Syracuse frat members charged after pledge suffers frostbite
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Police have charged two Syracuse University fraternity members for an outdoor hazing stunt that could cost a pledge four of his fingers due to frostbite.
The Syracuse Police Department says three young men pledging the Nu Alpha Phi fraternity were taken to a city park around midnight Saturday and made to do exercises, including push-ups and crawling in the snow, while not wearing gloves.
Police say after about 30 minutes, the pledges were given hand warmers and told to walk back to the frat house.
One of the pledges experienced extreme pain in his hands and sought treatment Sunday at a hospital. Doctors told him he may lose his ring and pinkie fingers on both hands because of severe frostbite.
Police on Wednesday arrested two frat members and charged them with hazing. CBS affiliate WTVH identifies the two students arrested as 19-year-old Tae Kim and 21-year-old Jeffrey yam. Both were reportedly released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.
Syracuse University has suspended the frat involved in the incident. The other pledging members who participated in the incident were not cooperating with police, according to WTVH.