RICHMOND — The trial of three men accused of hazing an Eastern Kentucky University student is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Oct. 24, Madison District Judge Earl-Ray Neal ruled Tuesday during a pretrial conference.

Richmond police say EKU students Thomas Barnes and Gabriel M. McLaren and alumnus Alonzo C. McGill struck Brent Whiteside with their fists, a paddle and a cane earlier this year while Whiteside sought entrance into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Whiteside spent several days at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington because of kidney failure. Barnes, McLaren and McGill are charged with fourth-degree assault.

They have pleaded not guilty.