A Florida choose final week sentenced a former Florida State College pupil to 30 days in jail and a yr of probation after he punched his peer throughout a fraternity hazing incident in 2018.
Oliver Walker, 26, was charged with culpable negligence inflicting hurt after he sucker punched fraternity pledge Nicholas Mauricio throughout a convention referred to as “Scumbag of the Week” organized by members of FSU’s since-dissolved Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter, in keeping with a lawsuit beforehand filed towards the fraternity.
“Not solely am I fortunate to be alive, however I’m fortunate to … be in an excellent situation upstairs,” Mauricio advised Fox Information Digital. “It’s taken plenty of onerous work and plenty of struggling and plenty of low factors.”
He mentioned the “hardest half about” his mind harm “is that it’s not a visual harm like a damaged arm or a torn ACL that takes bodily rehab.” It may be tough for his family and friends to know that he was severely injured and has been combating on daily basis for the reason that “Scumbag of the Week” incident.
OLE MISS FRATERNITY SUSPENDED OVER HAZING ALLEGATIONS AFTER VIDEO SURFACES
Mauricio, who was 6-foot-1 and 125 kilos on the time of the punch, fell and hit his head after Walker’s punch and has spent the final six years recovering from a debilitating mind harm that included two completely different hematomas and frontal lobe harm.
The incident got here simply months after FSU pupil Andrew Coffey died of alcohol poisoning after his fraternity brothers didn’t instantly name for assist.
The longstanding “Scumbag of the Week” custom required members to pick a pledge to be punched within the face in entrance of your complete fraternity, in keeping with the lawsuit.
“It is affecting my complete household,” Mauricio mentioned, including that they “just like the phrase survivor as a result of it’s an extension of being a sufferer, however you had been in a position to persevere.”
His mom, Michelle Mauricio, advised Fox Information Digital ready six years to get justice has been “atrocious.”
“The tales maintain going out, and yearly one other pupil is injured or dies,” Michelle mentioned. “That is mates hurting mates.”
DRUM MAJOR’S HAZING LEFT HEARTBROKEN MOTHER WONDERING WHAT REALLY HAPPENED: ‘HE WAS BEATEN TO DEATH’
David Bianchi, a famend hazing lawyer who represented Mauricio in each instances, advised Fox Information Digital he’s glad the Mauricio household is lastly seeing a decision to the prison case.
“Most individuals could be amazed on the variety of fraternity hazing incidents that occur yearly in the US, and that is even though nearly each state has an anti-hazing legislation, each main college has an anti-hazing coverage and each main fraternity and sorority has an anti-hazing coverage,” Bianchi mentioned.
“These incidents are taking place on a regular basis all through the US, and the message is not getting via to the fellows that do these items.”
Bianchi added that “maybe jail time” will present fraternity members that in the event that they put pledges or present members into conditions the place they are often significantly injured or die, suspension, expulsion and even jail time are believable penalties.
EX-MIZZOU FRAT MEMBER PLEADS GUILTY IN HAZING CASE THAT LEFT PLEDGE BLIND, PARALYZED
Mauricio needs different college-aged males who’re contemplating becoming a member of a fraternity to talk up if they’re uncovered to any form of bodily hurt or alcohol if they’re underage.
“On the finish of the day, though it could seem to be they’ve all the ability, you may have extra energy than them. You possibly can inform them no, and you must inform them no,” Mauricio mentioned. “We must always all be leaders greater than we needs to be followers. You’ll be capable of stop one thing dangerous from taking place to you and maintain your dignity intact.”
Mauricio added that universities even have “plenty of pores and skin on this recreation,” relatively than simply Greek organizations and their members. He and his mom are hoping their story educates different school college students and fraternity members concerning the potential risks of hazing.
Mauricio hopes to be an advocate for faculty hazing and others who are suffering from mind harm.
Legal professional Gannon Coens of Bodiford Regulation, which represented Walker, declined to remark on the time of publication.
