4 from LI charged in SUNY Geneseo hazing

Four young women from Long Island are among 11 students at upstate SUNY Geneseo who have been charged with hazing and providing alcohol to several underage members of the women's volleyball team, officials said Wednesday.

Three of the women from Long Island were on the team. They were identified as Noelle Morrison, 20, of Stony Brook; Carissa Gagliardi, 19, of Wantagh; and Megan Johnson, 19, of Moriches. Former team member Laura Rahab, 21, of East Northport, also was charged.

None of the defendants could be reached for comment Wednesday, and it was not known whether they had lawyers.

The victims were "summoned" to an off-campus house Sept. 2 "and allegedly blindfolded, handcuffed and ordered to drink alcoholic beverages," Geneseo Village police said in a statement. "This resulted in one person being transported to the hospital."

Village police declined further comment Wednesday, and it was not known whether any of the other victims suffered injuries.

University spokesman David Irwin said campus police first learned of the incident. Because it took place off campus, they notified village police, he said.

The school canceled the team's scheduled games last weekend and this coming Saturday, he said.

He said no action has been taken against the students because officials are waiting for police to finish their investigation.

"The college will initiate its own internal investigation and in all likelihood pursue disciplinary action against those involved," the school said in a statement.

All 11 defendants were charged with hazing in the first degree and unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree, both misdemeanors, the police statement said. They are to appear in Geneseo Village Court on Oct. 9.