14 The Queens Courier • december 19, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com BARUCH HAZING DEATH Ritual had been banned BY MELISA CHAN [email protected] The fraternity hazing ritual that claimed the life of a 19-year-old pledge from Queens last week was banned before the tragic death, according to the brotherhood’s national headquarters. Chun “Michael” Deng, a Baruch College freshman, died December 9 from head injuries during an unsanctioned Pi Delta Psi event in Pennsylvania, according to authorities and the fraternity’s National Executive President Andy Meng. Deng, of Oakland Gardens, was one of four pledges who went away to the Poconos last weekend with more than 30 fraternity members, the Monroe County district attorney said. The blindfolded pledges were reportedly forced to wear weighted bags and navigate a path through a yard, while they were repeatedly knocked to the ground. “I just got to know him,” said Julio Hewu, a Pi Delta Psi fraternity brother at Baruch. “He was good guy.” Deng died from blunt-force head trauma, the Luzerne County Coroner Office’s said, after he was put on life support at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital. The national Pi Delta Psi organization has since severed ties with the Baruch colony and suspended its national new member outreach, according a statement the group issued. “Michael will be greatly missed,” said Meng, who is from Queens. “We continue to cooperate with the proper entities and ask all individual members involved to come forward in aiding the investigation.” Various versions of the ritual are still being carried out, even though it has been banned for at least 10 years due to its dangerous nature, sources in different chapters of the fraternity told The Courier. “The way it was originally performed and how I experienced it, I’m not surprised that it killed somebody,” said a Pi Delta Psi alumnus, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “I can’t say for sure how it was performed in this deadly incident, but the results are tragic and I pray for Deng’s family.” “I also pray for the brothers involved in the incident,” the source said, “as I’m sure their intentions were good and they are going through the most terrifying moments of their life to have to live with this.” Another former fraternity brother said the specific ritual has caused broken legs and concussions. “It’s really sad, but I’m not shocked,” he said. “It was only a matter of time before this happened.” Baruch College said in a statement it had no knowledge of the event. The fraternity was also not approved to rush a pledge class. “Michael’s death is a deeply painful reminder that no individual should ever be put into a position where his or her personal safety is in jeopardy,” the college said. Pi Delta Psi, a fast growing Asian-interest society, has 20 chapters in the country and four colonies, including Baruch, according to its website. An investigation into Deng’s death is ongoing, the Monroe County Police Department said. The district attorney expects to file charges, according to the Associated Press. Park to get cameras BY LIAM LA GUERE [email protected] Crooks should say cheese before they commit a crime in Forest Park. Assemblymember Mike Miller, who represents the park, allocated $250,000 for more than a dozen cameras, and received permission from the NYPD on Monday, December 16 to install the devices within the next few months, following a string of sexual assaults in the park. “I think it will be extremely helpful in being a deterrent to crime,” Miller said. “If somebody thinks of doing something there, and they see the camera, they will think twice before committing a crime.” The camera solution comes after a string of rapes in Forest Park since 2011, committed by one male, who the police have still not caught. The latest assault occurred on August 26 of this year, when the suspect tasered a 69-year-old woman jogging in the park and pushed her to the ground before raping her, cops said. “If there is an issue going on in Forest Park I felt putting a camera in there would bring security in the area,” Miller said. “If we can protect one person then we have done our job.” Chun “Michael” Deng URGENT CARE GRAND OPENING FIRST CHOICE 718-229-2273 Our Services Include: Acute Care Physicals (Work, School And Camp) Pre-Operative Clearance EKG’s, PFT’s, Blood Work Vaccines • Flu Shots Low Radiation X-Ray WALK--IIN MEDIICAL CARE 210-12 Northern Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 Monday-Friday 8am-8pm • Saturday & Sunday 9am-3pm Most Insurance Plans Accepted NO APPOINTMENT OR REFFERAL NEEDED
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