St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. has launched an internal investigation into whether the death of a 21-year-old student last month was part of a hazing ritual.
Andrew Bartlett, a fourth-year arts student, was found dead in the stairwell of his apartment at about 5 a.m. on Oct. 24 following an on-campus party. Police have yet to release the cause of death, but have ruled out foul play.
There are reports Bartlett was at a volleyball team party prior to his death and there were some hazing rituals taking place.
The New Brunswick Beacon, which is produced by the St. Thomas journalism school, says rookies were dressed in costumes and heckled by veterans.
The paper says the party initially took place in a campus dorm, before moving off-campus.
Nathen Swain, who wrote the article, said he witnessed the events himself.
"People gathered in a hallway . . . and I saw members of the team being paraded down the hallway, being cheered and taunted at, and kind of humiliated," he told CTV Atlantic.
The team members were also allegedly given free alcohol.
Bartlett was a rookie on the volleyball team.
The university is investigating those allegations and has tasked dean of students Larry Batt and athletics director Mike Eagles to review what occurred.
"We're interested in what activities took place that intersected with the campus," St. Thomas president Dennis Cochrane said Tuesday.
About 100 people attended a memorial for Bartlett on Tuesday. His family attended the service, but asked not to speak with reporters.
With a report from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
