Student sues for hazing injuries

A college student and his mother have filed suit against Southern University in Louisiana for injuries sustained during a hazing event, records showed.

BATON ROUGE, La., Nov. 10 (UPI) --Marcus Heath and two other freshmen at the university in Baton Rouge, La., were allegedly hit repeatedly with 2-by-4 planks during an initiation last year at an off-campus residence, The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge reported Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleged Heath "underwent numerous instances of hazing" and said he was treated for organ failure and other injuries. The plaintiffs seek money damages for "pain and suffering, mental anguish and distress."

The university has no liability because the hazing took place off-campus, Tony Clayton, an attorney for the Southern University Board of Supervisors, told the newspaper.

Seven people pleaded no contest to charges of misdemeanor hazing and conspiracy related to the incident. The were put on probation, ordered to perform 100 hours of community service and write essays on the dangers of hazing.

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(Editor's note: This article replaces an earlier version of this article in which United Press International mistakenly identified the university in question. The university involved is Southern University. UPI regrets the error.)