Another Colorado student found dead in a fraternity house...
 

Since University of Colorado counselors have said that alcohol may have been a part of this story, I'm going to open a thread here.

Here's a link to the Rocky Mountain News coverage:

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/lo...191382,00.html

I hope that the writing on his face doesn't turn out to be some kind of hazing. Anyone else ever heard of this?

Another article on Lynn Bailey, Jr.'s death ALSO mentions the citation of 18 CU Tekes for underage drinking on a charter bus.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...79/detail.html

Party school or not, some of the quotes that reporters are able to get are . . . interesting . . . although that may not be exactly the word I'm looking for. The story mentioned above quotes a student as saying of the CU Chi Psis, "They're definitely rowdy guys, but who isn't?"

Yikes. Still, that probably doesn't come across as bad in print as the "Dude, one of the pledges died" quote that has a good chance of becoming infamous.

These seem to run in cycles
 

About four years ago,there were several alcohol deaths in Seept., and then none for several years.

I wouldn't be surprised to see one or two more, if we're in that cycle.

When I saw this story, my immediate thought was "Let's just ban alcohol".

Several big GLOs made big announcements a few years ago about alcohol free housing - how are they doing?

ALL GREEK Social events are now suspended at CU
 

From Denver's Channel 9 News website:

CU suspends all Greek events pending investigation into student's death
Paola Farer (Web Producer)
Created: 9/19/2004 10:54 AM MDT - Updated: 9/19/2004 5:48 PM MDT

BOULDER - All social activities at University of Colorado fraternities have been suspended after the death of an 18-year-old pledge, the Inter-Fraternity Council said.

The body of Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. of Dallas, Texas, was found at the Chi Psi fraternity house on Friday morning. Some members said there had been a party at the house the night before.

A formal cause of death hasn't been announced yet. A preliminary report from the coroner's office may be released Monday.

Flowers were left on the steps of the Chi Psi house over the weekend.

"Gordie's death will be a life altering occurrence for each of the young men in Chi Psi and it's extended family," said Sam Bessey,Chi Psi Fraternity Executive Director.

CU students received an e-mail in which Chancellor Richard Byyny writes, "We are of course concerned about any possibility of the involvement of alcohol in the this tragedy."

The fraternity's national organization suspended its Boulder chapter pending the outcome of the investigation. Members will still be allowed to live at the house, however some have opted to move in with friends or into dorms on campus.

Bailey, who went by "Gordie," was majoring in business and was a freshman member of the university lacrosse team. By all accounts, he was happy in Colorado where he loved the outdoor life and had already made plenty of friends.

His family released a statement Saturday. "We are heartbroken over the tragic loss of our son and brother, L. Gordon (Gordie) Bailey," it said. "Gordie's life has been short but he lived it fully with humor, affection, optimism, integrity and honor.

"Our tragedy is widely shared by all who have had the privilege of knowing him."

There will be a memorial service for Bailey at the Chi Psi house Sunday at 9 p.m.

Bailey's aunt, Lynn Feldman, told The Denver Post, that her nephew was a great student and athlete. She said he was not a big drinker and wouldn't cave into peer pressure.

The Post also talked to John Reese, theater director at the Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, where Bailey went to prep school. He said Bailey was captain of the football team at Deerfield and was active in theater, with a lead role in The Crucible last year.

911 Tape Released
 

The Denver Post reports that the 911 tape in Bailey's death has been released. The caller is quoted as saying "He drank way too much." The caller also says he wasn't breathing.


See

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,...415616,00.html

There's also a reference to another newspaper's report that police removed kegs from the house on Friday.

Re: Another Colorado student found dead in a fraternity house...
 

It seems to be common - maybe more in the dorms - for people to use magic markers to write and draw on the faces and bodies of passed-out drunks. There are a lot of pictures of this on the "collegehumor.com" site (not sure about the url)

I don't know how long it takes, and how many showers, to get the marker ink off.

It is proof, in the CU case, that others knew the kid was passed out.

Re: Re: Another Colorado student found dead in a fraternity house...
 

Agreed. I don't think this is something that's exclusively Greek.

Re: 911 Tape Released
 

Heard this 911 call on local TV last night. It was fairly strange because the caller was very calm, and seemed somewhat confused over whether the victim was breathing when questioned by the 911 operator. She had to ask two or three times if he was breathing. The final answer was no.

It seemed like they thought he just wouldn't wake up.

I doubt it's hazing. This is a classic drunken-idiot thing to do, and I've heard about it in a number of contexts, usually related to high school. It's just supposed to make him feel silly for passing out when he crawls to the bathroom mirror in the morning.

Something similar happened on an episode of "The Sopranos" this year -- one spoiled rich kid passed out during a party, and his "friends" shaved his eyebrows off.

