Sigma Chi - Chico: "initiation week"
 

June 14, 2005 - 12:01:38 AM PST

Hazing alleged in near-fatal alcohol overdose

By TERRY VAU DELL - Staff Writer

OROVILLE - The mother of an underage Butte College student suggested in court Monday that her son's near-fatal alcohol overdose in February may have been part of a fraternity hazing.

Richard Amador, 19, was rushed to a Chico hospital Feb. 20 with a reported .496 percent blood alcohol level nearly six times the legal limit.

Prosecutors confirmed Monday "some hazing may have occurred" in connection with the alcohol overdose, but there was not enough evidence to file criminal charges.

On Monday, Kevin Hallmeyer, 21, a Chico State University senior and member of Sigma Chi fraternity, pleaded "no contest" to two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor one of them causing "bodily injury or death." Eight additional counts were dismissed.

In offering the plea bargain to the Chico fraternity member, deputy district attorney Kurt Worley said he had taken into account the fact that Hallmeyer had taken the dangerously intoxicated student to the hospital and has since been actively involved in an education campaign on campus to promote responsible student drinking.

Hallmeyer, who tearfully hugged the victim's mother outside of court Monday, will serve two months in jail and also must perform 24 hours of community service as a condition of probation ordered by assigned Superior Court Judge William Lamb.

A July 18 hearing has been set for the judge to determine how much restitution should be paid to the binge-drinking victim.

Reading from a prepared statement at Hallmeyer's court hearing Monday, Valerie Amador told the judge when her son was taken off life-support systems after two days in the hospital, family members asked him why he drank so much.

She quoted her son as telling her that if the pledges didn't finish the first gallon of vodka, "Hallmeyer would make us drink another gallon."

Asked why he "didn't stand up and refuse," her teenage son told her he felt he wouldn't be admitted into the Chico fraternity.

The student's mother told the judge Monday she could no longer "keep her mouth shut" and allow her son to continue to be characterized in the media as just another drunk college student.

Turning to the defendant in court, the teen's mother told Hallmeyer: "Ricky didn't ask you to buy that alcohol and it almost killed him."

"I'm sorry," the Chico State student whispered back to the victim's mother.

Asked about the assertion that the underage pledges were made to drink alcohol as part of a fraternity initiation, Hallmeyer's Sacramento attorney, Bill Portanova, replied, "If there was evidence of that, he'd have been charged with it."

"The Chico college scene has been awash in alcohol for years," noted the defense attorney, who credited the District Attorney's Office for "striking a fair balance" in Hallmeyer's case.

"Kevin Hallmeyer wakes up every morning thanking God that he took him (Amador) to the hospital and that his life was saved."

Hallmeyer declined comment as to the mother's allegations that the underage pledges were required to drink to get into the Chico fraternity.

According to Worley, who prosecuted the case, 10 underage Sigma Chi pledges were sheet-rocking a backyard structure during "initiation week" at the Chico fraternity house when Hallmeyer was given money to purchase alcohol.

"We believe some hazing did occur," said the prosecutor. But he added there was "insufficient corroboration" to support the charge.

Sigma Chi was placed under suspension pending an investigation by Chico State University, the results of which have not been made public.

The near-fatality took place less than three weeks after a 21-year-old Chico State student, Michael Carrington, died after allegedly being made to drink large amounts of water while performing rigorous exercises as part of a fraternity pledge ritual.

Seven members of the defunct Chi Tau fraternity are facing hazing charges and four of them are also accused of manslaughter in connection with Carrington's death.

Sounds like Chico State University has some major issues to deal with in regards to Student Life. This is really bad PR for the Greek system but even worse for the University.

Who wants to bet that the University will try to close down all Greek organizations before dealing with the issue of alcohol prevention and abuse among the student population?

(The betting comment does not apply to any exchange of money-just an expression)

it doesn't get any better, does it?
that's too bad.

If the morons at the Chapters at Chico keep this crap up, say goodby to Greeks there!

They keep digging the holes to bury themselves in.

1 is bad, but when there are more than that, it dont look good!:(

you hit the nail on the head. there is a long history of alcohol related problems (I will try to see if I can dig up some articles about Pioneer Days/Rancho Chico Days) at Chico not just in the Greek System.

the greek system there is in it's final days. it's sad.

