Fraternity gets extended probation over party linked to rape case

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. ? The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has extended the probation of a fraternity that hosted a party attended by an underage student who reported she got drunk there and later was raped by six football players.

The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity will be on probation until the end of 2006 for hosting a party at their off-campus house on Oct. 21 where alcohol was available for underage people, school officials said.

“They did not take reasonable measures to protect against underage people drinking alcohol,” said Jim Hicks, UTC’s associate dean of student life and student development.

The university also set a Jan. 12 disciplinary hearing for the players who have been charged, according to attorney Jerry Summers, who is representing football player Terrence Thomas, 20, from Lithonia, Ga.

A criminal court hearing in the case is set for Jan. 18, Summers said.

The other players charged with rape are Muhammad Ahmad Abdus-Salaam, 19, of Atlanta; Lironnie Davis, 19, of Macon, Ga.; DeJuan Payne, 21, of Stone Mountain, Ga.; Cori Stukes, 22, of Wilmington, N.C. and Larry White, 21, of College Park, Ga.

According to a police report, the girl said she was drinking at the Lambda Chi Alpha party and then was taken to Thomas’ apartment, where the other players repeatedly sexually assaulted her.

The fraternity was already on probation for noise complaints, Hicks said.