I'm surprized I've never heard of it. I've heard of just about everything else.

As an aside, many years ago a collegue of mine was having a bachelor party the night before his marriage to the immediate past national beauty queen.

He was reportedly drinking with a bunch of Narcs, got drunk, passed out and they proceded to shave a much more sensitive area of his body and leave him naked in her front yard.

The rest was pretty ugly and the wedding almost didn't happen.

Moderation!

Edited to protect the identity of the former couple.

I had seen it on The Sopranos...

I swear I remember someone saying they had married a past national beauty queen.. if I could only remember who...

Dee

Tom, from one Tom to another, even I have heard of this. Yes, it is infantile to be sure and may hang their butts if proven.

"All Greek Events are being suspended"!

Over Kill and while it sounds like CU is a stand up U. it seems that slowly but surely, Greeks and their Houses (Buildings get gobbled up).

I have seen pictures of the Ex LXA house at CU and it is disgraceful for a Large Fraternity to have a house that looked so dismal compared to so many others.

To my knowledge, LXA is still no longer at CU!:(

Maybe it is better in the long run from the sounds of it.:rolleyes:

That would be ME! :D

Well, at least the beauty queen part. But I had someone else in mind from many years ago!

ETA AGDEE, you'll never guess who -- too many pageants, too many years, too many DA collegues.

(Mrs. DA is a former Toledo Area Student Council Queen -- Pretty impressive, huh?)

The ink smudges
 

A news report today (Sept. 22) says that guys in the fraternity wrote "insulting" words on Bailey's face, but smudged them before the paramedics and police arrived.

The report also alludes to heavy drinking. Apparently there'll be an official news conference later today.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...96/detail.html

I was hoping those pics of me and my tiara had been destroyed, actually.

My wife was Miss Deaf Colorado when I first met her, so, believe it or not, LXAALUM did manage to marry a beauty queen. Don't ask me how, because I'm still puzzled, but happy nonetheless!

A news report indicates there was whiskey and wine at a pledge event, followed by beer back at the house. Only a small amount of cocaine was found at the house, and drugs are not thought to be a factor in Bailey's death. Looks like the coroner's report may be issued next week.

Buckets were set up to allow a couple of pledges (one of whom survived -- he also had his face marked) to vomit.

http://www.bouldernews.com/bdc/buffz...203253,00.html

What a tragedy. Thoughts and prayers for the family, friends, and campus.

In regards to one of the articles, it says several times how many of the brothers are not interviewing or cooperating. I know that according to ADPi policy (and I'm assuming other GLO's have the same policy), only the chapter advisor and president can make statements. Now, I understand for a police investigation, they (the police) would want everyone to give their own account, but is it possible, the fraternity hasn't "ok'd" others to speak about this? If that is the case, I just hate how the article made the brothers look:uncoopertive and uncaring.

Just a thought.

TN_TXADPi, whatever Chi Psi may have advised the members and pledges, several news reports, including a story in today's (9/23) Denver Post, have said that a number of the guys in the fraternity have gotten lawyers. Just a guess (and I could be wrong), but their lawyers are probably telling them to keep mum too. The police undoubtedly would prefer to get as much information as they can, but even the slightest possibility of a huge lawsuit can make people very cautious. (I have no idea whether a lawsuit might be pursued, but the press and TV coverage has included information about Bailey's family: father is a retired vice president of Kidder, Peabody living in Ketchum, Idaho -- that is, Sun Valley; stepfather is a "prominent Dallas businessman"; and Bailey's prep school was Deerfield. All that points to a very well-to-do family that might be able and possibly willing to mount one heck of a lawsuit, but who knows. At this point we don't even have an official cause of death.)

I agree with you totally about the lawyers. I'm sure they are telling their clients to keep silent. My point was just that the general public once again may use this against greeks. "Look at those guys, keeping quiet, not offering any info or assistance, blah, blah, blah..."
Maybe the public won't think that way, but I really can see it happening.

Fall Freshmen can no longer rush
 

Heard on the radio yesterday that CU's President has decreed that Greek Rush will no longer be able to rush fall (or first semester) freshmen anymore.

Rushee's must now be at least second-semester freshmen to rush. More fallout from this tragedy.

She thinks four months will make a big difference.

Another brilliant decision by the CU administration.
(thinking back with chagrin about the football recruiting scandal among others)

Well Co. Guys, CU it seems as in the forepaw front of being a What Me situation.

Again, a knee jerk off reaction by the Academain Peeps.

They dont want to control, they do not want to condone, they dont, they dont! They want to stay clear of the Fit That Hits The Shan.

But, this is not the only school doing this.

Strange, there are other schools who are doing just the opposite and working with Greeks.

