U.S.

Frat Hazing Proves Deadly

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

March 30, 2001 / 11:38 AM EST / CBS

The medical examiner has ruled that the death of a 25-year-old Tennessee State University student, who collapsed suddenly while jogging, was the result of fraternity hazing.

Joseph T. Green Jr. of Antioch died as a result of "exercise during fraternity initiation," the coroner's report says.

Green collapsed while jogging on the Whites Creek High School track shortly after 6 a.m. on Jan. 29. He was taken to Skyline Medical Center in cardio-pulmonary distress and had a temperature of 103.7 before he died.

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The official cause of death is listed as hyperthermia - or high fever - induced by exercise and environment, along with acute asthma attack.

Metro medical examiner Dr. Bruce Levy said he believed Green was asked to perform various physical activities, such as calisthenics and jogging around a track, as part of an initiation into a fraternity.

The medical examiner's information comes from questions that he had police ask the students in the fraternity, Omega Psi Phi.