New Chico Greek Life Rules Adopted

According to an ABC station serving Sacramento, etc., CSU-Chico and the Greeks there have agreed on a set of rules and changes that'll be implemented in stages. The story has a link to the Chico task force's report:

http://www.news10.net/storyfull1.asp?id=11504

Among the changes that the TV station highlights: alcohol and drug-free housing and events, membership reviews that involve nationals, and a later rush.

Edited to fix the URL

Chico Greek Life Task Force Report

For those* who want to skip the TV station story and just see the Chico task force report:

http://www.csuchico.edu/sa/greekreport

* (which might include Chico Greek alumni/ae and regional officers and volunteers of GLOs with chapters at Chico)

The University's task force says:

"Since 1996, ten people have died from alcohol, other drugs, or hazing. Seven of those have been the result of Greek organization activity or involved a member of the Greek community."

While we hate it that anybody has been hazed or died, especially GLO members, the deaths of 10 people over nine years on a campus of 16,000 doesn't constitute a crisis.

If this task force report prompts some improvement - especially in academics - some good has been achieved.

But it's a school, not the military.

-Rudey

Rudey,

granted it is not the Military, it may soon be a School without Greeks on campus if they dont get it straight in the near future.


As in hoosier post, 10 alchohol related deats in 9 years.

That is almost one a year, and a very major problem there.:(

I am sure it will get to the point that any Greek Organization that sneezes will be suspended from Campus but, to what avail?

The president of Chico's Panhellenic is quoted in an article in the local paper. Here's the excerpt:

Michelle Dobin, Panhellenic president and member of a Chico sorority, echoed Zingg that the chapters need to reorganize.

"And I think that would be really difficult to do with new members," she said.

Dobin, 21, sat on the task force and said many of the guidelines were things she, and other student leaders, suggested be implemented. While it's early, and Greeks likely haven't seen the new policies, Dobin said she thinks most members know the changes are necessary.

"It's important we do this for the Greek system to survive and to grow stronger," she said. "Obviously it was time for a change."

The entire article is at:

http://www.chicoer.com/Stories/0,141...925724,00.html

Maybe I missed something in the article, but why were Sigma Chi members hazing someone that went to another college? The article says the victim attended Butte College, which is in Oroville.

Butte is a junior college a stones throw from Chico. Some kids go to Butte and then transfer over.

Good question, NebraskaDelt! The deal is, the Chico Sigma Chi chapter apparently took some Butte College students as members. Since that was not allowed by Sigma Chi's national bylaws, they had to kick out four members when Sigma Chi HQ found out. This is mentioned in a "year in review" article in the Chico student paper -- check out the short paragraph headed "Feb. 16" at:


http://www.orion-online.net/vnews/di.../4283b47f06e04

or search Google News for some combination of the three words "Butte Sigma Chi"

So it doesn't sound improbable at all that they would have been pledging/hazing a Butte student. Unpleasant, but not improbable.

Just a reminder: people who are interested in the recommended changes at Chico may want to check back in a few days to see the action plans. As Appendix I of the report mentions,

"The Planning Worksheets are action plans for the recommendations in the task force report. They will be posted to the web site by June 25, 2005."

Originally posted by NebraskaDelt
Maybe I missed something in the article, but why were Sigma Chi members hazing someone that went to another college? The article says the victim attended Butte College, which is in Oroville.



Defunct Cal Poly at SLO Sigma Chi also took in students from Cuesta Jr. College.

It's pretty tough for Greeks at CSU Chico right now. Our chapter is not allowed to recruit this Fall.

President Zingg is very serious about reform. Hopefully, the good that will come of Pi Phi being gone will be other houses taking all of the changes seriously.

I agree! This will definitely help CSUC's current orgs become better.

well, or there won't be any orgs

This may be a little off topic, but I have to say that it is truly sad that the Greek System appears to be disappearing in Chico over the lack of good judgment by others. I don’t know if it helps any Chico Greeks, but I remember coming there for my friend’s graduation in May, and hearing almost everywhere that several chapters were shut down, or being shut down. So of course I asked my friend about it, and she told me something about the greek houses being in the way of President Zingg campus expansion plans. I know it sounds out there, especially since the only connection I could think of was all the bad press coming out of Chico this past year, but she showed me the models she was working on for the campus, and it seriously is beginning to look like Zingg is using the circumstances to expand the campus without contradiction. In which case, I feel sorry for the Chico Greeks because it’s almost like you guys are caught in the middle.

