Chico State U (Again!): Sigma Kappa Suspends Chapter (Alcohol)
 

Sigma Kappa and Cal State-Chico have temporarily suspended the Chico chapter of Sigma Kappa, according to a local news site. An alleged alcohol poisoning incident is the cause, as reported:

http://www.chicoer.com/news/oroville/ci_11753789

Excerpts:

A Chico State University student is in fair condition at Enloe Medical Center after suffering alcohol poisoning Thursday during a function police said was a Sigma Kappa sorority ceremony.
Hospital officials said Bethany G. Dixon, 18, improved on Friday and upgraded her condition from serious.

. . . the young woman was found by friends, including some sorority sisters, in a highly intoxicated state and taken to an address in the 600 block of West Fourth Street.

Her condition deteriorated, and friends called 9-1-1 at 11:50 p.m.

Police found her unconscious and she was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.

Dixon is reportedly a sorority pledge. In an interview with Chico police Friday, Dixon said she was attending a pinning party for Sigma Kappa, and said it was being held at a location across the street from the sorority house on West Fourth.

. . . Police said others interviewed in the incident corroborated Dixon's story.

. . . pending further investigation the sorority's national organization, and the university, have suspended Sigma Kappa.

A criminal investigation . . . has been started in an attempt to locate the hosts of the party, and anyone who may have supplied the underage woman
with alcohol. . . .


Here's hoping Ms Dixon's condition continues to improve.
As alert medium- and long-term GreekChat readers know, in the last few years CSU-Chico has had a more or less steady avalanche of bad news about risk management / behavior problems in its fraternities and sororities. Sometimes it appears, for several months or for an academic term, that things have changed; then boom! more unfortunate news.

This blog reports on another incident involving Sigma Kappa happening almost 4 years ago to the day of this most recent drama.

WTF is wrong with these people? Did this chapter get in trouble over the incident 4 years ago? They obviously haven't cleaned up their act.

I read some research amongst some of our risk management program materials that said that even after a drinking related death on campus, behaviors were back to the norm for that campus within 6 weeks. It makes a very short term impact, sadly.

The stuff at Chico State has been going on for decades. It's a party school in the middle of nowhere. Its students are not known for being the academic type, no offense to alumni who might be on this board.

In response to generalizations made of all Chico State Students
 

In response to Peppy* in Gamma Phi Beta,
Chico State was labeled a party school I believe over 20 years ago by Playboy, however, in efforts to clean up the school's image, President Zing, along with STUDENTS, police, city officials, and the community, has made GREAT efforts to put an end to this detrimental behavior. Pioneer Days were cancelled years ago, Cannonball Run has been cancelled with the threat of participating chapters being pulled. We have been first place in raising money for Up Till Dawn for Saint Jude's Hospital for several years, we raised over $4000 in two days for those in our community that lost homes, property, and memories in the terrible Butte fires this summer. YES, we are a college, YES there are those who party, but can you imagine how many college students have gotten alcohol poisoning across the nation this past weekend alone? Who are you to take a terrible incident such as this and apply it to ALL of Chico State? We have an amazing nursing program, teaching program, one of the 5 PR programs in the state of California, a college of business with a very high level of accreditation, and much much more. Many of our students came to our school SPECIFICALLY for academic reasons. Do all of our students drink? Should they ALL be labeled raging alcoholics? Should ALL of our Greek System or ALL of Sigma Kappa be labeled because ONE girl?

I apologize for any grammatical errors that may further support your negative perception of Chico State, however your close minded generalizations have upset me.

who is Peggy??

LOL.

Sister ChicoAGD, a list of accomplishments don't mean squat if you've got members screwing it up for everyone else here and there.

don't mean squat? or doesn't? Clearly your grammar could use some help as well.

Did someone comment on your grammar?

Too many rad dudes like this out there:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/...248d0a.jpg?v=0

Be sure to introduce yourself in the Alpha Gam forum.

LIEP.

I just have to say again, except for the spiky haired dudes, they look exactly like the Delta Chis from my school. This pic makes me happy :)

President Zing? Seriously?

Oh wow...I actually know someone who was/is a part of that chapter. I think she left school early but...still crazy. Small world.

Just a piece of interesting information re: " not the academic type" Chico State has the highest graduation rate of any state University or any Univ. of California school. Additionally, they have quite a few award winning depts. who have won prestigious awards over major Universities from across the nation. So I do need to disagree with your comment.

Additionally, while this situation is a horrible one, the women of SK DID call the police. This is not a SK issue or a Chico issue, this is a millenial and college issue. Hard alcohol is a huge issue amongst college students today vs beer and kegs in the old days.

I beg to differ:
 

Peggy,
It only takes a few small minds, such as yours to spread uneducated gossip. It just so happens that many of the most successful people I know are Chico State Alumni. While many people sit around and cry about the current economic state, my Chico peers are out working (their tails off) in high level positions to support their families. Not only did Chico State, and the greek system, offer tremendous educational opportunities and social support, but as the clock ticks on, we also have friendships that stand the test of time. So before you go mocking what you have no idea about, try doing your homework and approaching things with an open mind. You may be surprised that when the glass is half full - so is your life!!!
I wish you the best!!!
Leslie
Sigma Kappa, Chico State 1987-1991 (and beyond)