Members Of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority At San Jose State Sued For Hazing

POLITICS

» by Danielle Canada September 7, 2010, 15:14pm

Eight members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. are facing lawsuits now that a woman that hoped to join their sorority filed a lawsuit against them.

20-year-old Courtney Howard is suing the sorority sisters along with San Jose State University who she says did not protect from retaliation from the girls after she reported their abusive behavior.

According to Howard's court papers, members of the sorority told her that “snitches get stitches” and warned her not to drop the line because she'd have to be “jumped out” as though she were in a gang.

In one instance Howard claims that she and two other pledges were blindfolded and sprayed with a hose. Another time she says they were hit with wooden spoons, slammed into walls and punched in the stomach.

Howard says she suffered from welts, bruises, and a knee injury and witnessed a pledge be knocked unconscious before being taken into the shower to awaken.

She is seeking an unspecified amount of damages.

The San Jose State chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho has been suspended and four of the girls----Princess Odom, Monique Hughes, Nicole Remble and Joslyn Beard -- have already been convicted of misdemeanor hazing in criminal court, sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years probation.

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  • ExcuseU

    Wow they all look a mess lol

  • LIZ

    I have nothing against sororities or frats, but hazing is just plain wrong! And these girls think its ok to do that to someone for "sisterhood?" Not only is their sorority closed, but they can't have any contact with the chapter at all! Well, they'll have to go through a totally different kind of hazing while they do their 90 days---then they'll really find out what "snitches get stitches" means.

  • big brother bright one NUPE

    "In one instance Howard claims that she and two other pledges were blindfolded and sprayed with a hose. Another time she says they were hit with wooden spoons, slammed into walls and punched in the stomach.

    Howard says she suffered from welts, bruises, and a knee injury and witnessed a pledge be knocked unconscious before being taken into the shower to awaken"

    SHE DROPPED LINE AND DIME FOR THIS LITTLE BS. WTF WAS SHE THINKING WHEN GOT ON LINE?

  • Dee1922

    Just wanna know one thing: was it worth it? You're facing lawsuits, expulsion and maybe jail time. Your lives are ruined. But you care so much about prospective members being "made" that you put our sisterhood at risk? Your families must be so proud.

  • Welcome to my world!

    Wow, these young ladies have ruined their lives forever and no one seems to see the problem with this young lady engaging in this activity for a month--has anyone heard of FREE WILL??? It *****es me off when people can't handle a damn spoon or water--get over yourself and stop skating!

    I hear she didn't want to pledge SGRHO in the first place, but she was denied by AKA--maybe it's because their suspended--whatever the case may be, it's time for us (greeks) to start screening our interests better! It's not about quantity, it's about quality!!!

  • Kari

    These girls certainly put my beloved sorority to shame. Ive never went through nor witnessed anything of this manner in my four dedicated years to the sorority. I can say with the utmost confidence that these girls are getting exactly what they deserve and they should get more. However, we must not let four or eight bad apples tear down what our founders have built, SGRho, Inc will get through this and rise again.

  • Don’t trip

    Wow this is hella whack she knew what she was getting herself n2 when she wanted to b on the line

  • Pretty Kitty

    First off...unless you're Greek AND made you won't understand the importance of a process. Of course u never know what's gonna happen on line until it happens, however before u get on u know it's a journey both mentally and physically. It's unfortunate that the young lady got hurt, but hell we all get hurt on line. It's the "snitching" aspect that is disrespectful. Just because the situation was not in your best interest does not mean you should ruin the lives of others who are willing and capable of finishing the process. Did the sorority members go to far? Idk cause I wasn't there but Greeks we all know folks in our org that do senseless things during a pledge process. But the young lady needed to take some accountability for the fact that for a month she allowed this to happen and tolerated it. It's almost impossible to detect if an interest has snitch potential because they say what they need to say to get where they want to get--in good graces with the org to get on line and pledge. So in essence we all risk our letters and our lives to make people who we think are going to be *****ets to our orgs. This situation is unfortunate for everyone...but she's at USC now and she shouldn't even think about hanging around at NPHC functions on that yard lol

  • Pretty Kitty

    Oh and let it be known that pledging and hazing are two different things! Pledging has a purpose and a goal to teach u things...hazing does not, which is why we all are recognized as "non-hazing" orgs. Do some people/chapters haze...duh...have we been hazed at some point during a process...duh again. That's why it took her a month to say something cause she probably wasn't treated like that every night...such a misconception

  • m_leveau

    ...right on to whomever said non-Greeks shouldn't get too seriously involved in the convo with respect to pledging and the TRADITIONAL hazing that goes along with getting on line...

    sure enuff the purpose of going to school is to get your education but TRADITIONALLY each and every school has some kind of society that does things a bit outside the rules...itz a part of life...going thru some things just BONDS you...and that's PART of what Greek life is about...

    ...and it doesn't mater if you agree or not...a person CHOOSES to pledge...na', granted, those gurls look ROUGH Mon...but she made the choice, ya' know?

    ...personally, methinks she shoulda just borne whatever was necessary..."cross the burning sands" and STFU

    peace

  • Greeksis

    Inflicting serious bodily is ancient bull$!#. My Sorority days (1990s) were fun, and those bonds for each of my sisters are still strong today, as they were yesterday. Not too mention, great career contacts. But, never did we ever...inflict bodily harm on anyone. Yes. Unfortunately, throught out history, violent pledges have become part of Greek life. But if we allow this to continue for the sakeo of history, well... just to fair, we might as well bring back other acts of violence for the sake of social acceptance!