Lawsuit Blames Sorority Hazing for Athlete's Suicide
In a recently filed federal lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois court, the mother of Jordan Hankins, the Northwestern University basketball player that took her own life in early 2017, alleges that Jordan's sorority's hazing motivated her suicide.
The case seeks to hold the sorority, and several individuals, liable for Jordan's death. It is alleged that she told members of her sorority that the hazing was triggering her PTSD and causing her to have suicidal thoughts. It's further alleged that despite her explaining this, the hazing continued and prompted her suicide.
Sorority on Probation
While the movie Animal House may have made a mockery of the concept of a fraternity or sorority being on probation or suspension, the fact is that the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Northwestern University had been suspended months before Jordan pledged. And while the university and sorority have rules against hazing, the sorority did not comply. As alleged in the complaint, it had gotten in trouble numerous times for hazing.
The lawsuit asserts that the sorority failed to take any actions to stop the abuse and hazing even after Jordan told them what was going on and that she was suffering suicidal thoughts.
The hazing including such things as paddling, verbal abuse, mental abuse, sleep deprivation, financial exploitation, and more.
Related Resources:
- United States Seventh Circuit Cases (FindLaw's Cases & Codes)
- Tribes Sue State Over Property Taxes On Reservation Lands (FindLaw's U.S. Seventh Circuit Blog)
- Google Wins Facial Recognition Lawsuit (FindLaw's U.S. Seventh Circuit Blog)