MSU Student Hazing Charges

Two Montclair State University students have been arrested on
charges of aggravated hazing involving a pledge to their college fraternity, according to Cedar Grove Police Chief Richard Vanderstreet.

According to charges against defendants Joseph D. Cordasco, 20, of Belleville and Christian A. Calderon, 21, of Union City, an 18-year-old pledge to the TKE Fraternity was subjected to both mental and physical punishments that caused a laceration to the victim's elbow, which became infected and ultimately required the victim to be hospitalized and undergo surgery.

The illegal hazing is alleged to have occurred in late February and early
March of 2011 in a Ridge Road residence being rented by Montclair State
University students. The defendants, who were arrested on April 27 and
April 28, respectively, were processed at police headquarters and released
pending arraignments in Superior Court in Newark.

Montclair State University released a statement saying it "strongly condemns all forms of physical and mental hazing and has a zero-tolerance policy toward any University member participating in this type of behavior. 

"As soon as the University learned of this incident we took immediate disciplinary action against the fraternity allegedly involved in this incident. With criminal charges having now been filed by the authorities, the University will pursue disciplinary proceedings and will continue to support the Cedar Grove Police Department in their ongoing investigation."

Steven Ramos, the chief executive officer of the Indianapolis, Ind.-based TKE, was not aware of the incident until asked about it by a reporter. Ramos said the national chapter of the fraternity — whose members include Ronald Reagan and Terry Bradshaw, the former NFL quarterback — will take immediate action.

Social activities and recruiting will end at the MSU chapter pending the completion of an investigation. The national organization might take other steps as well, up to removing officers or suspending the MSU chapter altogether.

TKE was founded in 1899 by men who themselves were unable to get into other fraternities. As a result, TKE was founded as the first "inclusive" fraternity, Ramos said. "Our founders were specifically oriented around that." Ramos was unaware of any previous problems at the MSU chapter, he added.

Cedar Grove police worked with MSU police on the hazing case.

Hazing incidents at MSU are nothing new. In one incident, in 2004, the university suspended a fraternity after authorities charged 20 of its members with hazing its pledges in the woods of northern New Jersey.

The university has tried to counter the practice with programs such as an anti-hazing workshop held in February.