Delta Chi found dead in house

[ZZ-kai-]

This is horrible news from my alma mater. I spoke with my chapter brothers and they said that this guy left for Labor Day and was found dead in his room about 10 days later

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Police probe UWO student’s death

Fraternity brother found dead; toxicology results pending
By Alex Hummel
of The Northwestern

An investigation continues into the death of a University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student found dead in his Wisconsin Street fraternity house room Thursday night.

The Winnebago County coroner confirmed an autopsy was performed on Jason Hert, 24, of Oshkosh, in Fond du Lac Friday.

Coroner Barry Busby said as of Friday night no cause of death was determined.

“We don’t know anything about toxicology, and won’t know for a week to 10 days possibly,” Busby said.

Busby said Hert’s body showed no signs of trauma or injury.

Oshkosh Police Department Lt. Tony Duff confirmed Friday night the department was still investigating the death. Duff offered no further comment.

A person at the Delta Chi fraternity house Friday night referred a reporter to a fraternity alumni advisor who did not immediately return a phone message.

A woman who answered the phone Friday night at Hert’s university-directory listed home residence would not speak to a reporter.

UWO Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Elliot Garb said police and the coroner’s office, and not the university, involved in the investigation.

Garb said the university only had little contact with fraternity representatives as of Friday night.

“The students who were there, as I understand from the contacts we’ve had from a few, are pretty much traumatized and shocked by it,” Garb said.

[kddani]

OMG, how horrid

[DeltAlum]

One of our chapters just went through this kind of thing -- a suicide -- and it truly is a trauma to the entire house.

(not even suggesting this case is a suicide -- that's what it was in our case)

We'll be sending good thoughts their way.

[OrigamiTulip]

My thoughts are with the brothers of Delta Chi, and all of Jason's family and friends.

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

Oh no, those poor guys....I love DC !! I hope they find out what happened.

[GeekyPenguin]

How awful - I know a brother of this chapter, as I was in the same Gamma Phi chapter as his sister. My condolences to them.

[ZZ-kai-]

Greeky, are you a GPhiB at Milwaukee or Oshkosh?

Here is his obituary;

Jason M. Hert, 24, of Oshkosh, WI died unexpectedly on Thursday (September 11, 2003). He was born June 3, 1979 in Neenah, the beloved son of Carol Hert and Mark Hert and grandson of Elvera and Walter Sopkiw. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was a 1997 graduate of Oshkosh North High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. He loved sports especially soccer and was an avid Redskins fan. He was active in the church youth and activities, taking several mission trips through the church and had a love of people. He is survived by his mother Carol Hert of Oshkosh; maternal grandmother, Elvera Sopkiw of Connecticut; uncles, Frank (Pam) Sopkiw of Florida, Michael (Susan) Sopkiw of California, Mark (Sylvia) Sopkiw of North Carolina; aunt, Alice Sopkiw of Connecticut. Dear Jason, I have loved you since I gave birth to all 10 pounds of you. I am sure God needed a special angel. I miss you and will love you forever. Love, Mom XOXOXO.
Published in the Hartford Courant on 9/14/2003.

[GeekyPenguin]

ZZ, I'm a Gamma Phi from Platteville - transferred to Marquette so I'm an alum now.

[HotDamnImAPhiMu]

the poor thing. My prayers are with his brothers... what a traumatic thing to have happen. Poor fellas.

[LeslieAGD]

[ZZ-kai-]

WBAY-TV
Oshkosh , WI
October 3, 2003


Frat House Death Blamed on Drugs, Alcohol

By Jason Zimmerman

A U.W.-Oshkosh student died from a dangerous combination of drugs and alcohol, Winnebago County authorities determined.

Jason Hert, 24, of Oshkosh, was found dead at the Delta Chi fraternity house on Wisconsin Street on September 11th. Hert's fraternity brothers say they found him dead in his bedroom after a night of partying. Most people we spoke to described the young man as a good student and family-oriented.

Thursday the fraternity's advisor expressed his sympathies for Hert's families, and expressed her concerns about binge drinking. Hert's death is seen as an example of what can happen if you don't know your limits.

Beer bongs, happy hours, they're almost always a sight seen somewhere near any college campus.

"I've binge-drinked, but I don't exceed it," Dominic Peters, a college junior, said.

Peters knows how hard it can be to quit before the last call. "I know when to stop. I'm not passing out all the time, I can handle myself. It's an individual thing."

Ron J. Montgomery, the Delta Chi advisor, says the accidental death of Jason Hert was unexpected.

"If any good can come of this, I think all undergraduates need to be aware of the effects of drugs and alcohol on not just their academic life but on their life," Montgomery said.

"It was definately a shock to see something like that," Jim Campbell said. At Kappa Sigma, Campbell hopes those who binge will now think twice.

Others aren't so sure. Ellie Svien, a UWO sophomore, said, "I think people will want to act like it's a wakeup call, maybe perhaps for a bit. Of course we're sad and it's hard to hear, but I think there's so much ingrained in college life, it's hard to turn around."

The university says it is only a small number who binge. It says about 70 percent of students either drink socially or not at all.

[honeychile]

My sincere condolences.

[ztabchbum]

My heart and soul goes out to the men of Delta Chi. I'm going to pass this on to some of my friends (and former roommates) that are D-Chi's. This is just so sad.

[cashmoney]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
This is horrible news from my alma mater. I spoke with my chapter brothers and they said that this guy left for Labor Day and was found dead in his room about 10 days later.

Personally, I can relate. There was a brother in our chapter who died in his sleep after a night of seemingly endless drinking. That was what sealed the deal for us after being brought up on hazing charges, having our parties busted by UPD for under age drinking, substance abuse and rape accusations ( which were lies).

[ZZ-kai-]

Has your chapter been closed?