So the coffin thing is true !

Chi Omega pledge files statement
By Michelle C. Lyons/The Huntsville Item

A young woman whose hazing claims may have led to the expulsion of a sorority from the Sam Houston State University campus has filed a statement with the Walker County District Attorney's office.

(Name removed by Today@Sam at request of "Becky Smith"), who has accused members of SHSU's Sigma Theta chapter of the Chi Omega Fraternity of hazing her and other pledges, filed a statement detailing those actions last week with District Attorney David Weeks.

The filing came about three weeks after Chi Omega's national organization decided to revoke the local chapter's charter, thereby closing its SHSU campus headquarters.

Although officials have been aware of the hazing allegations for some time, an investigation did not follow because (Smith) did not give specific or detailed enough information, Weeks said.

"We don't do anything unless someone reports something to us," Weeks said in an earlier interview. "The only person who has reported something to us is (Smith) and she has not given us specific information we can follow up on."

Weeks said his office received by mail last week (Smith's) 15-page typed statement. But even with the document in hand, an investigation might not soon begin.

"Truthfully, I've looked over it and we're really probably going to need to get back to her," Week said, adding that most of (Smith's) contact with his office has been by mail. "It wasn't what we needed. It's very basic. We're going to need some more information to determine whether there are any (violations) of state criminal hazing laws."

(Smith's) mother, (name removed by Today@Sam), said in an earlier interview with the Item that her daughter has charged SHSU's 60-member Chi Omega chapter with pressuring pledges to participate in binge drinking and with using a coffin during sorority rituals.

The latter relates to a state law against hazing prohibiting, "any type of ... confinement in a small space ... or other activity that subjects the student to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental health or physical health or safety of the student."

Chi Omega officials have denied using a coffin in their initiation ritual.

While Weeks declined to disclose most of the allegations made in (Smith's) statement, he did speak about those two claims.

"Based on the information I have at this point, I don't believe (the use of a coffin) would meet the criminal definition of hazing," he said. "It wasn't closed or anything like that.

"(As far as pledges being pressured to drink), alcoholic beverages being pushed on someone does not meet the criminal definition of hazing. It would more be forcing someone - making them drink. Encouraging someone to drink or offering them a drink ... without some sort of forced consumption (does not meet the criminal definition)."

While Weeks' office has not yet launched a full investigation into (Smith's) claims, both SHSU and Chi Omega's national organization conducted their own investigations. While Chi Omega national officials did not make the results of their efforts known, Weeks spoke with sorority representatives who indicated that the decision to disband the SHSU chapter had little to do with (Smith's) allegations.