MACOMB-Western Illinois University officials announced Thursday they are charging the members of the school’s lacrosse team with university violations after a freshman member died from alleged hazing.

Nicholas E. Haben, 18, of Oswego, was found dead last Friday morning after spending the night involved in initiation activities with the team’s older members. Haben was hazed along with eight other new members.

WIU Public Safety Officer Joe Sylvester said Haben and the others were encouraged to drink “rookie juice,” a mixture of beer, schnapps, coffee, tuna fish, eggs and hot dogs. Haben apparently became so intoxicated by the drink that he had to be carried to his residence hall room, where he later died.

The rookie team members were told to return to the practice field at 6:30 p.m., when they were escorted to a nearby wooded area and the hazing began. Accoring to reports, the initiation included physical activity and relay stations where th new players drank the “rookie juice.”

Hazing generally is accepted as a form of physical and mental abuse that often can spell injury and embarrassment.

Sylvester said the 18 members of the lacrosse team will be sent through the legal channels of the state’s attorney’s office.