Women's college volleyball players arrested for hazing after freshman were handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to drink vodka shots



Eleven college volleyball players have been suspended after a freshman team member was rushed to hospital on Sunday with severe alcohol poisoning following a hazing ritual.



Police confirmed that the women, a mix of current and former players at SUNY Geneseo aged between 19 and 21, all face charges of Hazing and Unlawfully Dealing with a Minor after forcing eight younger girls to drink shots of vodka while blindfolded and handcuffed.



The hospitalised victim, 18, explained in a statement how at one point a shot glass was pushed so forcefully into her mouth, it chipped her tooth.

Fun and games? Eleven current and former members of the SUNY Geneseo women's intercollegiate volleyball squad have been arrested on charges of hazing after a freshman player ended up in hospital on Sunday

She and seven fellow students had gathered at a team member's residence in Courtside Apartments where they were given instructions by their older teammates typical of the college hazing traditions practiced at so many college institutions.



On their back to the university dorms later that night, the unnamed student fell and passed out prompting her friends to immediately call the campus police, the Livingston County News reported.



Geneseo ambulance arrived on the scene and pumped her stomach as they took her to the nearest hospital where her blood alcohol content was measured at over three times the legal definition of intoxication.



Local police were alerted to the situation at 8.30am the following morning and began their investigation.

Nine of the eleven women charged are (top, from left) Laura Galvin, 21; Noelle Morrison, 20; (middle from left) Laura Rahab, 21; Carissa Gagliardi, 19; Julia Ganglof, 20; Alysia Negron, 20; (bottom from left) Sarah Dewey, 19; Megan Reed, 21

The eleven girls who now face level 'A' misdeanour charges are Alysia Negron, 20, of Buffalo; Laura Galvin, 21, of Baldwinsville; Alexandra Wende, 20, of Williamsville; Noelle Morrison, 20, of Stoneybrook; Julia Ganglof, 20, of Lancaster; Sarah Dewey, 19, of Cooperstown; Carissa Gagliardi, 19, of Wantagh; Megan Johnson, 19, of Moriches; Laura Rahab, 21, of East Northport; Courtney Long, 20, Rochester and Megan Reed, 21, of Horseheads.



Charges of this degree are punishable by up to a year incarceration, three years of probation, and fines.



In the meantime, SUNY have suspended the players and issued a press release stating: 'The college will initiate its own internal investigation and in all likelihood pursue disciplinary action against those involved in the alleged violations of the College Code of Conduct and college hazing policy.'

The New York university's attempt to crackdown on hazing rituals echoes Florida A&M University's recent suspension of its marching band after drum major Robert Champion died during such an event on a school bus.

Tranquil: The SUNY Geneseo campus where underage drinking happens every weekend according to Chief of Police Eric Osganian

Party house: The eight freshman players assembled at 32 Court Street residences for their hazing ceremony during which they were handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to drink vodka shots

Champion's parents have taken action to sue the school for their role in allowing such behaviour to go on but were left outraged after FAMU blamed the tragedy on the victim himself for knowingly participating in the initiation ritual to impress his fellow band members.



In 2009 Cornell student George Desdunes became the tragic victim of a Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity hazing when he was allegedly kidnapped and taken back to a fraternity house. He was bound with duct tape and zip ties and 'left to die', according to his mother who sued the school for $25million.



All too familiar with the amount of underage drinking that goes on in the college town of Geneseo, Police Chief Eric Osganian lamented: 'We understand drinking occurs in Geneseo, but this crosses the line.'



He continued: 'It's sad we are becoming accustomed to this. It happens every weekend, so we have just been fortunate to avoid another tragedy.'

Life cut short: Robert Champion, 26, passed away after he was beaten by fellow members of Florida A&M University's Marching 100 band during a hazing event

In 2009, a SUNY student died in similar circumstances after a hazing party but as the ritual continues the memory of Aman Partamian's death seems to have faded.



Geneseo Fire Chief Andrew Chandler fumed: 'The volleyball players don't think this is such a big deal; that it's been blown out of proportion. They've forgotten about Arman Partamian. As someone who went to Armen's funeral, I'm angry.'

Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey concurred: 'This is serious in what could have been. It's serious anytime you have a student so drunk and ill they require medical attention.'



But he added: 'We will not be seeking jail time,' given that there is no evidence any of the eight victims attempted to leave the party at any time.'



Chief Osganian revealed that eight of the victims and six of those women charged have been cooperative and truthful in their interviews while five declined to comment and have requested attorneys.

