Chi Omega Tragedy

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Dennis Harrison, chief of police in Fort Collins, speaks about the Samantha Spady case Friday. "I think there are a lot of people on the CSU campus who are thinking, 'That could have been me,' " he said.

So scary, and so true.

[IvySpice]

"I think there are a lot of people on the CSU campus who are thinking, 'That could have been me,' " he said.

If people are thinking that it could have been them, then apparently they are unbelievably poor decision-makers, and hopefully they will change.

The latest story says that this young woman ingested between 30 and 40 drinks in 11 hours. That's not youthful indiscretion. That's not the mistakes we all make when we're young. That's not a random tragedy like a college student getting hit by a car. What she apparently did is about as smart as jumping off a twenty-story building.

It's a horrific tragedy for the friends and family involved, but I don't think we should deny the reality that (unless current reports are mistaken) this woman died because she made choices that anyone with basic intelligence should know are likely to be lethal. IMHO, Colorado State students, that could have been you if you habitually aim a shotgun at your own head. If you act like one-tenth of the adult you legally are, then it couldn't have been you.

[rosejoy]

True, Ivyspice, but if those in the fraternity house saw her drinking that much why was she left alone? Why didn't someone step up to the plate and cut her off?

What a horrible tragedy. Perhaps she was coerced into drinking? Something just seems odd about the whole story. It really is sad.

[valkyrie]

IvySpice, I agree. If you're an adult, you're the one who is responsible for your own actions, and if you drink way too much, you're the one to blame, period.

[IvySpice]

if those in the fraternity house saw her drinking that much why was she left alone? Why didn't someone step up to the plate and cut her off?

If I were responsible for the moral guidance of those young men -- if I were their parents, say -- I'd tell them that they had an ethical obligation to notice a person self-destructing in their midst and try to do something to help her. No question, that's the only right thing to do in that situation, even though there's no legal obligation to do it.

But the fact that people should have helped her doesn't take away her responsibility for her own death. You can't leap off a bridge assuming that someone's going to catch you.

Perhaps she was coerced into drinking? Something just seems odd about the whole story.

Of course it's possible that some important facts are missing from the story that would totally change my take on it. The investigation is still underway.

The fact that she apparently died from making bad choices doesn't make her death any less sad -- in fact, it's probably even more horrible for her family to lose her over something so preventable. I just hope that what students take away from this is that they are the ones that have to live or die with the consequences of their actions. If the police chief is right that students are all thinking, "This could have happened to anyone," then they're missing the crucial point that this (unlike other kinds of tragic death) does not happen to people who drink responsibly or not at all.

[rosejoy]

I do agree, Ivy, that everyone is responsible for their own actions. Even smart people make stupid choices sometimes. That is a part of being human. A choice this girl made obviously cost her life.

I saw a video clip on the web that said she had gone to various parties throughout the evening, drinking at each one.

I know you did not mean it was any less sad...I too feel very sorry for the family of this poor girl. What a terrible way to lose someone (although no way is easy).

[RUgreek]

the equivalent of 40 beers in a 10 hour period??? Sorry, I just heard this story on the news tonight. What a terrible event. I just agree with the sentiment here that there is more to this story than we'll ever know. It seems like these deaths come in cycles, a horrible wakeup call to college students.

RUgreek

[Tom Earp]

This is what it has come to!



The Denver Post
September 19, 2004

CU Greek events halted

By Felisa Cardona and Will Shanley
Denver Post Staff Writers

Boulder - All social activities at Greek houses were suspended indefinitely
by the University of Colorado's Inter-Fraternity Council on Saturday after
the death of an 18-year-old Chi Psi pledge.

The body of Lynn "Gordie" Bailey, a business major from Dallas, was found
by fraternity members Friday morning in the frat house after a night in
which some members said a party was held there.

Police confirmed Saturday that ink smudges were found on Bailey's face,
indicating that someone might have used pens or markers to doodle on his
face after he went to sleep.

Authorities could not say whether alcohol was a factor in Bailey's death.
Preliminary results from the coroner's office won't be available until at
least Monday.

If alcohol was found to have been a factor in the student's death,
CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny said, the school will take "decisive
action."

