Five Seton Hall students were charged with aggravated assault following a fight on South Orange Ave. and Sloan St. on Oct. 18. The students involved in the fight were members of two different fraternities, reportedly.
Rumors on Fizz, an anonymous social media app, connect both fraternities to the Far Hills Race, a social and charity horse race, which happened earlier on Oct. 18. All rumors remain unverified.
The Setonian obtained a redacted incident and continuation report from the South Orange Police Department (SOPD).
Police responded to a call regarding a SHU student, 21. He told police he was “strangled.” The continuation report said he “was complaining of throat/neck pain.” Police notified the Hudson County Breathe Team of the incident, as detailed in the continuation report, dated Oct. 20.
Another SHU student reported the altercation to the police. Police arrived on the scene, noting “the fight had ended” and “all parties were disbanding,” according to the incident report.
Officers spoke with two students involved. Both told police that “there was a verbal altercation that escalated to a physical altercation.” Officers spoke to two more students at the scene, who also confirmed this.
The South Orange Rescue Squad arrived on scene to “evaluate all parties involved.” All four parties “refused medical assistance.” Police also confirmed that all four parties “are Seton Hall University students” and SHU was “notified of the incident.”
SOPD confirmed five students were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and inciting a riot, in an email to The Setonian. A South Orange resident who is not a SHU student was also charged. Investigative reports remain confidential.
Out of the eight students involved in the altercation, six are members of Fiji and two are members of Pi Kapp, The Setonian confirmed via their Instagram and LinkedIn pages. Five Fiji brothers were charged. The two Pi Kapp brothers were not charged.
Only four students were named in the incident and continuation reports. Three students involved were not charged; two of them are brothers of Pi Kapp and one is a brother of Fiji.
Two of the students charged said in an email to The Setonian that they were not there and were unable to comment on the situation.
Some users on Fizz claimed that Fiji was suspended from Greek Life via Fizz.
University Relations and Kira Casas-Puente, the assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, did not reply to confirm/deny whether the Fiji and Pi Kapp chapters have been suspended from Greek Life.
“Seton Hall University has no comment on individual student or organizational disciplinary matters. When concerns are raised, the University takes appropriate actions to support student safety and follow established conduct processes,” University Relations said in an email to The Setonian.
Dominique Mercadante is the Editor-in-Chief of The Setonian. She can be reached at dominique.mercadante@student.shu.edu.
Sofia Kasbo, Managing Editor of The Setonian, contributed to the reporting.
Megan Pitt, head editor of The Setonian’s News section, also contributed to the reporting.
