Third death this school year

hoosier · #1 10-14-2005, 12:14 AM

Indiana Univ.. of Pennsylvania:

In the early hours of Sept. 30, freshman Craig Sheehan was found dead in a stairwell leading to his apartment. The Indiana County coroner's office ruled his death a suicide by hanging and noted that he was drinking heavily prior to his death.

The night of his death, Mr. Sheehan attended a mixer at Theta Chi, a fraternity where he was pledging.

After Mr. Sheehan's death, the university suspended all pledging and ordered a review of the pledging process.

On Oct. 5, administrators announced that social privileges would be suspended for all Greek organizations, meaning they would be prohibited from serving alcohol at any event where more than 10 members were present.

After an outcry from Greek members, Student Government Association President Nikki Norris met with IUP President Tony Atwater, who agreed to lift the sanctions.

DeltAlum · #2 10-14-2005, 12:30 AM

This was a suicide, wasn't it? And in his own apartment? I'm not real sure what the Risk Management issue for Greeks is in this case.

33girl · #3 10-14-2005, 09:50 AM

There isn't one.

moe.ron · #4 10-14-2005, 09:56 AM

Nothing to do with risk mgt.

PinkSigma3 · #5 10-14-2005, 11:09 AM

It's risk management bc of the mixer I think. I know for a fact that the school's new president, (the whole greek community silently protested at his innaguration), is very against Greek life and the last schools he was at he basically drove them into the ground.
The death had NOTHING to do with this mixer, but the mixer had to do with being against social policies I guess. It's all one big mess.

On a side note...he lifted the suspension only for homecoming weekend. And during HC a nongreek was stabbed and killed by another nongreek at IUP. And a cheerleader @ IUP was hazed and nearly died of alcohol poisoning. Cheerleaders are suspended until May. I guess it's good to know Greeks aren't the only ones getting punishment.

hoosier · #6 10-14-2005, 02:00 PM

"On Oct. 5, administrators announced that social privileges would be suspended for all Greek organizations, meaning they would be prohibited from serving alcohol at any event where more than 10 members were present."

Seems like you are quick to rush to judgement about this topic.

This only came to light - in the pretty complete Google News search - when the schools cheerleaders were bad, and that got posted here.

Tom Earp · #7 10-14-2005, 06:58 PM

What Amazas Me o that anytime a GLO is Mention We as GLOs are Responible!

Well, that ist he Norm!

AGDee · #8 10-16-2005, 12:07 AM

It came to light prior to that for those who needed to know. I received communication about it within a day of the suspension. They also suspended new member programming until it could be reviewed by university officials with one on one meetings held with reps from each GLO to discuss them.

The risk management issue is that the young man was at a fraternity mixer prior and had a lot of alcohol in his system. Not that it proves anything, because he could have been dry at the party and come home and drank a fifth. I imagine only autopsy results will give information about the timing of his drinking vs. his time of death, etc.

The communication I received also indicated that Theta Chi suspended the chapter at IUP too.

Hopefully things will get back to normal for the chapters who are following risk management guidelines, and things will change in the chapters that are not.

Dee