Torey Alston, a likely candidate for the FAMU Board of Trustees vice-chair position, indicated that he is looking forward to a public discussion about an alleged hazing incident in the university’s Delta Iota Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. But Torey did not have many questions for the members of Alpha Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi who were accused of hazing an initiate back when he was the chapter president.An anonymous student said that he and approximately 13 other men were hazed while pledging FAMU’s chapter of ΚΚΨ in 2010. The student claimed that he and fellow pledges were slapped on the back and neck and paddled on their buttocks during a ritual that took place at an off-campus residence. Last week, FAMU suspended two faculty members who accused of involvement in reported hazing.
"I know several trustees have asked the administration to truly examine this because these recent allegations are troubling," Alston said in a quote published by the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. "We will have a very spirited discussion at next week's in-person meeting."
Back in 2006, Torey testified at the trial for five members of the Alpha Xi Chapter of ΚΑΨ who were tried for felony hazing. Former FAMU student Marcus Jones, who attempted to join the Alpha Xi Chapter while Torey was the chapter president, was paddled with wooden canes and punched.
The regional ΚΑΨ office sent attorney Linnus Finney to investigate when it learned about Jones’ allegations. According to the Associated Press coverage of the trial, Torey said he talked with most of then-alleged hazers about the incident before Finney’s investigation but did request any detailed information.
“Alston said he also spoke to most of the defendants as a prelude to Finney's investigation and the four accused of hitting Jones acknowledged ‘physical contact’ took place, but he did not ask them for details,” an AP article stated.
If Torey had tried to get many details as possible and then turned them over to the police, it might have helped the criminal investigation go much faster.
Three FAMU ΚΑΨ chapter members pled no contest to misdemeanor hazing and received probation. Two others pled no contest to felony hazing and were sentenced to time served (two years).