After alleging that he was beaten and branded during fraternity hazing activities last fall, College senior E. Martyn Griffen will face the people he is accusing in court a week from today.
Griffen said two brothers of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, College senior Kelechi Okereke and Education graduate student Lionel Anderson-Perez, lacerated him with a rubber band and severely beat his legs during pledging.
Griffen filed a private criminal complaint against both members, which was then approved by the Philadelphia District Attorney's office and will now be heard.
Okereke is charged with harassment, and Anderson-Perez is charged with harassment and simple assault.
Cathie Abookire, a spokeswoman for the D.A.'s office, said the office tried to resolve the issue out of court first but was not able to and will now go forward with a criminal trial.
Okereke and Anderson-Perez also face additional charges as part of a civil suit filed by Griffen that includes the two students, the Penn chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha and the national organization.
Michael Pegues, a lawyer for Alpha Phi Alpha, said the national organization has filed a motion to keep the fraternity out of court.
"We have a contract that all of our [potential members] sign that says that any type of dispute like this goes to arbitration," Pegues said.
A hearing with oral arguments was held Nov. 1 between lawyers for the national organization and Robert Sachs, Griffen's lawyer for the civil suit. The decision over whether the national organization will stay out of court is still pending.
The Penn chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha has been suspended by both the national organization and the University, although its charter has not been revoked.
"The University and the fraternity have been working together with respect to the suspension of the chapter," Pegues said.
The fraternity will not be allowed back on campus until July 2008 at the earliest, Penn officials have said.
According to Sachs, the Penn chapter has not yet responded to the civil charges filed against it.
However, Sachs believes this is due to a misunderstanding between the national organization and the local chapter, rather than an attempt to evade responsibility.
The civil suit will continue after the criminal hearing, but Sachs said that no trial date has been set, and that it is still early in the case.
Griffen, who left Penn last semester, emotional and psychological distress, has returned to campus this fall.
"He is trying to get on with his life to the fullest extent possible," Sachs said.
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