Quote:
Originally posted by 33girl
This looks like the family is aware that it's a housing code/safety issue, but the dumbass school decided to turn it into an alcohol issue. If he was killed because he fell down rickety and unsafe stairs - drunk OR sober - they have every right to sue the fraternity or school (depending on who is responsible for the upkeep of the house). That the school would use his death to impose prohibition, however, is nothing short of exploitative and sickening.
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I think UPenn is going to take the blame.. Here is a portion of a feedback post at the end of the article.
(1) The University had a management agreement with Fiji pursuant to which the University would maintain the upkeep of the house in many regards, including the "safety" of the house. This agreement was in effect at that time. Some people have claimed that the brothers/the fraternity is responsible for not taking care of what the University gave them; wrong. Penn was under contract to maintain the house and Penn owned the house. It was akin to a dormitory. (2) Penn was aware of the problems with the stairs, as admitted in a number of memoranda over a span of many years (including one months before Mike died). (3) Both the steps and the handrailing on the stairs violated the safety codes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Penn was also responsible for these violations.