LOUISIANA FRATERNITY BANNED: Louisiana State University has rescinded the registration of a fraternity linked to the hazing death of a freshman student last year. This was announced Wednesday as the University said that Phi Delta Theta won't be able to sponsor events or take on new members at LSU until the end of 2032. The announcement comes after state lawmakers in a House criminal justice committee OK'd a bill strengthening the criminal penalties for hazing in the wake of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver's death. “ Stephen and Rae Ann Gruver, parents of the deceased student appeared before a legislative committee this week urging
lawmakers to strengthen penalties for student hazing. Rae Ann Gruver said "By strengthening the hazing law to a felony with larger fines and jail time, it will deter these young people from participating in hazing rituals. Hold accountable the individuals and organizations for hazing. There should be zero tolerance. By introducing the legislation that changes this culture and ends hazing, it will save lives. It could've saved Max's and it definitely will save someone else's in the future.” The measure moves to the full House of Representatives for debate. Phi Delta Theta suspended its LSU chapter shortly after Gruver's death in September. Gruver died with a blood alcohol limit six times higher than the legal limit for driving. Ten people have been charged in connection with his death, of those four have been charged with negligent homicide.
