Lawsuit Against Sigma Nu, U. of Southern Mississippi, and Others

[exlurker]

A wrongful death suit has been filed against Sigma Nu, the U. of Southern Mississippi (which is NOT “Ole Miss” -- different school), and others. An interesting story because it doesn't involve underage consumption or new member hazing. Apparently it involves an alumni event.

Excerpts from the article in the July 29 ’05 Hattiesburg paper:

The mother of a University of Southern Mississippi alumnus has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the university, Sigma Nu Fraternity and others in connection with his alcohol-related death last year.
The suit says that Sammy Broadhead, 25, a 2002 graduate of Southern Miss, died on campus on June 25, 2004 - the same date he attended an alumni reunion at the Sigma Nu Fraternity house.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified actual and punitive damages. It says Broadhead died of "acute alcohol consumption" by participating in a drinking game.
. . . Southern Miss attorney Lee Gore said the university does not comment on pending litigation. Brad Beecham of Lexington, Va., executive director of Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc., could not be reached for comment.
. . . According to the lawsuit, the fraternity-sponsored event where Broadhead died was a pre-rush meeting and party at the Sigma Nu house on the Southern Miss campus.
The lawsuit said that the event included "beer pong" and other drinking games, even though alcohol is banned on campus, should be illegal on campus. Because the party was in the summer, it said, Sigma Nu members obtained permission and a key to the house from Southern Miss Vice Dean John Burke.
The lawsuit also named Mike Foster, identified as a graduate advisor and alumni coordinator of the local Sigma Nu fraternity chapter, as a defendant. The suit said Foster organized the alumni event, called the "Sigma NEW Reunion."
. . . Foster referred comments to the fraternity's national chapter in Virginia. . . .

Entire article:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...507290303/1002


Another article in the same issue of the paper touches on the issue of drinking on campus. Excerpts:

. . . "We have a lot of programs in place to help students avoid substance abuse," said Joe Paul, University of Southern Mississippi vice president for student affairs.
"Whether it's freshmen or members of fraternities and sororities, we try to be proactive and let them know the negative influences substance abuse has . . . .”
. . . Southern Miss prohibits the unlawful possession, consumption and distribution of alcoholic beverages by students and employees on campus. Students and employees who violate the policy could be subject to disciplinary action.
. . , students say it is common to go to parties where alcohol consumption is the norm.
"There are a lot of parties on campus, mainly in the fall," fifth-year senior Seth Davis said. "It has died down a lot since I started. I don't know if that's because I'm getting older or because they're cracking down more."
But Davis said he has played his fair share of drinking games, like the game "beer pong" - in which the losing player chugs 10 half-full cups of beer.
"We've played them all and we've even started some of our own," he said. "We don't play to the point we get so wasted we can't stand, and if someone gets too wasted, you try to step in and help out."
Sophomore Chris Stafford agreed, noting that he tries to avoid the drinking games. . . .
As a soon-to-be pledge of a fraternity, Stafford said he realizes some drinking initiations may be involved with the pledge process, but says that is part of the allure.
"I do think everyone should have to go through something," he said. "I don't think I would like to do all the heavy drinking, but it all depends."
. . . Those who are not students or university personnel cannot be cited for having alcohol on campus although the police can seize the alcohol or ask offenders to leave campus.

Enitre article:

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/a...507290302/1002