Twenty-two members of a suspended Northern Illinois University fraternity began turning themselves in at police stations throughout the area today, the day after they were charged with hazing for allegedly supplying the alcohol that killed a student.
DeKalb County authorities late Monday issued warrants for the members of the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter charged in the death of David Bogenberger of Palatine.
The 19-year-old freshman's body was found in the fraternity house Nov. 2, the night after an alcohol-themed party, where officials said he downed a lethal amount of liquor.
Because the warrants issued are valid throughout Illinois and adjoining states, and because NIU is on semester break, the fraternity members have the option of turning themselves at their hometown police stations, DeKalb police said today.
The chapter president, Alexander M. Jandick, 21, surrendered at the Naperville police station, posted $1,500 cash bond and was released, according to the DeKalb circuit clerk's office.
Jandick, a Naperville resident, is expected to have his initial court date set within the next several days.
He and four other fraternity officers were charged with felony counts of hazing.
According to the complaint, they "knowingly required David Bogenberger … to drink alcohol, an act not sanctioned by NIU, for purposes of induction into the NIU chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha."
The other 17 students are charged with misdemeanor counts of hazing. DeKalb County State's Atty. Richard Schmack declined to comment Tuesday on whether his office is considering additional charges.
Police say Bogenberger drank the lethal amount of alcohol in a two-hour period during a pledge initiation where he went from door to door inside the fraternity, answering questions in exchange for drinks of vodka and other liquor.
Authorities say the fraternity kept the party a secret so they could serve liquor without oversight, evading the university inspection that would accompany a sanctioned gathering.
In addition to the criminal charges, NIU fraternity and sorority members also are facing academic sanctions by NIU.
NIU officials said Tuesday that 31 men and women face disciplinary charges in connection with the hazing, and that more students may be charged. The university previously had said that 31 fraternity members faced charges, but amended that Tuesday to say the number includes both fraternity and sorority members.
The students are accused of violating the portion of the university's code of conduct that addresses hazing and alcohol. Penalties range from a reprimand to suspension or expulsion from the school.
"I believe there will be more charges coming," said Jeanne Meyer, NIU's director of community standards and student conduct. "We will pursue whatever information we receive."
Meyer said it's likely that some of the students will face additional charges, and that additional students will be charged.
The disciplinary charges against the students were issued Dec. 7, and the students are entitled to one-on-one hearings. The hearings are scheduled to begin when students return to school in January, Meyer said.
The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity also has been suspended pending disciplinary procedures that could lead to its permanent removal from campus.
University officials said the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity violated university procedures when it failed to register the Nov. 1 "parents night" party in which senior members of the fraternity and associated sororities were assigned as mentors to new members. Bogenberger and the 18 other pledges went from room to room in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, answering questions in exchange for vodka and other liquor.
NIU policy requires that all Greek social events be registered and approved in advance. For fraternity or sororities to host events that include alcohol, a minimum of 51 percent of the members must participate in a mandatory training program with NIU officials that includes information on responsible drinking, at-risk behaviors and how to help a friend.
NIU frat members charged in hazing begin surrendering
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