Fraternity members indicted in student death

[PeppyGPhiB]

This made the front page of MSNBC.com today...

Gay slurs scrawled on frat pledge’s body

HOUSTON - The body of an 18-year-old fraternity pledge who died of alcohol poisoning was defaced with numerous anti-gay epithets and obscene drawings, according to a medical examiner's report.

Phanta "Jack" Phoummarath, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin, died after ingesting large amounts of alcohol at a pledge party at Lambda Phi Epsilon house in December 2005, authorities said. Phoummarrath's body was found the day after.

A grand jury indicted three members of the fraternity last month on hazing charges following a yearlong investigation into Phoummarath's death.

The Travis County medical examiner's office reported that partygoers used green and black markers to write "FAG," "I'm gay" and "I AM FAT" on Phoummarath's head, face, torso, legs and feet. Someone also added drawings depicting naked men and women and blackened his toenails.

You can read the rest of the article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16563358/

[cheerfulgreek]

I never heard of this organization until this morning.

[nwu43]

Lambda Phi Epsilon is currently the biggest Asian interest fraternity. There are not many Asian Greeks here in general which is why so few people know about us. I don't know where you're from, but we are also much more well known in California, although we have chapters all across the nation.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by nwu43

Lambda Phi Epsilon is currently the biggest Asian interest fraternity. There are not many Asian Greeks here in general which is why so few people know about us. I don't know where you're from, but we are also much more well known in California, although we have chapters all across the nation.

No matter what Greek Conference one is with, it is so sad to hear about Car Crahes that kill a Brother or Sister, now, when it comes to hazing, then there is something very wrong!


So, what is wrong with that picture!


If they were important enough to Recruit, then they were important enough to be a member!

[nwu43]

I'm sorry, I do not know what you mean exactly?

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by nwu43

I'm sorry, I do not know what you mean exactly?

Nobody does........ever.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Nobody does........ever.

Wow, so swell a person!

Ah, why do you not join the rest of the S*** Brigade.

You are not a lot of help on GC! Just a problem who makes your fine Fraternity look silly because of you!

[exlurker]

Update July 15, 2008: $4.2 million Settlement

An ABC affiliate has posted this:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=6265840

Other Texas news sources, like the Houston Chronicle, etc., have articles, too.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Update July 15, 2008: $4.2 million Settlement

An ABC affiliate has posted this:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?se...cal&id=6265840

Other Texas news sources, like the Houston Chronicle, etc., have articles, too.

Holy lord. I couldn't bring myself to watch the video, but I read the article. It noted the fraternity wouldn't be paying out because it didn't have insurance, so is that settlement directly with members of the fraternity indicted in the suit?

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Holy lord. I couldn't bring myself to watch the video, but I read the article. It noted the fraternity wouldn't be paying out because it didn't have insurance, so is that settlement directly with members of the fraternity indicted in the suit?

Wow, those guys going to be in debt for the rest of their life. If Lambda Phi Epsilon doesn't get their act together nationally, it would be a liability just to join their organization.

[L.O.C.K.]

From what I heard, the National Fraternity is only paying $20,000 worth of the settlement. The remaining money owed is being split between the 44 defendants (seems really high to me) at $93,000 a pop.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by L.O.C.K.

From what I heard, the National Fraternity is only paying $20,000 worth of the settlement. The remaining money owed is being split between the 44 defendants (seems really high to me) at $93,000 a pop.

On top of the student loan, they're going to have a very tough start in life.
So, the moral of the story . . . DO NOT HAZE.

[srmom]

My guess would be that they will hit up the parent's home owner's policies.

Umbrella coverage is a must with teenage boys, not from the hazing aspect, but from all the other stupid things they can do.

[socialite]

Damn, some people are just stupid about things.

And as noble as the family trys to put it, i seriously doubt a 4.2 million dollar settlement is so 'people will know not to do it again...' It almost makes me sick to think that in the wake of their son's death all they could think was "let's sue their ass for all they're worth"...

NOT that i am in any way justifying the lack of care the brothers in this fraternity gave him.

[L.O.C.K.]

My question is, how would the settlement have turned out if the fraternity had insurance? Would they be solely responsible for the 4.2 million and the members wouldn't pay?

If so, then the fraternity as a whole does better not having insurance it looks like.