Sigma Nu Stabbed in Head Outside Chapter House
 

Student stabbed; no arrests made

Victim in critical condition, friend says; two wanted for questioning
By Megan Nichols
Student Life Editor
September 13, 2004


UA student Kirk Wilder, 21, was stabbed in the head in front of the Sigma Nu fraternity house at about 2 a.m. Saturday, officials said. He is a member of the fraternity.

According to an informational advisory issued by the University of Alabama Police Department, the assault followed an altercation during which two uninvited individuals were asked to leave the area.

Wilder was stabbed during an incident on the lawn, rushed to Druid City Hospital and then transferred to the UAB Medical Center, the report said.

Nellie Millsap, a junior business major and friend of Wilder's, said Wilder was in a coma Sunday night and was in critical condition.

Millsap said Wilder's family and friends are thankful for people's concern over Wilder, but that UAB officials were asking everyone to stop calling the center with inquiries about his condition. "[UAB center is] being flooded with calls and it makes it harder [for doctors and nurses] to treat their patients," she said.

Tracy Birchoss, spokeswoman for UAB, said she could not release any information regarding Wilder's condition. Due to new federal laws, patients can choose whether information will be released, Birchoss said, and Wilder's family opted not to have reports given.

Margaret King, UA vice president for student affairs, said the last word she heard about Wilder was "encouraging."

"We know that he did have surgery [Saturday] morning, that he came through that surgery, but that right now he is in a waiting period, waiting to see how he responds and what happens, and so it is a tense time, but there's a lot of hope," King said. "And unfortunately, that's the way things go. It's a wait-and-see proposition."

The Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit and the UAPD are conducting the investigation into the matter and have made no arrests so far. Wanted for questioning are two black males, both between the ages of 20 and 30. One was wearing a white T-shirt and the other a navy L.A. Lakers jersey, according to the report.

One man was being called Reginald or Reggie and the other went by the initials K.G., the report said.

Cathy Andreen, UA spokeswoman, said Sunday afternoon that as far as she knew, nothing in the investigation had changed since the informational advisory was issued Saturday morning.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to call Tuscaloosa Crimestoppers at 752-STOP, the Homicide Unit at 752-0616 or UAPD at 348-5454.

UAPD and the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit could not be reached for comment this weekend. Sigma Nu President John Lindsey also could not be contacted.

In an written statement, King said the University's first priority is students' safety. "We have meetings set for Monday and Tuesday to make sure that our practices provide the safest environment possible for our students," King said. "I am particularly heartened by the response by UA fraternities and their willingness to make sure their practices assure safety for members and their guests. And I am impressed by IFC's [Interfraternity Council] leadership toward that end."

IFC officials agreed to a review of event protocols and said they would consider hiring private security to enforce guest lists at parties, King said.

The University wants to help ensure an incident like this does not happen again, King said in a statement.

"This is a shocking and terrible incident," she said. "It was an unpredictable, isolated incident that jars us in many ways. Our hearts are with Kirk's family and friends."

Please keep him in your prayers & thoughts.

My thoughts and Prayers for Him and his Family.

I was horrified to hear of the incident. I am definitely praying for him. Every time I've driven by the Sigma Nu house there's been a TV reporter on the front lawn.

This is so sad. I hope that he recovers.

It's amazing that stuff like that can happen. One of our guys hung out at the 'Bama house last year during the OU-Alabama game. Really was impressed with the guys there. I can't even imagine what I'd want to do the animal that did this. Those of you that are against capital punishment, well, here is a good reason why it exists.

That's crazy.

As far as I'm concerned, since his name is Reggie the most likely culprit is Reggie Miller.

Perhaps humor isn't the best for this thread, but in all reality I can't imagine what the heck is wrong with some people to do this. I don't understand what it takes to want to hurt someone and kill them - and to want to do it in such a brute manner. This is awful and I hope the man lives and recovers and they are punished.

