Cal State Northridge fraternity pledge dies after alleged 'hazing' hike

The family of Cal State Northridge student Armando Villa, who died while hiking with members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, is demanding answers, saying his death was the result of hazing.

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The family of a Cal State Northridge fraternity pledge who collapsed and eventually died after a hike in the Angeles National Forest is blaming the student’s death on hazing.

Maria Castañeda, who identified herself as Armando Villa's aunt, told KABC TV Channel 7 that the 19-year-old had gone hiking as part of a fraternity function and that he was barefoot when he was found by a ranger Tuesday.

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An earlier version of this post incorrectly spelled Armando Villa's first name as Aramando.

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The victim went hiking with friends off Big Tujunga Canyon Road and "passed out along the trail after they apparently ran out of water" about 5:30 p.m., Los Angeles County sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said.

On Wednesday, Villa’s aunt told NBC4 that other men who were with him that day said the group was "left barefoot with very little water to share between the boys, and no cellphones, and to find their way out of the forest."

When he was found, Villa’s feet were cut and blistered, relatives told The Times.

Castañeda said it was supposed to be the final hazing event before the pledges were accepted into the fraternity, adding that she wants the other men on the trip with him to come forward.

"The men in charge of this fraternity, you know the ones that left them there.... They left him there to die," Castañeda told NBC4.

A ranger found Villa and the other men stranded in the forest. Villa was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Nishida said the victim may have "suffered from heat exhaustion or heatstroke" but that the cause of death would be determined by investigators.

The university has suspended all Pi Kappa Phi fraternity activities while an administrative investigation of the incident is carried out.

Villa was a Sylmar resident and was scheduled to start his second year at the university in August.

"It is indeed a tragedy when someone that young dies," school spokeswoman Carmen Ramos Chandler said.

Fraternity people are absolutely wonderful people. When there not speeding at 90 MPH drunk at night by UCLA. Or letting in minors to drink at their weekly parties... they still continue ''hazing''. I have quite a few friends who joined fraternities and had to go through some hazing. Cause things like being tied up, walking in your underwear up hills, doing nasty things, being tied to flag poles, and being treated like an utter bitch. Is a sure sign of ''brotherhood'' give me a damn break... i seriously hate fraternities with a passion. They constantly do crazy shit and yet they get away with them. I guess money always talks in those situations eh? and every year there's a new death from ''hazing'' yet it makes news for a week... then people act like it never happened.

admit i have strong opinions on fraternities. But that's cause I've known people who went through hell to get in one. And they didn't do it in an ''academic'' sense at all. They just played mind games with people and treated them like shit cause ''it's part of the brotherhood'' and it teaches you lessons or some shit. Because washing dishes in a maids uniform is going to teach you a lot about sociology right?

Not to mention I've seen them do shit right in front of cops. I saw these asshole fraternity dudes run a red light while flipping people off (Might i mention one was a couple with a kid) and this fat cop sat and ate his chic-filet and didn't bat an eye. Yet, i had a friend who was stopped by a cop , for walking to work at night. What was his crime? being Black... yup not even joking.

I've had 2 buddies who were stopped by cops. And asked ''what they were doing'' as they walked to work at night. Meanwhile some white folks were out at the time and the cops didn't even care. So... fraternity assholes can speed 90 MPH down my block at night. Flip off people, run red lights, and have sex with minors. But don't ya dare be black and walking past 12! that's evil buga buga.

I was in a fraternity - a national fraternity - and we did not allow physical or mental hazing. We kept to that, too.

RodeoSchro said:

I was in a fraternity - a national fraternity - and we did not allow physical or mental hazing. We kept to that, too.

I wish more of them kept to that mentality. Over in LA all the fraternities seem to fit the sterotype. Drunk boys who do stupid shit, are careless, and do hazing for someone to get in. I've heard of some frats making you do gay things to join that's not right... none of that stuff has to do with brotherhood.

Gunsnhalen said:

RodeoSchro said:

I was in a fraternity - a national fraternity - and we did not allow physical or mental hazing. We kept to that, too.

I wish more of them kept to that mentality. Over in LA all the fraternities seem to fit the sterotype. Drunk boys who do stupid shit, are careless, and do hazing for someone to get in. I've heard of some frats making you do gay things to join that's not right... none of that stuff has to do with brotherhood.

Maybe it's not fraternities that are the problem - maybe it's Californians. Or Los Angeleans, or whatever you call people from LA.

A death march through a canyon with no shoes,no cellphone and a bit of water sounds more serious than some hazing prank.

lazycrockett said:

A death march through a canyon with no shoes,no cellphone and a bit of water sounds more serious than some hazing prank.

It doesn't sound too far from what other fraternities have done. My first boyfriend wanted badly to be apart of Pi Khappa Phi (the same fraternity this hazing took place) and eventually got in. I recall him wanting in badly... yet always complaining they made him do crazy shit.

They once made them go in the canyon and walk in their underwear. It was about 98 degrees out and they made them walk for quite a few miles. And din't give them much water... this was supposed to teach them some sort of ''brotherhood'' lesson or some bullshit

RodeoSchro said:

Gunsnhalen said:

I wish more of them kept to that mentality. Over in LA all the fraternities seem to fit the sterotype. Drunk boys who do stupid shit, are careless, and do hazing for someone to get in. I've heard of some frats making you do gay things to join that's not right... none of that stuff has to do with brotherhood.

Maybe it's not fraternities that are the problem - maybe it's Californians. Or Los Angeleans, or whatever you call people from LA.

I would agree with you on this. Except i heard stories from London, Kentucky, Texas, The Philippines , Japan, Georgia, Washington and other places. So, i can't say it's a Cali or even LA problem.

I'm sure there are good fraternities and sororities out there! i mean even my mom was in a sorority for pharmacy school. But... the ones who are hazing and hurting people. Or causing sexual assaults, letting in miners etc. Need to have stronger repercussions brought on them is all i ask.

Quite a few kids die each year from hazing event. I read a new one each year and it makes me sad. And it's talked about a week... and forgotten.

If your not drunk what is the point of dying during hazing? Brotherhood BS?