Geneseo, N.Y. – Eight of 11 SUNY Geneseo women’s volleyball players - some current, some former - who were involved in a hazing incident took plea deals Tuesday.
Those eight students will complete two speaking engagements at area high schools, as well as two weekends of community service.
"We think we’re going to try and use their stature as college students to local high school students about what they lost due to their ill-advised and stupid decision," said Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey.
The girls admitted to attending the off-campus party, as well as blindfolding and handcuffing freshman players while forcing them to drink shots of alcohol.
The judge at the hearing said, “What they did was abusive, degrading and life-threatening.”
The judge said he was displeased with the plea deal saying it was too lenient, but agreed to it for the "best interest" of the community.
The eleven were initially charged with misdemeanors.
McCaffrey said he might have sought violations in the plea agreement, but concluded there just wasn't enough evidence.
"It was a little bit of a mess, you had 11 girls, some girls engaged in criminal conduct, it's hard to tell who is more culpable and who is less culpable," McCaffrey said.
The three girls not in court Tuesday are set to be in court at a later date.
SUNY Geneseo students who spoke with 13WHAM Tuesday called the punishment fitting.
"I think it’s pretty fair, they’re just young adults … I think what they got is good for them," said Aaron Saxton, a sophomore.
"Geneseo students, that’s not a great representation of us, we're a great group of kids and study really hard ... I don’t think this is a problem on campus at all," said Julie Mohn, a junior.
Here's a list of those charged:
Alysia Negron, age 20 from Buffalo, New York
Laura Galvin, age 21 from Baldwinsville, New York
Alexandra Wende, age 20 from Williamsville, New York
Noelle Morrison, age 20 from Stoneybrook, New York
Julia Gangloff, age 20 from Lancaster, New York
Sarah Dewey, age 19 from Cooperstown, New York
Carissa Gagliardi, age 19, from Wantagh, New York
Megan Johnson, age 19 from Moriches, New York
Laura Rahab, age 21 from East Northport, New York
Courtney Long, age 20 from Rochester, New York
Megan Reed, age 21 from Horseheads, New York
