Vermont police probe Norwich University allegations of ‘waterboarding’ at historic military college

Vermont police are investigating an alleged hazing incident on the nation’s oldest personal army school involving stories of “branding and waterboarding,” in accordance authorities.

A Northfield police officer responded to Norwich College on March 20 after a report of somebody being held at knifepoint, in keeping with court docket paperwork.

The sufferer later instructed police that whereas closely intoxicated, rugby teammates branded her with heated pliers, in keeping with the paperwork. She stated she wouldn’t have agreed if she had been sober. And when the investigating officer checked out her telephone, she allegedly discovered video displaying a lady apparently being waterboarded.

EIGHT GEORGIA COLLEGE STUDENTS ARRESTED AFTER HAZING INCIDENT

Norwich’s director of media relations Daphne Larkin instructed Fox Information Digital Monday that the college can also be conducting an investigation of its personal into the matter.

In a letter addressed to the campus group, Norwich President Dr. Mark Anarumo wrote that after the investigations are full, the college would take “authorized motion and disciplinary measures.”

“Hazing and associated unfavourable habits that places pupil well being and security in danger is opposite to Norwich College’s Guiding Values,” he wrote. “It isn’t and won’t be tolerated.”

The probe entails pupil affairs staffers, an unbiased investigator and a number of native regulation enforcement companies, in keeping with Anarumo.

He additionally disputed claims that the college was not cooperating with police however stated sure delicate data would require subpoenas or warrants.

“Whereas Norwich College has absolutely cooperated with all regulation enforcement companies, together with the Northfield Police, Division, we now have continued to make sure the constitutional rights and privateness protections of our college students and staff are revered,” he wrote. “Legislation enforcement officers can generally grow to be confused in regards to the extent to which we could reply to their requests, however this on no account ought to be seen as an absence of cooperation.”

Anarumo cited privateness issues for college students and college staff.

“Subpoena and warrant processes guarantee regulation enforcement actions on campus are carried out lawfully and guarantee our group members’ constitutional protections are preserved,” he wrote. “They don’t signify and shouldn’t be construed as an absence of cooperation.

The assertion adopted a report within the Barre Montpelier Occasions Argus through which Northfield Police Chief John Helfant was quoted as saying officers had been denied entry to interview college students of their dorm rooms on Friday in reference to the case.

Police flocked to the campus Friday as a part of their investigation into “branding and waterboading of and by NU college students,” he instructed the paper.

“NU was solely keen to have college students come away from their residences and meet us at a convention room,” he stated. “There are a number of points which this presents for regulation enforcement.”

The college, based in 1819, is thought on the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Coaching Corps.

The Related Press contributed to this report.