Six Rutgers University Students in Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Charged with Felonies After Horrific Hazing of Pledges

Six students at Rutgers University charged with felonies after Sigma Gamma Rho hazing incident uncovered. University suspends chapter.

Sorority Sigma Gamma Rho has been suspended by the Rutgers University after a horrific discovery of hazing disclosed. Six students were charged with putting pledges through a horrific nightmare, lasting eight days, that included beatings and starvation, authorities said yesterday. According to the NY Post, the Sigma Gamma Rho Six are: Llana Warner, 20, of The Bronx; Vanessa Adegbite, 21, of Jersey City; Joana Bernard, 21, of West Orange; Kesha Cheron, 20, of Newark; Shawna Ebanks, 21, of East Orange; and Marie Charles, 21, of West Orange. They have been charged with felony aggravated hazing. The chapter was also suspended by the national organization, which is based in North Carolina. Sorry, they shouldn't simply be suspended. They should be banned for life from the campus.

But one of as many as seven alleged victims described a frightening nightly ritual of paddlings, saying she'd been struck 201 times between Jan. 18 and Monday, The Star-Ledger reported. Others told cops they'd been denied food.

"They told us there was no hazing, that they didn't believe in it," the pledge said, telling the newspaper she wanted to join Sigma Gamma Rho because of its history of community service. She said the group was told the beatings would "humble" them and get them to rely on one another."At the end, we were supposed to be helping each other," she said.

By Monday, however, she said she couldn't lie down without pain, and called her family to take her to a hospital. Trevor said she's been released. Source: NY Post

I attended Ohio University and there were several Greek organizations on campus and I consciously decided against joining one of these organizations after I saw what happened to my roommate who pledged with Delta Sigma Theta. I found the process utterly ridiculous. She was placed on social silence, meaning she couldn't talk to anyone other than the girls she was pledging with and the other members of the sorority. Her grades suffered and she lost a lot of weight. Then there were the fraternities that engaged in hazing. I recall an incident involving Omega Psi Phi, in which a student lost one of his kidneys because he was beaten. In my opinion, one does not need to join any organization that engages in physical assault and violence.

I recall the nickname for Sigma Gamma Rho at Ohio University was Sigma Gamma Who because no one really wanted to join that organization. Well, that's how they should be viewed now. This is unacceptable and I am glad criminal charges have been filed. The chapter shouldn't be suspended. They should be banned for life from Rutgers University.