Utah State U Sigma Nu Pledge Dies
 

A freshman Sigma Nu pledge at Utah State has died.

Deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and the Sigma Nus at USU.

An investigation into the death is being conducted, according to reports:

http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/...1-11-22-08.txt

The following report says that those who provided alcohol to the late Mr. Starks have been identified, and “charges will likely be filed”:

http://www.localnews8.com/Global/sto...av=menu554_2_3

The following report mentions the response of Sigma Nu HQ:

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705265191,00.html
“The national Sigma Nu fraternity has temporarily suspended all activities of its Epsilon Upsilon Chapter at Utah State until more information on the death can be gathered, according to a press release from the organization.”

ETA: The Sigma Nu press release is available on the national web site:

http://www.sigmanu.org

Utah State Suspends Chi Omega and Sigma Nu Chapters "Indefinitely"

Edited to add :

The university's statements so far are posted at:

http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=31963

http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/11...d756083361.txt

Excerpts from Asociated Press report:
By the Associated Press
Wednesday, November 26, 2008 1:20 PM MST

LOGAN, Utah -- Utah State University President Stan Albrecht has indefinitely suspended Sigma Nu Fraternity and Chi Omega Sorority following the death of student Michael Starks on Friday.

Utah State spokesman John DeVilbiss said the suspensions effectively mean the organizations no longer exist at the school.

Logan police are investigating hazing charges in Starks' death. Police say they believe Starks had been involved in a fraternity initiation exercise.

Police reports indicate that Starks, who was 18, had been drinking Thursday night before falling asleep at the Sigma Nu fraternity home. He was later found not breathing.

. . .DeVilbiss said USU plans its own investigation to determine if Starks' death is related to a fraternity initiation that amounts to hazing. If that proves true, both Sigma Nu and Chi Omega could face the "real possibility that they will be shut down forever."

USU's student code forbids hazing and violators face disciplinary actions that range from probation to expulsion.


Comment: yes, "initiation" is probably not the precise term that ought to have been used.

I wonder what Chi Omega has to do with it?!

I'm sure all the trolls will be out in force when they get to the parts of the articles stating "Chi Omega is Sigma Nu's Sister Sorority".

Well......
 

So from what I know [rumors will be deleted with extreme prejudice -- the management].

Update January 3, 2009: Hazing Charges:

The Associated Press reports on hazing charges recently brought against 12 Utah State U students and the school’s chapters of Sigma Nu and Chi Omega:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...zOwIAD95FSQRG0

The Logan, Utah newspaper's site has a somewhat longer article, with more quotes and a few more alleged datails:

http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/...2-01-03-09.txt

Excerpts from Associated Press article:
LOGAN, Utah (AP) — A fraternity and sorority at Utah State University were charged with felony hazing after an 18-year-old freshman pledge died of alcohol poisoning.
The school's chapters of the Sigma Nu fraternity and Chi Omega sorority were each charged Friday with one count of third-degree felony hazing for their involvement with the death of Michael Starks. Prosecutors also filed misdemeanor hazing charges against 12 students, including the chapter president of Sigma Nu.
The students face a year in jail if convicted, while punishment for the chapters is unclear. . . .
The two organizations declined to comment until they read the charges.

The Salt Lake City paper has an article similar (not identical) to the one in the Logan paper, too:
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11357447

I don't know anything about this stuff, but I'm sure someone can enlighten me. How can they bring felony charges against the chapters themselves? Who would do time? Everyone?

I'm sure they mean charges of hazing in general, in order to get the chapter shut down or at least punished by national for breaking rules.
As far as charges against a single person-- it all goes to the President and then down the chair from there.
As President of my house, I understand how big a risk it is to be the head of your chapter if anything goes wrong- cause its all coming at you.

Well, no, the articles specifically said that felony hazing charges were being brought against the chapters, and that misdemeanor hazing charges were being brought against certain individuals involved. The university is taking separate action.

Kappa:

I'm not familiar with the precise facts anymore than anyone else here, nor do I know anything about Utah law (other than that they have some positively draconian liquor laws), but here's my theory: A chapter is a legal entity. Since it has to pay taxes, you have an EIN and all of that good stuff. It's even possible that the chapter is incorporated, which is sometimes a good idea, depending on the state (the corporate form can protect officers from personal liability in some cases if done right). That said, a corporation is a "person," and it can be charged with a crime.

I would guess that the Utah anti-hazing law has some sort of provision for punishing organizations as well as individuals, and that would explain this sort of scenario (possibly).

