Victim quits BGSU over fraternity incident

4/14/2005

BOWLING GREEN - A Bowling Green State University student photographed by his fraternity brothers during a drunken incident in January has withdrawn from school, saying he was so traumatized by the incident that he couldn't remain on campus any longer.

"The biggest help for me right now is to move out of B.G.," said former student Greg Cosentino, 21, who said he packed his car and left Wood County late last week. "I'm home right now where I know nothing's going to happen to me."

Mr. Cosentino, of Sheffield Lake, Ohio, said he does not intend to return to BGSU.

Police have said another former student, Nicholas Vogele, 20, forced his fraternity brother to his knees and posed for photos while appearing to have sex with him at the Pi Kappa Alpha house Jan. 16. The fraternity had been working toward earning a charter.

In March, Mr. Vogele pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief in Bowling Green Municipal Court. He also admitted violating his probation for a 2004 underage alcohol offense. He was sentenced to a total of 15 days in the Wood County jail. Mr. Vogele also was suspended from BGSU for a year, his attorney, Michael Skulina said at the time.

Mr. Cosentino said he does not plan to appear in person on Monday at BGSU for a hearing involving an appeal from the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Ron Binder, director of Greek Life at BGSU, said in March the fraternity was suspended for a year from BGSU because of the incident. But he also said the fraternity had the right to appeal. Teri Sharp, a BGSU spokesman, confirmed last night that the fraternity has appealed the university's ruling, but she did not know the date of that hearing.