Sigma Nu Stabbed in Head Outside Chapter House

[Kevin]

Student stabbed; no arrests made

Victim in critical condition, friend says; two wanted for questioning
By Megan Nichols
Student Life Editor
September 13, 2004


UA student Kirk Wilder, 21, was stabbed in the head in front of the Sigma Nu fraternity house at about 2 a.m. Saturday, officials said. He is a member of the fraternity.

According to an informational advisory issued by the University of Alabama Police Department, the assault followed an altercation during which two uninvited individuals were asked to leave the area.

Wilder was stabbed during an incident on the lawn, rushed to Druid City Hospital and then transferred to the UAB Medical Center, the report said.

Nellie Millsap, a junior business major and friend of Wilder's, said Wilder was in a coma Sunday night and was in critical condition.

Millsap said Wilder's family and friends are thankful for people's concern over Wilder, but that UAB officials were asking everyone to stop calling the center with inquiries about his condition. "[UAB center is] being flooded with calls and it makes it harder [for doctors and nurses] to treat their patients," she said.

Tracy Birchoss, spokeswoman for UAB, said she could not release any information regarding Wilder's condition. Due to new federal laws, patients can choose whether information will be released, Birchoss said, and Wilder's family opted not to have reports given.

Margaret King, UA vice president for student affairs, said the last word she heard about Wilder was "encouraging."

"We know that he did have surgery [Saturday] morning, that he came through that surgery, but that right now he is in a waiting period, waiting to see how he responds and what happens, and so it is a tense time, but there's a lot of hope," King said. "And unfortunately, that's the way things go. It's a wait-and-see proposition."

The Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit and the UAPD are conducting the investigation into the matter and have made no arrests so far. Wanted for questioning are two black males, both between the ages of 20 and 30. One was wearing a white T-shirt and the other a navy L.A. Lakers jersey, according to the report.

One man was being called Reginald or Reggie and the other went by the initials K.G., the report said.

Cathy Andreen, UA spokeswoman, said Sunday afternoon that as far as she knew, nothing in the investigation had changed since the informational advisory was issued Saturday morning.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of these individuals is asked to call Tuscaloosa Crimestoppers at 752-STOP, the Homicide Unit at 752-0616 or UAPD at 348-5454.

UAPD and the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Unit could not be reached for comment this weekend. Sigma Nu President John Lindsey also could not be contacted.

In an written statement, King said the University's first priority is students' safety. "We have meetings set for Monday and Tuesday to make sure that our practices provide the safest environment possible for our students," King said. "I am particularly heartened by the response by UA fraternities and their willingness to make sure their practices assure safety for members and their guests. And I am impressed by IFC's [Interfraternity Council] leadership toward that end."

IFC officials agreed to a review of event protocols and said they would consider hiring private security to enforce guest lists at parties, King said.

The University wants to help ensure an incident like this does not happen again, King said in a statement.

"This is a shocking and terrible incident," she said. "It was an unpredictable, isolated incident that jars us in many ways. Our hearts are with Kirk's family and friends."