A statement on Chi Omega's website:

http://theeleusis.com/news.aspx?item.../UtahState.xml

USU fraternity leader says he banned alcohol for pledges

Hazing » Alcohol-related event allegedly led to student's death
By Brian Maffly
The Salt Lake Tribune



http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11485642

Sigma Nu fraternity officers started "activation" week last November cautioning their fraternity brothers against providing alcohol to the nine young Utah State University students still committed to joining, according to chapter commander Cody Littlewood.
"A-week is about brotherhood and a time for reflection. Alcohol is not conducive to building brotherhood," said Littlewood, 20, in an interview last week.
He tried to ensure the safety of freshman Michael Starks after he returned to the Logan fraternity house from a nonsanctioned A-week event in a dangerous state of intoxication.
But earlier this month, Littlewood, a junior at USU, found himself among 12 Sigma Nu and Chi Omega sorority members charged with misdemeanor hazing in connection with Stark's Nov. 21 alcohol-poisoning death.
Charged with felonies in Logan's 1st District Court are the chapters themselves. Most of the accused students have entered not-guilty pleas, while the chapters have yet to be summoned to court.
The detailed affidavit supporting the charges indicate that neither Littlewood nor fraternity member Timothy Weber, 25, the chapter's lieutenant commander who is also charged, played a role in the "capture" party that led to Starks' fatal encounter with liquor in the presence of several Chi Omega women.
Littlewood's lawyer has filed a motion to dismiss the charge against his client.
"We believe the elements of hazing have not been met.

Sigma Nu Closes Utah State Chapter

The Salt Lake Tribune reports on its web site:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11564692

Chi Omega and Sigma Nu closed their chapters.....

[edit]. Wow.

Update on pleas, charges, etc. from a Utah newspaper's site. Charges against one person have been dropped; another person has pleaded guilty; there seems to be a question about whether charges will continue to be pursued against against Chi Omega and Sigma Nu. Guess we'll have to stay tuned:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1...289889,00.html

I'm sorry but I think entirely this is the kids fautl.

Update: Sentence for Person Who Supplied Alcohol
The sentence for the woman who admitted to providing alcohol includes jail time, community service hours, etc.


http://www.abc4.com/content/news/sta...c23n_O3TQ.cspx

Excerpts:

Whitney Miller admitted to supplying the alcohol for the ritual.

. . .

Monday in court, a judge sentenced her . . . to 30 days in jail, three years of probation and 2-hundred hours of community service where she will have to talk to high school students about the dangers of alcohol. . . .

Wow.... Utah has some crazy punishment for providing liquor to a minor. Here they give you a ticket.

It can be pretty serious in Oklahoma.

(theoretically)

Update from an NBC affiliate’s site:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=7070504

Excerpts:

Another Utah State University student accused in the hazing death of an 18-year-old fraternity pledge will spend time in jail.

First District Court Judge Thomas Willmore sentenced 20-year-old Christopher Ammon to 180 days in jail Monday but suspended most of that sentence. Ammon will spend 14 days behind bars.

. . . Ammon will also be placed on probation for six months and pay a $500 fine . . . .

Another Update:

Salt Lake City Tribune
July 7, 2009
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12764625

USU student sentenced to 14 days in jail for hazing death
Crime -- Christopher Ammon, 20, also got 200 hours of community service and $500 fine.

By Arrin Newton Brunson
Special To The Tribune

Logan-- A judge sentenced 20-year-old Utah State University student Christopher Ammon to 14 days in jail and 200 hours of community service for his role in November's drinking death involving a Sigma Nu pledge.

First District Judge Thomas Willmore also ordered Ammon to pay a $500 fine. Ammon pleaded no contest earlier this year after a misdemeanor hazing charge was changed to unlawful sale or supply of alcohol to a minor, also a class B misdemeanor.

Ammon was a Sigma Nu member who took 18-year-old freshman Michael Starks to a sorority for an abduction prank, but left before the alleged hazing occurred. Starks was pledging last fall to the now-defunct Sigma Nu chapter.

According to court papers, as a reward for being the group's top pledge, fraternity members chose Starks to take part in the capture ritual involving Chi Omega, a neighboring sorority.

While in the company of several sorority members Nov. 20 at an off-campus home, Starks consumed a lethal amount of vodka.

Ammon was remorseful for the death of the freshman fraternity pledge, said his attorney Dean Zabriskie.

"He no longer drinks," Zabriskie said. "It was a wake-up call for all these young people."

Ammon's jail term starts Aug. 10, after his summer job ends and before USU's fall semester starts.

"If I could do anything to go back and change that night, I would," Ammon told Willmore.

Starks' older brother George asked Willmore to use his discretion to teach a lesson to Ammon and his 12 co-defendants, all former USU Greek members.

"We ask you to really make sure that, when deciding what their penalties are going to be, you do everything possible to make sure they realize their role," Starks said. "They have a lot to look forward to. Michael doesn't."

Willmore said he wants all the defendants involved in the tragedy to take responsibility for their actions.

"You could have gone and said, 'Don't give them alcohol,'" Willmore told Ammon. "You knew it would be there."

The judge ordered Ammon to spend his community service teaching high school and college students about the dangers of binge drinking, underage drinking and hazing.

Felony hazing charges were dismissed against the Greek chapters, which had their charters revoked by their national organizations. Two members await sentencing for supplying alcohol, while four others are pursuing motions to dismiss hazing counts against them.

Reporter Brian Maffly contributed to this report.

The family of the young man who died have filed a lawsuit recently, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. As the excerpt from the article (below) mentions, the fraternity and sorority have enterted into out of court settlements:

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13046274

[I] . . . The suit seeks unspecified damages from the university and the state. The Starks have already reached out-of-court settlements with the national organizations of Sigma Nu and the Chi Omega sorority . . . .