STILL … ANSWERS ABOUT STUDENT’S DEATH REMAIN ELUSIVE
|| By FITSNEWS || Details have yet to be released in the tragic case of Tucker Hipps – the 19-year-old fraternity member who fell (was dropped?) to his death in September 2014 from a bridge near Clemson University – but the fraternity to which Hipps belonged has received a five-year suspension from the school.
Specifically, the suspension referenced violations which occurred during “new-member education processes.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon maintains there is “no evidence” hazing had anything to do with Hipps’ death – even though local police continue their investigation (with no timetable for a resolution).
According to a press release from “Sig Ep,” its national leaders have been investigating “anonymous allegations spread through social media that Hipps’ death was linked to hazing.”
“Though both the fraternity and Clemson University have found the chapter in violation of their respective conduct policies, neither have been able to produce evidence suggesting Hipp’s death was the result of hazing,” the statement read.
Yeah … that sounds pretty carefully worded if you ask us …
Clemson University students told FITS in the immediate aftermath of Hipps’ death that fraternity hazing was involved. Those reports sparked a firestorm of controversy at the school – and a rebuke from local law enforcement.
“There has been speculation and innuendo, especially on social media, regarding whether hazing played a part in the death of Tucker Hipps,” Oconee County sheriff Mike Crenshaw said at the time. “So far, there has been no indication in the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office investigation that hazing played a part in the death of Tucker Hipps.”
Two months later, though, Clemson unceremoniously fired its vice president of student affairs – one week after Hipps’ parents told local television station WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville) that the school’s fraternity pledging processes were “broken” and that the truth about their son’s death had yet to come out.
“There is more to the story then what has been told,” Gary Hipps told the station.
Indeed … and we’re still waiting.
In related news, Clemson is currently being sued related to an alleged hazing incident associated with its women’s soccer program. In that suit – news of which broke exclusively on FITS – officials at the school are alleged to have covered up the particulars of the hazing.
Oh, and then there was the infamous #ClemsonCripmas party – which inflamed racial tensions at the school.
Meanwhile at the University of South Carolina, the Kappa Sigma fraternity saw its charter at the school revoked due to “hazing and significant drug problems” – news of which also broke exclusively on FITS.
Crazy stuff …
FITS spoke with a well-placed higher education leader earlier this week who agreed fraternities in the Palmetto State were out of control.
“It’s not like it used to be,” the source told us, vowing action would be taken to reign in the dangerous debauchery.
Looks like that process is underway … although the lack of answers related to the Hipps’ tragedy continues to be frustrating.
30 comments
Interesting that it was Clemson and not the National Chapter who pronounced the “fraternity death sentence”. Had SigEp national suspended the chapter, it would have been a sure sign that there was hazing going on and that the boys in the SC Beta chapter were on their own. Sig Ep has had a strict no hazing policy for years and generally enforces it.
Clemson’s dropping the hammer could be anything from offering up a sacrificial lamb to a finding that they had alcohol at the wrong party to there being some evidence of a real issue.
That GD silly run has been going on as long as those turd-blossoms have been on campus. I used to see them as I crossed that bridge in my auto going to early morning class after I moved off campus. I watched the simpletons from my room directly across the Quad as they left and as they returned from the same.
Generally enforces my ass. Clemson did SigEp national a big favor. You won’t hear a damn peep from them.
Lots of internal actions but here’s a few examples of a recent “hammer drops” by the national chapter:
http://kykernel.com/2009/09/20/fraternity-ban-sets-example-for-hazing-reform/
http://totalfratmove.com/breaking-sig-ep-at-virginia-tech-just-lost-their-brand-new-5000000-home-to-gdis/
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=101472
A run is only hazing if it is mandatory.
So what will come of this? The sheriff said “We still believe someone out there has some information that has not come forward…we still believe that for whatever reason someone knows some information and has failed to come forward.” It sounds like the myriad of evidence collected from cell phones, social media, autopsy of tucker’s body, and tips provided to crimestoppers are all pointing in one specific direction. And then you have a mother and father who have lost their only child. Yes, the chapter is suspended, but will someone crack? Are lawyers from nationals representing the members and pledges or is daddy’s money having to pay the legal fees? Obviously it is in the best interest of SigEp on a national level to keep this from getting out, or else it’s going to be a HUGE stain to their organization. Regardless, the Hipps family deserves some answers.