-Rudey

Yeah the Sigma Nu guys here are first rate gentlemen. You don't see beer cans and passed out drunks in their front lawn, which isn't the case for all of our fraternity houses on campus. Unfortunately, it's not amazing that this happened (though it deeply troubles me) because as of late the Strip (the row of bars, stores and restaurants that basically start next to the SN house) has become the thug hangout du jour. I avoid it because it's become a dangerous place to be, especially on football weekends. It was likely the work of two thugs and it just happened that the SN house was the first one they came to. I sincerely hope the University and the City takes steps to keep these subhuman lowlifes away from our campus and give us back our Strip.
If anything new develops I'll post a link to the story

That is whack! :mad:

I will keep him in my thoughts. :( Please keep us posted on the situation

Thank you swissmiss.

"Of course, it's those DAMNED GREEKS causin' a commotion again. All they do is drink & pee & fornicate on our lawns...sometimes at the same time! Serves 'em right."

The sad thing is, there are probably people that hear about this incident on the radio, see it on CNN or read about it in the paper and have this exact thought pattern. Many of these same folks were delighted to see Robert Kennedy get killed because he was "a radical".

"What was that punk doing out so late at night? If he was normal people, he'd be in bed by 10PM."

For all we know, this gentleman was coming home from work because he's taking a 16-hour load and working a 40-hour week to be able to afford being in college in the first place. It sounds like a wrong place/wrong time scenario.

Nobody can dispute this is a sad incident...I'm praying for him. However, because of the location of this incident, the public automatically associates "frats & sororities" with less-than-reputable events. If this had happened in front of a dormitory to a non-Greek, it'd make the news for a day or two and disappear.

Let's all pray for this man and for the perpetrators. We should also "live our rituals" so that we can look the naysayers straight in the eye and tell them that we're trying to live to a higher standard.

Interfraternally,
BF

UPDATE
 

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/p.../40913003/1007

Here's a link to a story (registration is free, but required) in the Tuscaloosa News. Apparently one of the suspects was apprehended and arrested in Missouri.

Without question this guy's life has been pretty much destroyed. I hope justice is done to the punk that did this. Maybe some good can come of this and Tuscaloosa will take action to clean up that part of town.

There's a pattern growing here I think. Here, the thug life and military come from down South and try to get into our parties. They always try to BS their way in, saying they know someone in the house or that they were invited. When they get turned away, shit gets ugly.

I think if university admins stopped coming down on us and started seeing that all of the incidents (at least around here) are instigated bybnon greeks, then we'd be more willing to comply.

Sure, it can be said that we often let these people into our parties, but if we had adequate security that didn't try to be wannabe cops all the time, maybe these things wouldn't happen.

Anyway, I hope this punk gets what's coming to him. My condolences for the snake and his family. He was only doing what anyone who cares about RM would have done.

Unfortunately, for too many universities, the easiest way to deal with these problems is to crack down on the fraternities. Something similar happened at Ball State several years ago when two hoodlums were turned away at the door to a Lambda Chi Alpha party (my chapter's next door neighbor). These two guys then went around the back of the house, waited for the first Lambda Chi to come out, and beat him til he was comatose. The university's response? Crack down on the Greeks, even if they were following the rules when it happened.

This at least gives some good reason as to why parties need to be held off site.

Around here, it has always been best to just rent out a bar or restaurant for our parties. They operate the bar, they keep all the $ from it, it's generally cheaper (there's one place that rents out for around $650, has a dance floor, bar with beer and well drinks). We've never had parties at our actual house. Don't think the House Corp would be very supportive of that.

As far as how the U of A is handling this, I find the administrator's remarks to be very helpful and encouraging.

how terribly sad....
thoughts and prayers to all involved.

I have to agree with Stan to a point. Many many times it is not the fraternity's fault, but they get so much bad PR anyway.

