Fraternity Member Branded TCU

[LaneSig]

FORT WORTH — One of the most prominent families in Fort Worth wants answers about what happened to their son.

Amon Carter IV came home from a trip with his buddies branded and seriously burned.

Fraternity branding is a growing phenomenon, but this incident goes far beyond that. The family of the great, great grandson of Amon Carter is asking how could it happen — with no one held accountable and no one raising an alarm?

Everyone seems to agree it was a stupid decision by several TCU students, the result of a night of drinking — perhaps a dare.

Amon Carter IV, a sophomore who goes by the name of "Chance," told News 8 he consented to be branded on his buttock, but that he did not consent to what eventually happened.

Chance's dad, Amon Carter III, has retained a lawyer to make sure the branding is investigated by police and also school officials.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Amon-...-82758112.html

The story doesn't mention which fraternity he belongs to. It does mention that the incident happened on a trip to Breckenridge, Co., but doesn't say if it was fraternity sponsored or just a group on their own.

[DrPhil]

Everything that a dumb collegiate does is not cause for a chapter getting in trouble or a fraternity getting sued.

He went on a trip, got drunk, agreed to get branded on his ass, and it didn't come out as he had hopes. DUH he didn't agree to get burned on the ass. Brands sometimes don't come out as hoped. Lesson learned.

(There are instances where members are pressured or physically forced to get brands.)

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Everything that a dumb collegiate does is not cause for a chapter getting in trouble or a fraternity getting sued.

He went on a trip, got drunk, agreed to get branded on his ass, and it didn't come out as he had hopes. DUH he didn't agree to get burned on the ass. Brands sometimes don't come out as hoped. Lesson learned.

(There are instances where members are pressured or physically forced to get brands.)

Cosign.

I'd think that everyone would be on their best behavior around someone in the Amon Carter family, but that's what I get for assuming.

I'm sure I'll be hearing more about this as time progresses.

[AOII Angel]

That is truly disgusting. Poor guy. I think the most important point made was that hazing is against the law and no one can consent to being hazed.

I knew a Delta Sig in college who got branded on his ankle the night before our school's mud volleyball tourney. After playing, he and his brothers hosed off in front of their house. His skin slid off with the mud leaving a large square defect on his ankle. He had a massive scar when it healed. I don't think people have any idea what they are doing when they try to brand themselves or others.

[DrPhil]

He's a member of a fraternity who consented to getting a brand. He's saving face for his wealthy helicopter family. And they are reacting as a wealthy helicopter family would.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

He's a member of a fraternity who consented to getting a brand. He's saving face for his wealthy helicopter family. And they are reacting as a wealthy helicopter family would.

Did you see the video? That does not look like a branding that anyone would agree to. That looks like assault. My first reaction was the same as yours, but you can't expect him to take one in the *ss just because he has a prominent family. Would you say this to a rape victim who consented but said no once it got out of control? This event, by the looks of his wound, got wayyyyyy out of control!

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Did you see the video? That does not look like a branding that anyone would agree to. That looks like assault. My first reaction was the same as yours, but you can't expect him to take one in the *ss just because he has a prominent family.

How many brands have you seen?

There are some that turn out OK, but a lot of them end up looking like shit.

You (general you) should know what you're getting into before agreeing to get one.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

That is truly disgusting. Poor guy. I think the most important point made was that hazing is against the law and no one can consent to being hazed.

People can absolutely consent to be hazed.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

People can absolutely consent to be hazed.

Not according to Texas law. Does someone know about Colorado law? Since this did occur in Colorado. I don't know if they could prosecute these kids in TX anyway since it didn't occur there.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Would you say this to a rape victim who consented but said no once it got out of control?

Anyway, my opinion will only be changed when I hear more about these "defensive wounds" that he supposedly has in places other than his ass. Until then, it looks like a horrible attempt at branding by a bunch of binge drinking and out of control college students. I don't assume hazing or assault solely based on that.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

How many brands have you seen?

There are some that turn out OK, but a lot of them end up looking like shit.

You (general you) should know what you're getting into before agreeing to get one.

I've seen a few, but I actually have a lot of experience with burns. That brand was the result of multiple applications. They would have had to heat the brand and apply it to his skin more than once. The majority of brands I have seen have been a single sybol that is no larger than about 6". Anything larger risks skin sloughing since the skin around the brand will actually cook as well as the skin below the appliance. It may not look too terrible to you now, but the cell death will spread over the next few days...that's why he'll require several surgeries to repair the damage.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Anyway, my opinion will only be changed when I hear more about these "defensive wounds" that he supposedly has in places other than his ass. Until then, it looks like a horrible attempt at branding by a bunch of binge drinking and out of control college students. I don't assume hazing or assault solely based on that.

I just don't assume someone is lying because they have money and a privileged background. No one has been named and no fraternity has been maligned. It hurts no one to assume that this man was assaulted like he says. I also know that not many people could sit still while someone applied a white hot piece of metal to their skin multiple times even while drunk.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Not according to Texas law. Does someone know about Colorado law? Since this did occur in Colorado. I don't know if they could prosecute these kids in TX anyway since it didn't occur there.

Just because the law says it does not make it reality.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Just because the law says it does not make it reality.

But reality will still put your ass behind bars.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

I've seen a few, but I actually have a lot of experience with burns. That brand was the result of multiple applications. They would have had to heat the brand and apply it to his skin more than once.

That is often how it is done. The majority of GLO branders (going back to the much more visible BGLO branding) do not have access to a commercialized symbol or nicely shaped wire so they use crappily shaped wire hangers and sometimes have to apply it more than once. Even those who do have access to a symbol often try to do "double branding" or put chapter symbols alongside the organization's symbols.

We don't know what tool and technique were used in this instance.

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Anything larger risks skin sloughing since the skin around the brand will actually cook as well as the skin below the appliance. It may not look too terrible to you now, but the cell death will spread over the next few days...that's why he'll require several surgeries to repair the damage.

You're typing as a health expert.

Think along the lines of a dumbass drunk collegiate who knows nothing about burns and the negatives of branding.