RICHMOND, Va. — The president of the student government association at Virginia State University has been charged with hazing.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Brandon Randleman appeared in Petersburg General District Court on Monday for arraignment on the misdemeanor charge.
The charge stems from an off-campus incident in August 2012 that’s being investigated by Petersburg police.
The newspaper says two other students also were charged last week.
University spokesman Tom Reed said he couldn’t release information about the incident. Petersburg police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt also declined to release information, saying she hadn’t had time to coordinate the release with the university.
Reed said the university has taken steps to eliminate hazing.
“It’s just unfortunate that in this day and time it continues to be an issue,” he said.
In 2009, six VSU students and two nonstudents were accused of hazing after another student sought medical treatment for severe bruising. In a plea agreement, the defendants agreed to prepare and present information sessions for students at VSU in exchange for the eventual dismissal of the charges.
