Penn: Pike Falls 2 Stories at Psi U
 

The Daily Pennsylvanian reports that a Pi Kappa Alpha who had just turned 21 is in intensive care after a 2-story fall at the Psi Upsilon house at Penn. The story strongly suggests that alcohol was involved.

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vn.../414e80d37b896

Regular GC readers will be reminded of DeltAlum's posts that have pointed out the alarming frequency of "falls from heights" in insurance / risk management reports to fraternities.

And just to avoid confusion -- the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) is the private Ivy League school. Penn State is the flagship public university.

Re: Penn: Pike Falls 2 Stories at Psi U
 

ETA right off the top. I should have pointed out that falls were the NUMBER ONE reason for fraternity insurance claims.

In addition, as I recall, 100% of the reported falls were alcohol related.

The other thing that is disturbing is how many of these tragic events happen on the victim's twenty-first birthday. What a terrible shame that a day you look forward to for so long can end in disaster.

Our son (our youngest) is coming up on his 21st in a few months and, even though he is a very bright kid and doesn't drink a lot, I can't help but be concerned. In fact, we chatted about it very briefly just last night on the phone. I didn't make a big deal out of it, but sometimes even a casual word can make a difference.

Ever read your risk management guidelines and wonder why so much emphasis is placed on members standing on the roof or high surfaces?

we have mentioned atleast once in every chapter this year to stay off the roof, even if you are sober just for things like this, hopefully the Pike recovers and all is well.

From the Nov. 3 Daily Pennsylvanian:

Frat found not culpable for student fall


Penn Office of Student Conduct report finds Psi Upsilon violated alcohol policy at party
By Laura Sullivan
November 03, 2004

The Psi Upsilon fraternity violated the University alcohol policy, but these violations did not cause the critical injury of a College junior at one of the fraternity's parties over a month ago, according to an Office of Student Conduct investigation summary obtained yesterday.
At a Sept. 18 party at the fraternity -- also known as the Castle -- Pi Kappa Alpha brother Matthew Paris fell two stories to the basement floor after reportedly consuming 21 shots of alcohol. He spent more than a month at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and is now at the Moss Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia, where he will likely remain for two to five more weeks.

In violation of University policy, guests on upper floors of the party, where Paris spent part of his evening, had "uncontrolled access" to beer, according to OSC findings.

The OSC concluded that, though the Castle made "significant efforts" to comply with the Penn alcohol policy, the chapter "bears collective responsibility for the service of alcohol at a registered party that was outside the designated and controlled area ... [and] for the unregulated service of alcohol to underage individuals."

Many who attended the party said they saw consumption of hard alcohol on the party's upper floors, but the University investigation only produced "some evidence of hard alcohol" and said "the extent of its use was not confirmed."

Psi Upsilon members reached last night were not aware that the OSC report had been released.

When told of the report's findings, Wharton junior and Castle brother Dan Doyon said he did not fully agree with OSC conclusions, but refused to elaborate.

All other brothers reached refused to comment at all on the violations.

As a result of the OSC findings, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs will now negotiate a probation agreement with the Castle, its alumni advisers and the Psi Upsilon national office.
. . .

Complete article is at

http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/vn.../4188aed795e5e

If this is such a huge risk factor why don't national offices require that all houses block access to roofs and have some sort of safety bars on the windows if they are on a high floor?

-Rudey

He fell from inside the house. He was on the second floor where the bedrooms are and he fell over the banister down to a foyer in the basement.

I'm trying to imagine how this house looks inside-- it must be very open. It would be impossible to fall at my sorority house or any fraternity houses here, unless you just fell down the stairs.

That's the scary part about Frat Row here. Each of the eight apartments for each house (totalling 64 apartments) has a balcony that overlooks the courtyard, and even a fall from the second floor loks harsh. Think of the FOURTH floor.

pic of their house http://dolphin.upenn.edu/~psiu/

Picture one of those staircases where it's basically like a multi-story room, and the stairs spiral up along the walls with a space in the center.

It's an incredible house.

I saw the picture of the Castle-- quite magnificent.

These are old, Victorian style, open to the foyer, type houses. I don't know how this kid fell, but it's completely feasible in these buildings.