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A Florida decide final week sentenced a former Florida State College pupil to 30 days in jail and a 12 months of probation after he punched his peer throughout a fraternity hazing incident in 2018.
Oliver Walker, 26, was charged with culpable negligence inflicting hurt after he sucker punched fraternity pledge Nicholas Mauricio throughout a practice referred to as “Scumbag of the Week” organized by members of FSU’s since-dissolved Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter, based on a lawsuit beforehand filed in opposition to the fraternity.
“Not solely am I fortunate to be alive, however I’m fortunate to … be in a superb situation upstairs,” Mauricio informed Fox Information Digital. “It’s taken loads of exhausting work and loads of struggling and loads of low factors.”
He mentioned the “hardest half about” his mind harm “is that it’s not a visual harm like a damaged arm or a torn ACL that takes bodily rehab.” It may be tough for his family and friends to know that he was severely injured and has been combating on daily basis for the reason that “Scumbag of the Week” incident.
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Oliver Walker, 26, was charged with culpable negligence inflicting hurt after he sucker punched fellow pupil Nicholas Mauricio throughout a fraternity custom referred to as “Scumbag of the Week” organized by members of FSU’s since-dissolved Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter. (John Greim/LightRocket through Getty Photographs)
Mauricio, who was 6-foot-1 and 125 kilos on the time of the punch, fell and hit his head after Walker’s punch and has spent the final six years recovering from a debilitating mind harm that included two totally different hematomas and frontal lobe harm.
The incident got here simply months after FSU pupil Andrew Coffey died of alcohol poisoning after his fraternity brothers didn’t instantly name for assist.
The longstanding “Scumbag of the Week” custom required members to pick a pledge to be punched within the face in entrance of your entire fraternity, based on the lawsuit.
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Nicholas Mauricio poses together with his fraternity “huge brother” and “grand huge brother” throughout a pledge night time in 2018. (Nicholas Mauricio)
“It is affecting my entire household,” Mauricio mentioned, including that they “just like the phrase survivor as a result of it’s an extension of being a sufferer, however you have been in a position to persevere.”
His mom, Michelle Mauricio, informed Fox Information Digital ready six years to get justice has been “atrocious.”
“I’m nonetheless so emotionally exhausted. … I’m simply uninterested in combating a battle we’re by no means going to win.”
“The tales preserve going out, and yearly one other pupil is injured or dies,” Michelle mentioned. “That is mates hurting mates.”
Nicholas Mauricio (heart) poses together with his two fraternity pledge brothers in 2018. (Nicholas Mauricio )
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David Bianchi, a famend hazing lawyer who represented Mauricio in each circumstances, informed Fox Information Digital he’s glad the Mauricio household is lastly seeing a decision to the prison case.
“Most individuals can be amazed on the variety of fraternity hazing incidents that occur yearly in the US, and that is although nearly each state has an anti-hazing regulation, each main college has an anti-hazing coverage and each main fraternity and sorority has an anti-hazing coverage,” Bianchi mentioned.
“These incidents are taking place on a regular basis all through the US, and the message is not getting by to the fellows that do these items.”
Nicholas Mauricio’s mom informed Fox Information Digital ready six years to get justice has been “atrocious.” (Nicholas Mauricio)
Bianchi added that “maybe jail time” will present fraternity members that in the event that they put pledges or present members into conditions the place they are often severely injured or die, suspension, expulsion and even jail time are believable penalties.
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Mauricio desires different college-aged males who’re contemplating becoming a member of a fraternity to talk up if they’re uncovered to any form of bodily hurt or alcohol if they’re underage.
“You’ll be able to inform them no, and it is best to inform them no.”
“On the finish of the day, though it could seem to be they’ve all the facility, you have got extra energy than them. You’ll be able to inform them no, and it is best to inform them no,” Mauricio mentioned. “We should always all be leaders greater than we needs to be followers. You’ll have the ability to forestall one thing unhealthy from taking place to you and preserve your dignity intact.”
Nicholas Mauricio obtained a soccer scholarship in highschool. (Nicholas Mauricio)
Mauricio added that universities even have “loads of pores and skin on this recreation,” relatively than simply Greek organizations and their members. He and his mom are hoping their story educates different faculty college students and fraternity members in regards to the potential risks of hazing.
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Mauricio hopes to be an advocate for school hazing and others who are suffering from mind harm.
Legal professional Gannon Coens of Bodiford Regulation, which represented Walker, declined to remark on the time of publication.
