Alpha Delta, the Dartmouth fraternity that partially inspired the 1978 movie "Animal House," faces branding charges and had its suspension extended this week after reports surfaced that students allegedly used hot irons on each other like cattle, resulting in infections.
Gawker first reported the allegations on Tuesday, which were partially confirmed by Dartmouth spokesman Justin Anderson.
"Alpha Delta fraternity has been charged with violating Dartmouth’s standards of conduct in connection with the reported branding of some new members of the fraternity by other members in the fall of 2014," he wrote in an email.
"Because of the serious nature of the charges, and the evidence gathered to date, Dartmouth is strengthening and extending the terms of AD's current suspension pending the outcome of the disciplinary process."
Reporters at Gawker dug into the online rumor mill at Dartmouth, and discovered that the prevailing buzz pointed to an infection as the reason the branding came to light.
Apparently, after a student was branded by a buddy, he went home for winter break. He soon discovered that the rump wound was growing septic, and sought medical attention. Somewhere during the treatment process, administrators were notified that the young men had burnt each other, and the jig was up.
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