This is an article from the Daily Mississippian here at Ole Miss
-------------------------------------------
http://www.thedmonline.com/vnews/dis.../3f8a53032ec0c
Student stable after Bid Day injury
by Melissa Sindelar
DM Campus News Editor
October 13, 2003
After accepting his bid to Sigma Chi last Monday, freshman Reid Harris Waldrip from Tupelo celebrated into the night until 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when he received a head injury and blacked out, according to Waldrip's mother Robin Waldrip.
She said he has a blank spot until about 1:15 a.m. with no recollection of what happened. Waldrip has been in the Intensive Care Unit at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo until Saturday when he was switched to a regular room.
"Truthfully, all the doctors who have looked at his brain scan said he should have died Monday night," Robin Waldrip said. "God has taken care of him and he continues to be a living, breathing miracle."
She said her son has multiple skull fractures with some left frontal lobe brain damage, affecting the right side of his body.
Freshman Clay Liazon also from Tupelo visited his friend both Saturday and Sunday and said sometimes Waldrip cannot feel his right hand although he can move it.
"We held a broken conversation," Liazon said. "He can think mentally. He's having trouble verbalizing and has to take time to think about what he's saying sometimes."
Robin Waldrip said the amount of force it would have taken for her son to receive those fractures would be equivalent to his falling two stories.
"He didn't fall," she said. "He has no abrasions, no scratches. I asked him if he'd just fallen, but he didn't."
She said she does not know how long her son will stay in the hospital but he will have a long recovery. He will not be able to return to school until at least spring semester.
Jason Dean, consultant for greek life, Sparky Reardon, dean of students, and Barbara Lago director of media and public relations, all would not comment, saying Thomas Wallace, vice chancellor for student life, was answering all questions.
Wallace said all he could say is the matter is under investigation by the university police. Wallace also said all of Sigma Chi's social activities have been suspended.
He said he did not know any other information.
"That's why we're doing a criminal investigation," Wallace said.
Randy Corban, director of university police, said they know Waldrip was hit on the head. He said he had not heard the rumor that he was hit with a full beer bottle.
Preston Lee, president of Sigma Chi, said the fraternity's thoughts and prayers are with the family and Reid Waldrip. The only other comment he would make was the fraternity is "actively working with the university to fully investigate all the details in regard to this event."
Major Geoffrey Yoste, advisor to Sigma Chi, said an official statement will be released today.
Robin Waldrip said the family has not yet considered any legal actions.
"We're not into finger pointing, just getting our son well," she said. "We would love to know the full story, but what the story is doesn't change Reid's condition.
"I would love to find out the truth to protect someone else. It won't help us but may help someone else."
She would not comment on her son's activities up to 12:30 a.m. Tuesday but said Reid Waldrip struggled to say he does not want to have a big deal made about this.
-------------------------------
Editorial by DM staff
EDITORIAL - What happened to brotherhood?
by DM Editorial Board
October 13, 2003
Our View - Responsible parties deserve severe punishment for these potentially deadly actions.
Reid Waldrip's freshman experience took a turn for worst last Monday night.
It was Bid Night. He was doing the same thing hundreds of other Ole Miss students were doing that night -- spending his first evening as a member of a Greek organization at a party.
By no small miracle, Waldrip woke up the next day without being told what had happened the night before. No one told him that he had been hit on the head; no one told him that he might need to see a doctor; no one told him that he should have any reason for concern. He should have died.
On Monday night, Waldrip was at a Sigma Chi bid party and was struck in the head by what doctors in Tupelo determined was a blunt object.
Between 12:30 a.m. and 1:15 a.m., friends and family said Waldrip can't remember what happened. Silence broken only by talk of an investigation characterizes the university administrators and the Sigma Chi fraternity.
The incident by its very nature involves multiple people, so someone had to have witnessed what happened to Waldrip. No one, however, has taken responsibility for this crime.
Criminal charges should be brought against whoever hit Waldrip.
What happened to Waldrip was not a subjective incident open to debate, an oversight or a misunderstanding. A serious wound was inflicted on him, and serious punishment is needed.
Fraternity incidents in the past have been of bad taste and offended many people. The ATOs were thrown off campus for a racially charged event, but no one's life was endangered. If Sigma Chi is responsible for ignoring Waldrip's condition, then actions in keeping with the ATO precedent must ensue. An investigation will determine the truth.
Additionally, incidents like this perpetuate stereotypes that hurt the greek system and hurt Ole Miss.
In the meantime, it is encouraging that so many Sigma Chis and friends have visited with the young man whose life will be on hold indefinitely.
So far, all Sigma Chi social activities are suspended. Whoever is responsible for Waldrip's injuries must step forward.
The DM Editorial Board is composed of Editor Laura Houston, Opinion Editor Marquita Brown, English major Joel Moore, international studies major Timothy Conkin and biochemistry major Lara Oyetunji.
I am sure they have done a toxoligy report but may be keeping it hush-hush.
Linear Mode
