Aspiring frat boys face assault charges

Two aspiring University of Albany frat boys -- one from Coram -- are accused of beating a man into unconsciousness on a strip of college bars on Friday night, according to published reports.

The student from Coram, Michael D. Gedell, 20, is accused with David A. Figueroa, 19, of White Plains, of a felony assault that left the man with a broken nose, a damaged eye socket and more, police said.

The Albany Times Union newspaper reported that Gedell and Figueroa were arraigned Saturday on second-degree assault charges and ordered jailed on $15,000. Gedell was also facing an additional charge, misdemeanor assault in the third degree, for allegedly punching a second man, the paper reported.

The more seriously injured man will need plastic surgery and was being treated at an Albany hospital, according to the paper, citing court documents.

At the time of the incident, the paper said, Gedell and Figueroa were wearing navy blue shirts for this spring's rush of a banned fraternity, Sigma Chi Epsilon. The shirts had an imitation Nike swoosh and the slogan "Just do it," the paper said.

The university's website says Sigma Chi Epsilon lost recognition for breaking school rules.