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The Alpha Delta Pi sorority at Louisiana State University hosted the Stop the Hazing “Fly High Max” basketball tournament on the night of Wednesday, September 26, to raise money for the Max Gruver foundation.
Max Gruver — an 18-year-old from Roswell, Georgia, who was majoring in political journalism — was a Louisana State University pledge who died Thursday, September 14, as a result of alcohol-related hazing. Following his untimely death, an autopsy showed that Gruver had a blood alcohol level of more than six times the legal limit.
Now, over a year after Gruver’s death, over 150 chapters of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority across the country partnered with Gruver’s parents to create awareness about their anti-hazing foundation.
The fundraiser came the same week that Louisiana prosecution said that Matthew Naquin — a former Phi Delta Theta member who has been indicted in the 2017 hazing death of Gruver — was “vocal” about his disdain for Gruver, going as far as to tear up a “snap bid” which designated the 18-year-old as a new pledge of the fraternity on Bid Day.
“It means a lot that we can host this event that directly benefits the Max Gruver Foundation but also promotes awareness and creates positivity surrounding this difficult topic,” said Hannah Tonry, president of the LSU Alpha Delta Pi chapter.
The Max Gruver Foundation is a non-profit organization working to end hazing on college campuses. The foundation and the funds it raises will be directed towards ensuring hazing has no place on college campuses.
Earlier in September, two former LSU students pleaded no contest Thursday to misdemeanor hazing, while Naquin is scheduled to go to trial for negligent homicide in July 2019. Additionally, a fourth former LSU student charged with hazing, Patrick Andrew Forde, has pledged his cooperation and truthful testimony at the trial.
Furthermore, as a result of Gruver’s death, Phi Delta Theta has been banned from LSU’s campus until at least 2033.
