Eastern Michigan Sigma Tau Gamma dies of alcohol/drug overdose
 

YPSILANTI, Mich. Ypsilanti police say an Eastern Michigan University student died today after drinking a large amount of alcohol and taking drugs, possibly ecstasy.

Sergeant John Minzey says an ambulance crew got a call early today about an overdose at Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity.

Full story

It is making local TV news tonight as well. They aren't giving much more information, but have said that whoever supplied the drugs and alcohol will face charges.

I was informed of the incident because I oversee the AGD chapter at Eastern (also my alma mater). His name has not been released by the police to the media, so I will not post it either, but if you have reason to need to know, please PM me.

This is the first time something like this has happened at Eastern, to my knowledge. There were a couple Lambda Chi Alphas who died in a car accident returning from Spring Break a few years ago, but alcohol was not a factor in that incident. We read these things all the time but it feels much worse when it hits so close to home.

Dee

Re: Eastern Michigan Sigma Tau Gamma dies of alcohol/drug overdose
 

Yes, it really does.

As most of you know, we've had four alcohol related deaths in Colorado colleges this year.

Last year there was a suicide at one of the chapters for which I formerly was a Division Vice President.

A year or two before that, I walked into the Delt Shelter at Ohio State not realizing it was the day of the funeral for a Delt Brother who OD'd on GHB and alcohol.

Finally, three Alpha Gams from my Alma Mater were killed in a fire in a student apartment (not a Greek house) in Columbus.

That's why I feel so strongly about Risk Management and all of the things and people involved.

Your right, this really does suck when it hits close to home. "Alcohol Abuse" and underage drinking seems to be a huge topic this past year. I know our campus has had a number of extra alcohol programs added this past semester.

I am glad that this wasn't part of any hazing. I assume it was just New Years partying, but I wish people would take a harder look at people drinking themselves into dangerous situations. Seems to be brushed over a lot the day after.

how sad.
it seems to just keep happening ...

There is more information in the Ann Arbor News this morning:

more details

I oversee 3 chapters in Michigan, 2 in Ontario and 1 in New York as a Province Director. I've had more reports of "media events" in the past 6 months than I ever had before.

I'm a bit shocked about the ecstasy use. Perhaps that is my age, but is this common? How rampant are drugs on campuses these days? We focus so much on binge drinking, should we be dealing with drug use more too?

Dee

More often than you think if the fraternity has a good program in place for a chapters dealing with media.

That was probably the case in this instance. The tip off is the line in the article about the person who answered the door at the house respectfully deferring comments to the University. I would rather see them sending the reporters to their national organization or a division or chapter alumni advisor, but the University is the next best thing. I think it also shows that the chapter is cooperating with the university and being as helpful as possible.

The thing that can't happen is for undergraduates to become "spokespersons" for the chapter -- which happens when they talk to the media, whether they intend to or not. It is very important to, first, not pass along sensitive or bad (meaning incorrect info or rumors) information. Second, it is as important to not set up an adversary relationship with the media. That just makes them suspect foul play and makes them want to dig deeper.

Our death at the Ohio State chapter was handled very well in those regards, and most of the media coverage I saw put the chapter and Fraternity in as good of a position as possible. We (Delt) have a plan for dealing with the media in this kind of case which I helped with. I suspect most GLO's do as well. If they don't they certainly should.

Reporters are, by and large, just like anyone else. When treated respectfully, they will return the respect. That doesn't mean they won't report the facts -- good or bad.

A quick thought about Ecstasy. A few years ago, when one of our daughters had some substance abuse problems, it was one of the really big designer drugs of choice. I suspect it still is.

The "system" apparently all worked together with this one. It is the first time I received direct notification of such an incident before hearing it on the news. I actually received an email with information, from the Chapter Advisor, who had received it from the Panhellenic Delegate, who had received it from the Panhellenic President. That notification included information about counseling for sorority women who felt that they needed it. So, as far as crisis management, the University did a good job this time.

Phyllis, I also heard that VP of Student Affairs on the news and had the same exact thought. A couple of EMU fraternities (one of which is no longer there) had an adversary relationship with the university, but over all, it was neutral at worst, and good at times. When EMU was almost kicked out of the MAC, it was the Greeks who all started going to football games and making it cool to do so. The Greeks are highly visible on campus with their philanthropy projects and use the student union for all of their meetings and activities. When I was a sophomore, the AGD President was also President of Student Government. While it's not a huge system, it hasn't been very problematic either. Numerous times over the last two decades, the university approached sororities about providing housing too, but it never came to fruition.

The only current EMU students I know who are on GC now are two of the women from Sigma Nu Phi, a longstanding local on campus. Many of the students would just be moving back to campus today after the break.

Dee

:(

His name was Keith, and he was a sophmore here. This is not the first time it has happened here. It is the first time since the 70's but there was an incident then too that someone died from alcohol and drug OD. But it was really sad, especially to the people that knew him, me being one of them. It touched us all deeply here