Penn State news by
Penn State's student blog

Topics

More

Family Files Lawsuit Against Penn State, Phi Sigma Kappa For Negligence Prior To Son’s Suicide

More than a year after the Penn State Altoona fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa was suspended for hazing that may have contributed to a member’s suicide, the victim’s father is now suing Penn State and Phi Sigma Kappa, as first reported by Reuters.

Marquise Braham, an 18-year old student at Penn State Altoona at the time of his death, jumped off the roof of the Marriott Long Island Hotel last year. After the events, his family found disturbing pictures and conversations from the fraternity Braham was pledging. In believing the hazing contributed to his son’s death, Braham’s father, Rich Braham, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Penn State, Phi Sigma Kappa, two advisers, and two fraternity leaders.

“In my family’s opinion, both Penn State and Phi Sigma Kappa severely damaged our son, both physically and mentally, with hazing activities, and even worse, sought to allegedly cover it up by destroying evidence,” Braham said in a statement.

According to the lawsuit, Braham and his pledge class were forced to “consume gross amounts of alcohol” and mouthwash, swallow live fish, kill, gut, and skin squirrels, and choose between snorting a line of cocaine or being sodomized on video. The pledge class was also forced to fight each other while sleep deprived for 89 hours and held at gunpoint.

Braham was not only impacted by his own hazing, however. As a new member of the fraternity, Braham and his pledge class had to watch the next class be hazed, something he admitted to a friend was “hard to watch,” according to the lawsuit. The suit also said that Braham went to Catholic confession a few hours before his death to “confess his fraternity’s sins.”

The lawsuit alleges that Penn State knew Braham was suffering but decided to ignore the situation. Braham’s father also claimed in the lawsuit that two of his son’s advisers were made aware of his hazing-induced breakdown prior to his suicide.

“Our allegations, based on strong investigative research and evidence we have uncovered, are that Marquise’s resident assistant and resident director in his dormitory, both employees of Penn State University, knew he was in desperate trouble,” said Mike Paul, a spokesman for the Braham family.

The lawsuit hopes to make gains for students attending all colleges and universities across the country.

“We aim to hold Penn State, and hopefully other universities, accountable to provide accurate information to students and their parents about the dangerous misconduct they know is occurring within Greek life on campus,” Rich Braham said. “That would be an incredible and fitting legacy to Marquise.”

Your ad blocker is on.

Please choose an option below.

Sign up for our e-mail newsletter:
OR
Support quality journalism:
Purchase a Subscription!

About the Author

Jacob Abrams

Jacob Abrams is a sophomore from Oxford, PA, majoring in Management in the Smeal College of Business. Jacob is the President/GM of The LION 90.7 FM along with being a play-by-play commentator and sports talk show host. He is a sports fanatic, and strongly supports the Philadelphia Phillies, Flyers, Sixers, and the New Orleans Saints. He is a first-generation Penn Stater, and in his free time he likes to play sports and sing. You can follow him on Twitter @jake_abrams and contact him at [email protected]

Reflections & Memories From Happy Valley: Ishaan Kalani’s Senior Column

“Penn State has been more than just a place of academic pursuit for me. It’s been a melting pot of experiences, lasting friendships, and personal growth.”

Penn State Alum Tommy Viola Taking Lifelong Love For Baseball Into Minor League Role

“I’m living my dream. All I ever wanted to do was work in baseball.”

Matt McGloin Advocating For Students, Honoring Paterno Family Legacy In Board Of Trustees Campaign

“Where I’m at today in life and all that I have is because I had the opportunity to be a student-athlete at Penn State University. For me, this is how I give back to school that’s given me so much.”

Follow on Another Platform
113kFollowers
164kFollowers
59.6kFollowers
4,570Subscribers
Other posts by Jacob

Penn State Baseball Takes One Of Three Against Maryland In Weekend Series

Penn State needed a rebound performance at home as it played host to Big Ten rival Maryland for a three-game series this weekend, but it didn’t go as planned.

Christian Hackenberg Selected No. 51 Overall By The New York Jets In The 2016 NFL Draft

Penn State Baseball Falls To Kent State 6-2 At Home