Oh, love that The Football Staff at C U was kept even though the shit hit the fan!

Guess, it boils down to BS walks and $$$ Talks.

[shrug] Eh. [/shrug] The U. of Colorado proposal sounds like the kind of thing that virtually all corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies do: appear to take some kind of action while hoping the problem will go away or at least recede from the public's consciousness.

I anticipate there'll be several GC posts explaining that The End Of The World Is At Hand Right Here In Colorado if this proposal becomes a reality. That's okay, and also to be expected. Just a reminder, though: there are decent schools out there that have deferred rush / recruitment -- Northwestern, Duke, Southern Methodist, Stanford, and plenty of others. It's not total catastrophe.

At least the U. of Colorado isn't proposing the draconian solution espoused by Frank Sinatra about forty-odd years ago . . . .

Deferred rush works fine at a number of places so I don't think it's the end of the world -- I just don't think that Freshmen change that much in four months.

If anyone has any proof to the contrary, I'd be happy to see it. I have always thought that deferred rush was an academic tool so that new students didn't have the extra time committments as they get used to college -- not an anti-alcohol measure.

No argument there, DeltAlum. We've seen enough instances of 21st birthday celebrations turning into funerals due to rapid overdrinking to believe that alcohol misuse is exclusively a freshman problem.

As to another angle -- I was struck by the Denver Post's coverage of the U. of Colorado fraternities' response to the deferred rush proposal. From the report I gathered that the fraternities are taking the opportunity not only to oppose the idea of deferred rush, but also to end their current (laxly-enforced) voluntary ban on alcohol. They apparently are suggesting hired bouncers at fraternity parties, a stipulated number of sober brother "observers," making sober drivers available, etc.

Time will tell, as I'm always saying.

Speaking of time, is it just me or does the timing of advocacy of "wet" parties at fraternity houses seem a bit off (given the deaths), no matter how many new policies are attached to the idea? Ah, it's probably just me; after all, they waited until after the vigil, the moment of silence at a game, and the initial outpouring of placing notes and balloons and stuff at the Chi Psi house were over.

No. Pushing alcohol consumption out of the parties and behind closed doors has obviously been a miserable failure, so they're definitely right to advocate bringing wet parties back.

The Greek Advisor at Colorado State would appear to agree with some of us on the theory of deferred rush:

The following are excerpts from a story...

Rocky Mountain Collegian
Colorado State University
October 4, 2004

CSU Greek Life: Postponing Rush won't solve problems

by Megan Read

CSU's director of Greek Life, Mark Koepsell,
disagrees with Byyny's decision to postpone Rush
until second semester and does not think it will
solve various alcohol problems that are
associated with some fraternities and sororities.

"Deferred recruitment is only something to
consider if the fraternity or sorority chapter is
consistently underachieving academically. I don't
think deferred recruitment will have an impact on
alcohol culture because the situation in Boulder
could have happened first or second semester,"
Koepsell said.

Charles Huntsman, CSU's Greek Life vice
president, added that Rush in the fall gets
students heavily involved in campus activities
right away and postponing it until second
semester may discourage that.

"Deferred recruitment might get students more
familiar with the campus, but students who join
Greek Life always get involved immediately,"
Huntsman said.

Chi Psi Closes U of Colorado Chapter
 

See the Rocky Mountain News article

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/lo...3235972,00.htm

Along with the reasons for closing the chapter, the article has an interesting quote from a national risk manager at Chi Psi expressing concern about the alcohol culture at colleges nationwide, and especially at the U. of Colorado.

A Greek Advisor who has Stones to stand up and be counted!

No mater what We as National Greek Organizations try to do, number 1, kids for the first time are away from home and want to party have sex and live as an Adult.

As much as We as Nationals try and try to promote safe drinking, it is like promoting safe sex.

Drink less and wear a Condum, yea right.

Heat of the battle so to speak.

But the problem is no matter how hard it is preached, the sermon dont get to them.

I will live forever, but sometimes as has been shown it doesnt happen!:(

Maybe, it is up to Alums to keep a clock on them as Alums are of all ages and need to remember, if the Chapter is gone, then what?

The Denver Post reports on the "slurs" and vulgarities written on Gordie Bailey, and also reports that Bailey's family is considering legal action. Excerpts from the article are below; the entire article is at

http://www.denverpost.com/cda/articl...453690,00.html

Frat brothers scrawled slurs on dying pledge
The family of Gordie Bailey, a CU student who died of alcohol poisoning, is considering legal action.
By Amy Herdy and George Merritt Denver Post Staff Writers

Friday, October 08, 2004 -

As the whiskey and wine he drank during a fraternity initiation began to kill Gordie Bailey, some of his fraternity brothers wrote racial, misogynist and sexual vulgarities all over his body as he lay passed out in the Chi Psi library.

