UGA chapter in BIG TROUBLE

[LXAAlum]

UGA student severely burned during fraternity drinking ritual

Associated Press


ATHENS, Ga. - A University of Georgia student was severely burned during a fraternity drinking ritual, police said.

William Flynn Miller IV, 21, was engaged in a drinking rite inside the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house early Tuesday morning when the incident happened.

The ritual involved 190-proof grain alcohol and a lighted oil lantern. Miller's clothes burst into flame, severely burning his upper torso, Athens-Clarke police said. The student, a senior forestry major from Savannah, suffered third-degree burns to his torso and hands. But his injuries did not appear life-threatening, police said.

When officers arrived on the scene, the floor of the fraternity house was littered with beer cans and bottles, folding chairs were scattered about and the odor of burned hair was in the air. Miller was on the floor and, although conscious, had skin hanging off his fingers, chest, stomach, side and back, police said.

"Mr. Miller said they were drinking and had been horsing around, and somehow - while next to an open flame from a lamp - the liquor ignited and caught him on fire," a police report said.

Fraternity members interviewed at the scene by police said the incident was not part of a hazing ritual.

"My understanding is they were having some type of activity that involved grain alcohol," police Capt. Mark Sizemore said.

A source knowledgeable about the incident, but who asked not to be identified, told the Athens Banner-Herald that Lambda Chi Alpha traditionally engages in a drinking ritual while playing the Steppenwolf rock song "Magic Carpet Ride," which mentions Aladdin's lamp.

Jay Sammons, the fraternity's outgoing president, denied his fraternity engages in such a ritual.

Despite the severity of his burns, Miller was conscious and able to speak with a detective who went to an Augusta hospital to interview him, Sizemore said.

"We're following up to make sure nothing criminal in nature took place and to make sure these types of accidents don't happen again," he said.

UGA spokesman Tom Jackson said the university was also investigating.

"Clearly, our student affairs officials will get to the bottom of this and take any action which is appropriate," Jackson said.

[EM1843]

Being that he was a senior, I doubt this is some sort of hazing incident. Rather I think this is drunk people being stupid. The fraternity can't legislate that away, in my opinion, because it will always happen.
Only time will tell, but at least he'll be ok...

PS a sorority did the exact same thing during SigEps dancing philanthropy at UF, but no one was burned. I don't really see how this is something Lambda Chi can get involved in, unless it was a 'brotherhood' event.

[LXAAlum]

Originally posted by EM1843
Being that he was a senior, I doubt this is some sort of hazing incident. Rather I think this is drunk people being stupid. The fraternity can't legislate that away, in my opinion, because it will always happen.
Only time will tell, but at least he'll be ok...

PS a sorority did the exact same thing during SigEps dancing philanthropy at UF, but no one was burned. I don't really see how this is something Lambda Chi can get involved in, unless it was a 'brotherhood' event.

If it was any way, or could be in any way, construed as a chapter event...it falls under Risk Management issues, and I doubt a (pardon the pun) flaming brother will not be dealt with lightly, regardless of circumstances. Why? It made the news, pure and simple. Once it becomes a PR issue, it WILL be dealt with, harshly. Been there. Seen it. Too many times with LXA.

[GammaZeta]

I think EM has a good point. Anyways.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that you don't have ANY flamable liquid near an open flame.

Think of this as LXA applying Darwinism.

All those guys belong on this site: http://www.darwinawards.com/

There is also a reason grain alcohol is banned in many states! An army buddy of mine brought me some and WOW, that stuff is to be taken seriously! The worst thing about it is it is impossible to know your limit. It's not like if you drink 15 beers or take 10 shots, something that you know about and can apply to your limit. We're talking something 5 times as strong as vodka, so 1 shot of grain = 5 shots of vodka. (Grain is 200 proof, Vodka is usually 40 proof.) And you're going to take more than 1 shot in an hour so thats about at least 10 shots in 1 hour.

It's like using a match in a dark basement to find a gas leak!!!!

[Mooch279]

I think this is a case of boys will be boys. I mean i can think of a ton of things i did as an undergrad that now looking back i can say i was such and idiot and lucky nothing went wrong b/c my actions wouldn't have just hurt me they could have had repercussions on my chapter as well. Unfortunately guys don’t think about those things in the heat of the moment and tragedies like this happen. I hope this will be a wake up call for the guys at UGA but I doubt it, in the article they mentioned that they have had several incidents in the past including a death and if that doesn’t wake some one up nothing will.

[Tom Earp]

Sorry, but there is another Thread discussing this situation.

The things being brought up here should not be discussed on this open thread.

there are things that are suppositions only and We should wait to see what the total investigation brings.

[LXAAlum]

Locking thread...duplicate post. My bad.

Please post comments on the other UGA thread.