Two SAE members arrested on hazing charges

Fraternity on suspension pending further investigation of crimes; trial set for December

Two JMU students were arrested and charged with hazing offenses at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house Nov. 27.

Junior Edward Price, 21, of Alexandria, and junior Daniel Manner, 22, of Alexandria, were charged with six counts of hazing each by the Harrisonburg police.

At 2:30 a.m., officers responded to reports of disorderly conduct at the house, located at 660 Walnut Lane. Six victims were found who received some type of bodily harm, according to Harrisonburg Sgt. Ken Lanoue. The exact injury is not clear from the report, he said. When found by police, the victims were covered with some foul material and had duct-taped rags over their eyes, according to Lanoue.

The officers, with the aid of JMU's Fraternity/Sorority Life Coordinator, determined that a hazing crime was in progress.

The university placed SAE on suspension and the fraternity is not allowed to hold any functions until the matter is investigated, according to Fred Hilton, director of University Communications. The university will wait until after the criminal case has run its course before taking any action against the students, Hilton said.

Representatives from Fraternity/Sorority Life declined to comment on the incident.

Price and Manner could not be reached for comment.

Inter-Fraternity Council President Aaron Vandyke and President-Elect senior Scott Ewert released the following statement yesterday: "We as the Inter-Fraternity Council at James Madison University, the governing body of all JMU social fraternities, do not condone hazing in any form or fashion. In response to the alleged hazing incident involving Sigma Alpha Epsilon that occurred on Nov. 27, we are currently waiting for the police investigation to be completed and have no further comment at this time."

The trial for the two students will be held Dec. 3 at 8 a.m. in general district court.