Hazing, drinking deaths at Asian-American fraternities raise concerns

New York

SYRACUSE University students trying to join Nu Alpha Phi, an Asian-American fraternity, were given demerits when they made mistakes during pledging, and a way to work them off.

There were push-ups and sit-ups in the attic of the fraternity house, according to investigators and students. There were extended periods in a sitting position - knees bent, backs to the wall - that tested their physical strength and resolve. And on one frigid night in March, there were exercises outdoors in a park, with three pledges crawling and rolling in the snow with no gloves. One of them got frostbite on both hands and faced losing several fingers.