9. “Bulldogging” In Search Of Sacred Rock
Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Theta Chi pledge Harrison Kowiak died in 2009 during what was labeled as“Hell Week.” Theta Chi pledges were loaded into a truck and told to sit in the back blindfolded. After being driven to a North Carolina farm, they were told to find the “sacred fraternity rock.” First, they needed make it through 250 pound men. They called it “bulldogging.” Some played on the university’s football team. After a hard tackle, Harrison Kowiak fell to the ground. Upperclassmen told him to get up. He did, until he collapsed. After falling and striking his head on the ground, he suffered blunt force head trauma. The fraternity and 21 brothers were found responsible for his sudden death.
Other Theta Chi hazing activities included rummaging through dumpsters. Pledges were told to find balls with the fraternity’s name. Another was walking to the edge of a dam blindfolded. They were told to jump. And as they followed orders, the upperclassmen stopped them.
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