A University of Chicago student, Dylan Kanaan suited a file against the Illinois chapter and national organization of Phi Delta Theta fraternity on Friday, alleging that he was physically assaulted and forced to drink alcohol until he blacked out.

Kanaan alleged that on March 7, 2015, he required to participate in a fraternity ritual, sometimes referred to as a “pinning ceremony”. After the ceremony, he was forced to drink about eight shots of liquor and six beers within 20-30 minutes though he was told that there would be no alcohol.

According to the suit, a fraternity member pressurized him into drink a cup of clear-green liquid containing Everclear, a grain liquor that is 190 proof. Kanaan then blacked out and he was taken to Ford’s bedroom in the basement of the fraternity house, where he was physically assaulted.

When he regained consciousness, he attempted to run out of the house but was restrained by the fraternity members. He later escaped through the back door and ran around to the front, while he was physically assaulted further by a fraternity member.

Kanaan alleged that as a result, he had to spent seven hours in the hospital, suffering from severe facial injuries, including a permanent scar under his left eye, and was diagnosed with “depression and PTSD, manifesting as severe anxiety, sleep issues and weight loss,” the suit said.

The five count suit sought  $250,000 for the damages. Representatives from the national organization and Illinois chapter of the fraternity could not reachd for the comments.

By Prakriti Neogi