Hazing at Penn State Altoona’s Phi Sigma Kappa may have led to suicide of Marquise Braham

A fraternity at Penn State Altoona has been suspended after a college student with Long Island roots committed suicide. Marquise Braham was a freshman at Penn State Altoona after graduating from Kellenberg

News 12 Staff

Mar 20, 2014, 6:36 AM

Updated 3,696 days ago

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Hazing at Penn State Altoona’s Phi Sigma Kappa may have led to suicide of Marquise Braham
A fraternity at Penn State Altoona has been suspended after a college student with Long Island roots committed suicide.
Marquise Braham was a freshman at Penn State Altoona after graduating from Kellenberg High School in Uniondale with honors last year. His father Rich Braham says his son jumped to his death last Friday from the top of the Marriott in Uniondale while he was home for spring break.
Rich Braham believes hazing rituals at Phi Sigma Kappa were involved with his death.
A friend of Marquise, who asked not to be named, told News 12 that he heard stories from the 18-year-old about forced drinking and other graphic hazing activities. He says the brothers at the fraternity gave Marquise a choice between sniffing a line of cocaine or be violated with a sex toy.
Friends and family say Marquise was inducted and quickly made secretary of the fraternity.
"Everything went quiet when he became a brother," his friend told News 12. "He didn't share anymore stories."
University officials say the local chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa has been suspended and police are investigating the hazing allegations.
Emails to Phi Sigma Kappa leaders have not been returned. 
UPDATE 3/22: In our original story, we erroneously showed an address and pictures from the Phi Sigma Kappa State College chapter, which is NOT connected to Penn State Altoona, nor is it the chapter involved in the story.
We regret the error and apologize for the mistake.
 
 


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