Former University of Arizona student sues Board of Regents, fraternity

PHOENIX — A former University of Arizona student has sued the Board of Regents and a fraternity over a hazing that he said left him injured, depressed, anxious and fearful.

The Arizona Daily Star reported this week that Brett Barr accused Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity and the state’s public university system governing body of battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and acting negligently during a fraternity event March 22-23, 2017.

A university investigation found that underage frat brothers had been forced to drink alcohol, were blindfolded and assaulted. Barr, a freshman who had pledged to the fraternity, said in his lawsuit that he suffered head trauma, a torn spleen, and became fearful of retaliation from members.

Cody William Ward was charged with aggravated assault in connection with the hazing incident.

The fraternity was banned from campus in April 2017 but Barr did not return to school. Alpha Sigma Phi cannot apply to be university-sanctioned again until 2021, Tucson News Now reported.

The dean of students’ webpage has devoted a section of its policies and resources to hazing, including what it is, how to report it and a hotline number.

“No Wildcat should be demeaned, ridiculed, belittled or placed in a potentially harmful situation in order to be included in a group at the University of Arizona,” the first words on the page read.

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