University of Leuven bans seven students after Sanda Dia | who died from hazing Abroad

Sanda Dia from Edegem in Antwerp died in December 2018 during a hazing of student club Reuzegom in Vorselaar. Among other things, the victim had to sit in ice-cold water for hours and drink liters of fish sauce. After thirty hours of humiliation and suffering, he was taken to hospital hypothermic, where he died two days later of multiple organ failure. The sorority was disbanded shortly afterwards.

After a first disciplinary investigation in 2019, the students involved were given community service and had to write a paper. There was a lot of criticism of this light punishment. Last September, the university started a new investigation after requesting and receiving the criminal file. “The criminal file turned out to contain new elements that the university did not have before and that are contrary to our disciplinary standard,” said Vice Rector Tine Baelmans.

“We realize that no sanction or procedure can take away the grief for Sanda,” she said. “As a university community, we have to give the drama a place together. We must never forget Sanda and what happened. ”

Eighteen members of the sorority have been charged with degrading treatment, accidental killing, deliberate administration of harmful substances resulting in death and guilty neglect. The investigation in the case at the Public Prosecution Service of Belgian Limburg is still ongoing.

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