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An incident reported last week in the Daily Planet Police Blotter as an emergency room report of a male patient shot with a BB gun has since been identified by University of California representatives as a potential fraternity hazing incident. 

UC police and administration officials are investigating whether an unidentified 19-year-old student was repeatedly shot at close range with a BB gun on April 8 by members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The incident reportedly took place at the intersection of Channing Way and Prospect Street around 11 p.m. 

Berkeley police officials have reported that fraternity members allegedly stripped the victim to a T-shirt and boxer shorts and forced him to smoke marijuana and drink beer before the shooting. The victim’s injuries were reportedly not serious. 

UC Berkeley has a strict no-hazing policy for its fraternities and sororities, and incoming freshmen must sign an Anti-Hazing Agreement, in which they state that that they will neither participate in hazing nor allow themselves to be hazed. UC Berkeley’s Interfraternity Council also has what it calls a “zero-tolerance” hazing policy. 

According to the university’s fraternity-sorority orientation website, “Hazing is prohibited by the State of California, the University of California as well as the Panhellenic, IFC and National Panhellenic Greek Councils. Greek members are responsible for adherence to a self-imposed Greek Social Code as well as an Anti-Hazing Agreement. There is a no-tolerance policy for hazing at UC Berkeley and any incidents are handled directly by Student Judicial Affairs.” 

The Daily Californian reported that the Berkeley chapter of Pi Kappa Phi had been disciplined four times in the past five years, including punishment for fighting in 2004, alcohol violations and dangerous conduct in 2003, hazing in 2001, and using alcohol to recruit pledges in 2000.i