Four members of a fraternity at San Diego State University have been charged after one of them was intentionally set on fire during a pre-planned skit at a party. The members of Phi Kappa Psi, Caden Cooper, Lucas Cowling, Christopher Serrano, and Lars Larsen, are accused of setting Lars Larsen, a fraternity pledge, on fire during a large party while the fraternity was on probation.
Larsen, who was 19 years old at the time, suffered serious injuries from the incident. He was treated in the hospital for third-degree burns that covered 16% of his body. Larsen himself is also facing charges related to the incident. The skit was part of a planned activity, and the fraternity members allegedly intended to set him on fire. This act occurred while the fraternity was already under probation due to previous hazing issues.
The fraternity house, Phi Kappa Psi, was placed under suspicion by the university after an anonymous tip was received about the hazing incident. The university took the tip seriously and placed the fraternity on temporary suspension as they investigated the matter further. At the time of the incident, the fraternity was already on probation for other hazing-related problems.
The university has made it clear that it takes the safety and well-being of students seriously. A spokesperson stated that the school holds high standards for how all members of the university community should behave, especially when it comes to the safety and health of individuals. The spokesperson emphasized that the university works hard to ensure that incidents like this do not happen and that students understand the importance of maintaining a safe environment on campus.
This incident highlights the dangers of hazing and the serious consequences that can come from such actions. The charges brought against the fraternity members reflect the severity of the situation, as the act of setting someone on fire is extremely dangerous and can lead to life-changing injuries. The fraternity’s history of hazing issues only adds to the seriousness of the case, and the university is likely to take strong action to prevent future incidents.
