Family of UCSC student who died after apparent hazing incident files wrongful death lawsuit
The family of a student who died after an apparent hazing incident at the University of California, Santa Cruz is filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Alex Beletsis was a student and member of the Theta Chi fraternity at the time of his death. According to lawyers for the family, they have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the national fraternity, the UCSC chapter, chapter members and the housing operation to hold them accountable for the dangerous hazing that resulted in his death.
The lawsuit said Beletsis was being groomed for an officer position in the spring of 2018 and was required to participate in hazing. It said he had to drink large amounts of multiple types of alcohol and became extremely inebriated.
After the ceremony, the chapter had Alex and others go to a fraternity-wide celebration at the house of the chapter president. Beletsis’ condition got worse, but the lawsuit said his fraternity brothers to give him alcohol and drugs. They then had him go to a second-floor bathroom to settle down, and there he fell out of the window, according to the lawsuit.
The family said Beletsis’ skull was shattered, and he had severe brain and spinal cord injuries after landing on concrete. They said he was in the hospital for 18 days before doctors told the family he would not recover. At that point, they removed him from life support, and he died.
In May, the fraternity was dismissed after an investigation. It was on an interim suspension before that.
According to a post on the UC Santa Cruz Police Department Facebook page, the investigation “revealed deeply appalling behavior – hazing, drug use, and more – that does not represent the values of our university. UCSC has dismissed one member of the Theta Chi chapter and the release says other may face “serious discipline.”
The national Theta Chi organization also revoked the Santa Cruz chapter’s charter.
Anyone who is aware of any hazing or troubling activity is encouraged to reach out to the Dean of Students at 831-459-4446 and deanofstudents@ucsc.edu or UC Santa Cruz Police Department at 831-459-2231 ext. 1.
