torn spleen, and became “fearful of retaliation from members.”
via Arizona Daily Star:
During a fraternity event on the night of March 22 and the morning of March 23, 2017, Alpha Sigma Phi members were blindfolded, physically assaulted and forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, the letter says.
At least one student was arrested at the time, and in January 2018, two former members of the fraternity were indicted on felony assault charges in connection with hazing, court records show.
Cody William Ward is facing a charge of aggravated assault with serious injury in connection with the March 22 incident, and Brandon Sellens is facing a charge of aggravated assault causing temporary or substantial disfigurement, stemming from incidents that took place from Jan. 15 through Feb. 7, 2017. The case is ongoing, with status conferences scheduled in August, according to Pima County Superior Court records.
The fraternity was banned from the University of Arizona in April 2017 and cannot apply to be university-sanctioned again until 2021. Barr did not return to the university.