On the morning of Sept. 17, when it became apparent that the 18-year-old was not breathing, someone tried to wipe off the slurs written on his face. The University of Colorado at Boulder freshman was soon pronounced dead, and at the coroner's office, more markings were found on his arms, legs and body.

The phrases, which Bailey's father said he learned from the coroner, included "It sucks to be you," "Penis ankle" (written on his ankle) and "(Expletive) me." There were also drawings of male genitalia.

"Bitch" was written on the fingers of his right hand. Other phrases included an offensive six-letter racial slur.

"This reinforces the nearly unbearable pain of the whole thing," said Lynn Gordon Bailey Sr., 68, Bailey's father. "Was he dying while they were writing that?"

Local fraternity members declined to comment. Boulder police said the case remains under investigation.

Gordie Bailey's parents, who are divorced and each remarried, shared the responsibility of raising him and now are united in their desire to see reforms instituted after his death.

"This is not about binge drinking; it's about hazing at fraternities," said Michael Lanahan, 58, Gordie Bailey's stepfather. "How lucky is Chi Psi that 26 pledges survived?"

Donald Beeson, risk-management administrator for Chi Psi national, said Thursday that he had heard only that there were drawings on Bailey's face, not elsewhere on his body.

"No parent should have to deal with losing a son to a senseless accident like this," he said, adding that he understood why Lanahan would be upset over the "degrading and demeaning" comments. . . .


Lynn Bailey, his father, said the coroner told him that there was no sign of asphyxiation and that the alcohol had created a massive depressant that shut down his son's central nervous system.

Since that night, several fraternity members have refused to talk to police, and many have hired lawyers.

So has Gordie Bailey's family, who called the writing on the teenager "appalling" and says it depicts the fraternity members' irresponsible mind-set.

"To do something like that exposes those young men for what they are - thoughtless and perverse," said attorney David Berg of Berg & Androphy, a Houston-based firm.

The family has not yet decided whom to name in their suit, Berg said, but are considering the fraternity, the individuals involved and the university.

"We still don't see leadership from the university," said Lanahan, Bailey's stepfather. "They have not proposed any change in the system - but the system is killing our kids."
. . . .

I'm guessing they're referring to the N-bomb. I just found a picture of this kid and he was white. Am I the only one who doesn't get it??

Yes, he was white.

One of the local TV stations had side by side shots of he and Sam Spady the other night.

They could have been Homcoming King and Queen pics. Two really good looking kids.

From the story above, it looks like the university may get named in the suit even with their "hands off" attitude.

Hazing is a crime and it looks like someone will be held accountable in this situation.

Even if it isn't hazing, service alcohol to people under 21 is a crime.

No doubt, I definitely concur. The added demeaning activity of writing on a passed out member is unbelievable to me. I can only hope that the members who did it are having a very difficult time right now dealing with their guilt. I will be interested in how the authorities decide to proceed with charges. It sounds as if there will be a lot of accountability to go around.

Well. . .. I know you are just being holier than thou for effect and all given the tragic situation. But in boy culture, which i am sure you know, writing on someone's face if they pas out is kind of common.

Writing. Putting make-up on him, putting shaving cream on him . . I have heard of some bizarre stuff.

IF anything, the fact they wrote on him showed how common it may have been for him to drink too much and also that they had no clue he was going to die.

I wonder, if they had put make-up on him would there be allegations of homosexual necrophilia?

I mean everything else they are speculating on is equally farfetched.

James,

You can be SUCH a jerk. If writing on a friends face while they are passed out is some "guy thing", then I feel very sorry for the male species. That "boy culture" sucks. Just how ridiculous it is becomes glaringly apparent in a situation like this. I don't think my attitude is "holier than thou" ... I think it is appropriate. If he would have woken up after passing out ... it would still be wrong. The added affect it has in a situation like this on his family makes it reprehensible. Stop trying to be such a contrarian.

It's common in boy culture where? Seventh grade at a sleepover? I don't know any guys who would even think of doing shit like that.

I have to say I'm wondering about the circumstances surrounding the drinking that night. Although I'm a firm believer in individual responsibility and not blaming others when someone drinks too much, if these guys were the kind of assholes who'd write such things on someone who passed out, it's easy to believe that they're the kind of assholes who would also pressure someone to drink too much.

Its a lot more common than you think. Just because groups of girls don't do it to each other doesn't mean boys don't.

It happens especially among tight groups of friends as a kind of joke. It just does. I have no idea how that correlates towards his death.

Does cockblocking behavior correlate towards someone dying?

Does putting a stupid sign on someone's back?

Its all the same stupid adolescent-type behavior.

I remember threads where everyone went ballistic about tradtional high school pranks also.