Will the FITS servers “unexpectedly” go down again this evening???
Tucker was murdered, yes in deed. Anyone with a keen mind and sixth sense knows this. Remember, this fraternity was behind DOS attacks on FitNews.
Please. As I recall FITS ALSO went down election night (2014 mid-terms).DOS attack?
I seriously doubt it was THAT fraternity, THAT night-Boz or Smirks? :-)
No. The fraternity did not want the article seen. And for good reason. A hundred thousand page views later, everybody in SC and beyond knew what really happened to Tucker.
A ‘hundred thousand page views’? Flip/Sandi accounted for 99,000 of em?
Flip/Sandi/pogo is addicted to this site, just like his soulmate, Grand Tango.
Thought you were going to be too “busy” to post, Flip.
DOS attacks..puh lease.
Its called having a cheapo hosting company.
The Dept of Justice Cyber Division is interested in you?
Sig Ep is still trying to wash the shit stains out of their pants from when they got wind of the article. Fits successfully butted heads with the kids with silver spoons in their mouths. And Carl is like an evil villain. Muahahaha!!! Don’t worry, they definitely got their Northfaces in a bunch. Or rather Patagonias, as that is the must have frat item these days.
Furman suspended a fraternity less than a day earlier, and Clemson administrators said, “Hey, we should do something like that.”
vowing action would be taken to reign in the dangerous debauchery.
*sighs*
Hold your horses there, Kimosabe!!
Seems like it would be a lot of fun…
“reign in the dangerous debauchery”
Let’s bring debauchery down to safe level.
So when they line up and do elephant walks in the dorms, will it suddenly be gay?
Their charter should be revoked.
I say get rid of greeks all together. They are nothing more than gangs at college.
FITS’ war on the Greeks marches on.
It could be MUCH worse. FITS goes easy on Clemson, unless there is a way to savage Haley, using Clemson…
You better be glad FITS is a USC (crap-in-your-own-nest) PR Graduate…(and there are many in the Columbia sports media)….
If you’ll notice, the lesser intelligent “J-School” grads from USC are taught that professionalism is embracing your opponent…and bashing your own…Liken it to how liberals view America, and their hate for their own…w/ a tendency to embrace our enemies as noble in their disdain for us…
It also manifests in Liberal-Tarians…you’ll notice they attack Republicans consistently….but never is heard a discouraging word for the Democrats, who are damaging the lives of American families…
Fraternities are traditional bastions for generating strong relationships that help men succeed. Most lockstep, cliche thinkers will ALWAYS attack that (see The Citadel)..especially those on the intelligence level of FITS, and the rest of the liberals in media…
The Citadel is where boys go who can’t get in anywhere else. The Citadel produces clean cut realtors and Insurance Salesmen. But REALLY, is that what you classify as success?
Bigot much???
Huh? Why does it make me a bigot to point out that The Citadel is a pseudo college of dumbasses? If my kids want to attend a military college, I’ll send ’em to a real military college.
Because you told the truth, and the bot can’t understand it/doesn’t agree with it. Next he’ll be calling you a liberal and typing 4 letter words with special characters.
Unfortunately, he’s severely limited on his POV. He’s just not that intelligent.
To broad brush a whole student body, based on your narrow mind and ignorance…is a perfect example Bigotry. You’re just taught that it’s OK because you attack people you’ve been approved to hate…
Meanwhile, WIS TV is reporting shots fired on the USC campus. I call bullshit. SC Legislators will not allow CWP carry on campus and USC Administration opposes it. We all know that no “active shooter” or other criminal would violate a law against bringing weapons on campus squite obviously, this did not happen.
No one would carry a gun in a “gun free zone”. —– Except someone wanting to do bodily damage to someone, or a criminal. Gun free zones make perfect sense. LOL. When the only person with a gun is the criminal , he or she can do pretty much as they please. The police are only minutes away. WOW. I wonder what the current death toll is from liberal thinking ?