17-yr-old Woman Falls from Fraternity Balcony (U of Virginia, Pi Kappa Alpha)
 

The student paper says the 17-year-old woman fell when a balcony railing gave way. Reportedly she is doing okay, although hospitalized. The report says alcohol was involved. It may be that she was "with the band," and not invited by the Pi Kappa Alphas at the U. of Virginia.

http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArtic...23402&pid=1296

Chances are we'll see more about this as investigations proceed.

seems to be a bit epidemic right now.
second one of this board today.

This adds to my curiosity of whether or not underage students/non-students including family members of fraternity/sorority members are or should be addressed in risk management policies. I can recall dozens of parties just before the start of my freshman year in which a number of soon-to-be students were recent high school grads, many of them still under 18 (including myself- I turned 18 three days after starting college). And I recall more parties as an undergrad in which fraternity members would bring little brothers and sisters, some as young as 15. It makes me more concerned now that I work with fraternity/sorority members that may not realize the liability of bringing someone's little brother/sister to a party... new issue for me to address with my students.

Update April 26:

Reportedly, the girl said she brought her own alcohol. Of course there may still be an issue about the safety of the railing.

From the Richmond, Virginia paper:

A 17-year-old girl who broke her back when she fell off a porch during a University of Virginia fraternity party has been released from the hospital . . . .

The teen had been drinking before the accident, Upman said. She told police she brought her own alcohol to the party in a water bottle, and Upman said there was no evidence she was served drinks at the party.

"Apparently, she did not go through the front door as most of the guests did. She arrived with the band that was playing," Upman said. "It appears that the fraternity did everything they were supposed to do."

City police are investigating the incident. The Inter-Fraternity Council will conduct its own investigation . . .

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet...=1031782366030

Maybe we should all have our parties in the basement. It's more difficult to hurt yourself falling out of the basement window.

Seriously, I'm glad the young lady wasn't more seriously hurt, and this time I really won't make my usual comment about "falls from high places."