Knoxville, TN (WREG)–A University of Tennessee student from Memphis was treated and released over the weekend for alcohol poisoning, after police said his fraternity was using alcohol enemas.
The UT Knoxville chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha has been suspended.
The fraternity, also known as PIKE, is based in Memphis.
Early Saturday morning, 20-year-old Alexander Broughton arrived at U.T. Medical Center in Knoxville.
He was reportedly unresponsive and in critical condition, with a blood alcohol level over .40. That’s five times the legal limit.
A local newspaper reported the person who took Broughton to the hospital told police their fraternity had been pouring alcohol through rubber tubing into their rectums.
When police investigated the PIKE house, they found three men passed out.
Since alcohol enemas allow the liquid to bypass the liver, more alcohol gets into the blood stream.
Broughton’s friend, Patrick Wills, said they attended Christian Brothers High School together.
“I’ve known him probably since about kindergarten or first grade,” said Wills.
Wills found out about the incident by reading an online report.
“I read the article and saw his name and just immediately was dumbfounded by it. And wasn’t sure what to think, exactly.”
He said Broughton was a good kid with decent grades, who never got into much trouble.
He’s surprised by the report, because he said he didn’t think Broughton would do something like that.
“I don’t think it was under any pressure or anything. I think it was just, things happen sometimes, and things get out of hand,” Wills said.
Since Broughton was not a new student, Wills did not believe he was being initiated or hazed.
Statement from University of Tennessee:
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the International Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity have administratively suspended UT’s Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) chapter.
The suspension will last for 30 days, or until a decision is made regarding the long-term status of the chapter. This means the fraternity cannot operate during this time, according to a letter released today from the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity office.
The suspension is a result of alleged violations to fraternity and university policies.
UTPD is leading an investigation related to incidents that occurred over the weekend involving the fraternity.
by Natasha Chen
