Authorities in Centre County say two Penn State fraternity members are facing charges following a weeks-long investigation into allegations of “extreme” hazing rituals and reported abuse.
Ferguson Township police say Phi Beta Sigma fraternity dean, Jacob Francis, and the fraternity’s president, Jayson Archer, are both facing charges following complaints from multiple pledges.
According to the lengthy criminal affidavits, police were contacted in early March after an anonymous report was published regarding “physical hazing rituals” being held in the basement of the fraternity’s house, which is located along Farmstead Lane.
Police say the report claimed that fraternity pledges had been repeatedly subjected to “harsh” physical punishment since October of last year.
Investigators say, according to the complaints, if pledges did not answer certain questions correctly during the initiation phase, they were often subjected to physical and mental abuse, including being struck with a large paddle.
Authorities later learned that pledges were also “punched” by fraternity members during the so-called rituals, with some of the new pledges reportedly suffering physical reactions to the alleged abuse, including fainting.
Police say the fraternity’s leadership allegedly dismissed the pledges’ concerns, stating that the alleged hazing was “part of how the pledges showed their loyalty.”
The report further stated that the pledges were instructed to “endure the pain to be part of the brotherhood,”
Police say the pledges were also reportedly expected to both “physically and figuratively bleed for the fraternity.”
Authorities say, according to the report, the fraternity’s leadership, specifically Francis and Archer, were aware of the alleged abuse and allowed it to continue.
Upon further investigation, police say officers were shown text messages, between Archer and Francis, which reportedly confirmed their knowledge of the alleged hazing abuse.
Investigators also learned of one particular hazing ritual in which pledges were reportedly taken to other universities, to meet with other Phi Beta Sigma members, and allegedly forced to participate in what was known as “lock-up.”
Police say this “ritual” was described as the pledges being held in a locked garage and reportedly forced to answer questions and repeat information, or be subjected to “physical punishment.”
Authorities note that while two of the alleged victims denied any hazing abuse, police later discovered group texts, between the alleged victims, in which they discussed the hazing rituals in detail.
Police also noted that officers later seized Archer and Francis’ phones, which further confirmed their knowledge of the alleged rituals.
Officers say multiple paddles were also seized from the fraternity house.
According to online court records, both Archer and Francis were charged last week with misdemeanor assault and multiple counts of hazing.
Police add that a former fraternity member was also named in the initial complaint but charges have not been filed against him.
In response to the allegations, the university confirmed that the fraternity has been on suspension since mid-March.
“The individual students are restricted from campus except to complete their finals for the semester and then are restricted from campus and participating in all university programs activities beginning May 10.”
Court records show that both Archer and Francis have preliminary hearings scheduled for June 4th.