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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A former Birmingham-Southern College football recruit who said he was hazed and injured while he was trying to join a fraternity has filed a lawsuit against the college and the organization.
Jonathan Ford, son of Alabama House Minority Leader Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, filed the suit May 18 against Birmingham Southern College, Kappa Alpha Order and the organization's Birmingham Southern campus chapter, Al.com reported Friday.
Ford said he was hazed during the fall 2013 semester and injuries that he suffered left him unable to throw a football and participate in practice. The lawsuit said Ford and others were asked to walk on their elbows and toes across broken glass, consume alcohol and were assaulted by fraternity members.
Birmingham Southern officials told Al.com (http://bit.ly/1Qg0DN3 ) the college suspended a Greek organization after hazing allegations surfaced in 2013 and pursued "standard student conduct processes." Officials said the chapter was suspended and put on probation until January 2015. The college didn't specifically name the Kappa Alpha Order chapter in the statement.
"The allegations included in the court filing paint a different picture than our investigation revealed," Kappa Alpha Order spokesman Brent Buswell said in a statement. "Kappa Alpha does not tolerate or condone any hazing. KA will respond appropriately as we determine any additional facts," Buswell said.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
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