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CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) — Members of a Western Carolina University fraternity chapter that has been suspended amid hazing allegations are now under investigation over an alleged assault of a student.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office has so far made one arrest for the assault, which occurred April 18 at an off-campus apartment, the Asheville Citizen-Times (http://avlne.ws/1L2nEC6) reports.
Bob Denson, the father of the injured student, says his son was beaten by four members of the Zeta Xi chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha and had to be treated for a broken nose, severe concussion, a spinal injury and bruises all over his body.
Walter Conger, 20, has been arrested in the case on a misdemeanor charge of assault inflicting serious injury.
"I just want proper justice to be done, to make sure the people involved in assaulting my son are held accountable," Denson said.
University spokesman Bill Studenc said the alleged assault was not connected to the five-year suspension of the fraternity.
The school's hazing investigation began after a pledge said he was "water boarded" in February.
The university has launched a separate investigation into the alleged assault, Studenc said.
According to Denson, his son, a 19-year-old freshman who was not a pledge, went to the party to pick up a friend. While walking through a group of people, the freshman bumped into Conger, causing him to spill his beer. Denson says four people then started punching his son.
Denson said his son missed the rest of the semester and final exams and was granted an extension to complete his work. His son will transfer to a college in the Charlotte area this fall, Denson said.
"These guys were still out partying and finishing up the semester," Denson said. "My son was home in bed. How am I supposed to feel good about this?"
A call to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity went unanswered. Officials with the group's national office in Memphis, Tennessee, also could not be reached.
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Information from: The Asheville Citizen-Times, http://www.citizen-times.com
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