Last spring there was an incident on my campus where some members of the football team tried to get into a fraternity party. The fraternity members were following the rules and would not let them in. Those team members went back and got more of their football buddies, came back, and a fight ensued. There were some injuries, I remember that a fraternity member ended up with a broken orbital bone and needed a lot of surgery. It's sad, b/c i'm not sure if the football players were really punished. I know that one kid that was a walk on (from my HS, actually) quit the team and I think transferred. A few of the other players involved were starters or at the least got a lot of playing time.

So many people tried to make it out to be the fraternity members' fault, and it wasn't. i can't say that the fraternities at Pitt are angels, by far, but they get a lot of isht that they shouldn't. And of course, everyone is so forgiving of the football players.

Sorry, I'll stop ranting here!

in any event, this thread is a very sad

Fraternities don't bring 10's of millions of dollars of direct revenue. Yeah, our rich alums donate a lot of $ to the school, but they are not doing so as fraternity members. They're just being good alums.

Again, Alabama has done a great job of handling this situation.

A few things to add on the story:

The perpetrators had tried to get into parties at Beta (2 houses down) and FIJI (next door) before they came to Sigma Nu, and were told at both that there was a guest list, sorry.

So Sigma Nu was the third house they came to. A group of guys was called to get rid of the intruders, who had entered through the kitchen door in back. Kirk was just trying to help, and ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

ALSO, Kirk had recently resigned his membership in Sigma Nu, but had come for the party that night. This was in the Tuscaloosa paper.

Yup. Whatever sells:rolleyes:

Thanks for the update.

Greeks in trouble sell. Whether they did right or not!:mad: So, what else is new.

That is the sad part let alone a young man getting in a dire life and physical situation.:(

Sounds like every type of card was played before the jury was impaneled?

How sad that this has become a race issue. Black white or other, the guys that perpetrated this are sub human creatures that deserve swift and harsh punishment. You don't just walk around w/ a butterfly knife unless you're looking to stir up some isht.

SwissMiss!:) Yes and ditto, co-sign!

Yes, definitely co-sign on that one. I thought butterfly knives were illegal or something like that...?

Yeah I think they are. But then, so is trespassing on private property and viciously stabbing someone in the head. You aren't dealing w/ normal people here.

That's for sure.

Firecracker, I'm sorry about your friend's brother. I hope that he recovers.



What's a butterfly knife? Is that like a switchblade? I've never heard of that expression.

So crazy and so sad. :(

Not at all.

http://www.darrelralph.com/assets/kn...song/bali1.jpg

That's a butterfly knife. I believe they're actually illegal to possess in my state.

Thanks ktsnake. I can see why they are illegal.

I hate it when people find any excuse to play the race card. The worst side effect is that when people are legitimately discriminated, these complaints will start to be pushed aside as merely crying wolf.
About the knife, I know in Texas any blade that is on you that's longer than 4 inches is illegal. I'm assuming many states have a similar policy. Meaning, these guys will have numerous counts against them.
I personally think that this criminal deserves the death penalty for turning a healthy young college man into a vegetable. Then again, I live in Texas, we send everyone to the chair.

Yes, I'm hoping the one responsible gets a swift, hard punishment.

I saw a flier on the Strip saying the police is looking for a Lakers jersey that one of the perpetrators dropped.

How terrible, Firecracker. Thanks for the update.

After the game tonight there was a HUGE police presence on the Strip. While it was annoying trying to get my car out of that area, I'm thankful that they're there to prevent anymore senseless attacks.

Violence at 'Bama frat houses prompts security rule
 

Violence at 'Bama frat houses prompts security rule

September 20, 2004

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- The University of Alabama is requiring every fraternity to have a trained security guard on duty at parties.

That, after three students were injured in separate violent incidents in one weekend.



In one attack, a student from Tennessee was stabbed in the head.



Twenty-one-year-old Richard "Kirk" Wilder of Signal Mountain was reportedly helping escort two men outside after they crashed at the Sigma Nu fraternity house when it happened.



