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Three Virginia Tech students are suing the university in federal court over how it handled allegations that they were involved in hazing.
The lawsuits were filed last week by former Corps of Cadets members who say they were denied due process while being disciplined, according to The Roanoke Times.
A dozen cadets were found to have violated the school’s hazing policy in December and suspended over allegations that the university-sponsored military organization held a ceremony where the sharp ends of military pins were stabbed into the chests of underclassmen, the newspaper said.
An attorney representing the three former cadets said they “deny the allegations in the strongest possible terms.”
The legal action follows the school’s settlement of a separate lawsuit by a former student who was accused of overseeing the ceremony. That student also argued he was denied due process.
The new plaintiffs contend that university officials misled accused students “about the basic facts of their case,” and did not allow them to cross-examine their accuser, among other allegations.
A university spokesman told the newspaper on Friday that the school had not yet been served the lawsuits and could not comment. The spokesman emphasized that the school followed its policies.
Also on Friday, the Montgomery County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced it won’t pursue criminal charges against the students following an investigation that found none of the alleged victims sought medical attention and several declined to participate in the pinning ceremony without repercussions, according to The Roanoke Times.