Nichole

Interesting to say the least.

Sounds like the Dude doesnt need any help as Greeks are stepping all over themselves just screwing up!

While not all are doing it, there are enought that are that just lay a pile of crap to be brought back on all. Shit Hits The Fan, it splatters on all Greeks!:(

norcalKAO, I have to agree with Tom on this. I would have no patience for the Chico Greek community if they started saying, "The university's only 'harassing' us because they want to expand their building projects. They're kicking us off because they want our land."

No, they're 'harassing' you because you're killing each other.

Do the Greeks think that the university *feels good* about seeing their name in the paper all the time with such bad press?? Perhaps it's time for the Greeks to take RESPONSIBILITY for themselves and not blame others for their bad behaviour. Maybe your friend should concentrate on trying to make improvements to her chapter, and the Greek system, and worry less about whether or not the university is expanding. Would they rather have non-housed fraternities and sororities....or none at all?

.....Kelly :)

In line with what navane said, it's interesting that the Chico State Panhellenic web site includes this statement (at least it does on 7/8/05):

Many changes are under way for the Chico State Greek System and we welcome these changes with open arms. We look forward to building our Greek system and embracing what is to some.

http://www.chicogreeks.com/pan

As to whether Chico's president has some grand scheme in mind -- of course I don't know. However, I'd guess that any substantial plan would have to win buy-in from all or most of the following: the CSU System trustees, the CSU System bureaucracy, the state legislature, the major political and economic powers in the Chico area, relevant faculty and staff, and local bodies such as zoning boards, neighborhood associations, etc. I could be way off base, but I don't think the president of Chico State has extraordinary powers to impose his will without a lot of support.

2 months in jail and 24 hours of community service??? is that a punishment for almost killing someone who wanted to become a "brother" this is all just ridiculous. i don't care if this kid was a nice guy and im sure he didn't MEAN to hurt anyone, but all greeks are aware of the risks they are putting their new members through by hazing them. maybe they won't ACTUALLY hurt anyone if they just stop being stupid. as far as the VICTIM just finding someone to blame, I find that hard to believe. we just keep making excuses. why not just step up and make some changes. all these chapters made the changes to start hazing. our founders definately did not have that in mind when they founded our organizations.
i know chapters that have eliminated all hazing, mine is one of them, and most are way better off. brothers and sisters who arent hazed are just as dedicated and have just as much brotherhood/sisterhood, if not more.
i can never get past the part that people can do these types of things to new members (aka new brothers/sisters) and then initiate them and become their best friend. can anyone explain that to me. or the other way around-how can you be hazed for 6-8 weeks and then feel like you are joining a family and making best friends. neither my family or my best friends would ever do that to me......maybe i just don't get it.....

Thank you Alpha Phi Bubbles...

I met with the Vice President of Student Affairs Jim Moon about 2 weeks ago representing my sorority's National Board during my our national convention on campus. He is the chair of the Greek Task Force. From my conversation with him & Rick Rees (the Asst Director of Student Activities) the Task Force's recommendations are to help chapters make positive changes, not to kick them off. We discussed the various tiers of action that will be taking place. They both were very positive about the future of the Greek system here.

It's very true that bad apples are making the 95% of us suffer. Almost all of the GLOs on campus meet or exceed requirements from the first tier. But you'd have to be a part of the Chico Greek system (Panhel, IFC or Ethnic Greek which we are a part of) to understand it & know what a great campus & community we work with. Outsiders looking in only have bits & pieces of the bigger picture - that's why they judge us.

Alpha Phi Bubbles. I'm sorry you feel that there was "sarcasm" in my reference to Chico Panhellenic's statement about embracing change. I didn't intend for it to be taken that way. Quite the contrary; I intended it as an example of how Panhellenic was publicly taking a position resembling what navane had suggested: making improvements in the Greek system.

Thank you for the chance to clarify what I had in mind, and best wishes to the Chico Greeks who are working for a stronger, improved system.

http://www.orion-online.net/vnews/di.../43964c82d2739

Posted earlier:
Kevin Hallmeyer, 21, a Chico State University senior and member of Sigma Chi fraternity, pleaded "no contest" to two misdemeanor counts of furnishing alcohol to a minor one of them causing "bodily injury or death."

Now Hallmeyer is going to pay up to $32,000 in hospital bills for the victim.