Wilder has been in a coma since the incident.



Across campus, at about the same time, a student from Atlanta was punched and kicked outside the Pi Kappa Alpha house and a student from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was assaulted outside the Theta Chi house.



Dean of Students Thomas Strong says the guards hired must be trained in security or be off-duty police officers and must be approved by the university.

Kirk Wilder Shows Movement On Right Side, Opens His Eyes
posted September 22, 2004

Kirk Wilder showed movement on his right side and also opened his eyes several times, his family reported today.

The 21-year-old University of Alabama student has been in an induced coma since he was stabbed in the head outside a fraternity house.

His mother, Kathy Huffaker Wilder, was due to speak to members of Sigma Nu fraternity later today to tell them about what the entire experience has meant to the family.

He is at a hospital in Birmingham, Ala.

Here is the latest report taken from the web site of the Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church


www.signalpres.org

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

We have just left Kirk's bedside after the 10-11 (CST) visitation. He had a good night per the nurses and continues to show positive progress. Today they are beginning to take him off the paralytic medicine as well as begin tube feeding him nutrients. Both of these will elevate his brain pressure and we need continued prayers that during this time the pressure will stay within the parameters that allow for these two steps to continue. If the pressure exceeds a certain level, they will put him back on the medication which the doctors prefer to wean him off at this time. As we left, the pressure was at a good level and all other vital signs looked good as well.

The doctors have determined the type of pneumonia Kirk has and are attacking it with an antibiotic they feel will handle it and improve his breathing. The antibiotic is already working on the pneumonia and will be continued for several more days. As of yesterday, the seizures have stopped and today is three days after they have taken him off the coma medication.

The paralytic medicine was last given at 8:30 this morning. Kirk has required double the normal dose and in 45 minute intervals in order to keep his brain pressure within an acceptable range. When we left at 11:00 AM (two-and-a-half hours after the last dose) his pressure readings looked good. This is very encouraging.

The exciting news for today was that as Kirk began to come out of the paralyzed state, the head nurse told us he had movement in both his right arm and leg which is what they were hoping to see. "Praise the Lord"! He has also opened his eyes several times but is unable to respond as the paralytic medicine will take another 48-72 hours to work itself out of his system.

The doctors and staff were also encouraged to see that the latest brain scan showed blood flow to the area of the wound (left side), as the other undamaged arteries have compensated for the artery that was sacrificed on the left side. They said the flow is the same or possibly better than on the right side. They told us that this could take place, but never assured us that it would.

In the next several days, we hope to determine the extent of damage to the left side of his brain and the doctors seem to be more hopeful about the extent of damage. Please keep praying as you have been doing for total healing, which as we all know, our Lord can do. Kathy and I know that this, as well as other events that have occurred since 9/11, are a result of God's children fervently in faith (and confidence) lifting Kirk up in prayer and knowing our mighty Father is directing the healing process according to His timetable. Your faithfulness and boldness in your prayers for Kirk gives us significant encouragement and we know He has his arms and an army of angels around our son.

Please be in prayers for me as I go to speak with the Sigma Nu fraternity this evening at 5:30 PM (CST). I am truly looking forward to speaking to them. Please pray as I share what is in my heart and what this entire experience has meant to us and how each one of them is very special to us.

Again, we are humbled and overwhelmed by all of the prayers and provisions we are receiving. We are even more confident that God is great and that He is doing a wonderful work (Romans 8:28) in Kirk, but also in many hearts of God's children. Thank you for loving us and for your continued prayers to our Lord for healing as well as patience in the days and weeks ahead. We love you all!

dear ktsnake
 

thanks so much for the update. so glad to hear of positive progress. kirk will remain in my prayers.

Thanks for the update. That is certainly good news. I will pray for his continued healing and also for his family.
I didn't realize this happened on 9/11 until I read that. That's kind of eerie.