Byyny also announced Saturday that CU administrators will begin reviewing
the university's relationship with the Greek system in meetings with
fraternity leaders this week.

Police are investigating whether alcohol played a role in the student's death.

On Saturday, members of a few sorority houses placed small memorials with
red roses and other flowers on the fraternity's doorstep, with notes
reading, "Our thoughts and prayers are with you" and other words of
encouragement.

A handful of fraternity members filtered in and out of the house during the
day. Empty Gatorade bottles and at least one beer can were strewn across
the front yard.

The death came less than two weeks after Colorado State University student
Samantha Spady, 19, died of alcohol poisoning. Her blood-alcohol level was
0.436, more than five times the legal limit for driving.

"In light of recent events in Colorado and around the nation, we are, of
course, concerned about any possibility of the involvement of alcohol in
this tragedy," Byyny said Friday.

Chi Psi, which had operated continuously on Boulder's campus since 1921,
was suspended Friday by its national chapter pending the investigation's
outcome, said Sam Bessey, the fraternity's national executive director who
was in Boulder on Saturday.

Despite that, members will be allowed to live in the house, although many
have opted to stay with friends or in dorms provided by the university,
Bessey said.

"They are scared and they are sad," Bessey said of the fraternity's 79
members, 36 of whom live at the house. "Our next step is to continue the
grieving process."

Byyny met Saturday with members of Bailey's family to express his condolences.

A candlelight vigil for Bailey is scheduled for 9 p.m. Monday at the Dalton
Trumbo Fountain Court on the north side of the University Memorial Center
at 14th and Euclid streets.

A moment of silence for Bailey and Spady was to be held Saturday during
CU's football game at Folsom Stadium against North Texas.

Students who attended the pledge party at the fraternity house Thursday
night said heavy drinking was going on.

CU sophomore Brandon Pattison said he walked by the fraternity about
midnight Thursday and saw the party.

Kate Ronalds, an 18-year-old freshman, said Bailey was a tall and stocky
kid. She said she knew Bailey and some of the other Chi Psi members from
visiting the house.

The Chi Psi members liked to drink alcohol, she said.

(c) 2004. The Denver Post.


It is so sad to lose a young life in stupidity!

[33girl]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
As for the resigning thing - we've had a number of sisters who resigned their membership for benign reasons (couldn't afford dues, could not put in time commitment, family disapproval) who are still very good friends of the chapter. If they died, we would mourn them no less than we mourn a "regular" sister.

I don't think anyone is saying her former sisters shouldn't be sad about her death - Erik is referring to "formal mourning" which is basically what they were doing with the ribbons. It isn't appropriate, any more than it would be appropriate for a woman who divorced her husband 30 years ago to wear formal mourning for him. I know that their hearts were in the right place but if they wanted to do something like that it should have been campus wide rather than implying an association that has ceased to exist.

[Glitterkitty]

Originally posted by 33girl
I don't think anyone is saying her former sisters shouldn't be sad about her death - Erik is referring to "formal mourning" which is basically what they were doing with the ribbons. It isn't appropriate, any more than it would be appropriate for a woman who divorced her husband 30 years ago to wear formal mourning for him. I know that their hearts were in the right place but if they wanted to do something like that it should have been campus wide rather than implying an association that has ceased to exist.

Since the majority of the chapter knew and I am assuming liked her, it is appropriate to do what they did. I think we should not second guess the chapter for this. They were being nice. ANd just because someone gets divorced doesn't mean the people who loved them in the past will not be sad at their passing. Maybe naming an award after her or something wouldn't really be appropriate, but I think wearing ribbons is just a sign of support for the family and friends of this youg lady and that is always in good taste. If she had been a former cheerleader and they did it, no one would think twice. Any way-I think it was sweet of the girls in the chapter.

[ZTA1806]

Originally posted by IvySpice
If I were responsible for the moral guidance of those young men -- if I were their parents, say -- I'd tell them that they had an ethical obligation to notice a person self-destructing in their midst and try to do something to help her. No question, that's the only right thing to do in that situation, even though there's no legal obligation to do it.

But the fact that people should have helped her doesn't take away her responsibility for her own death. You can't leap off a bridge assuming that someone's going to catch you.

Actually, there is a legal obligation. First, she was underage. Any member of the organization who was there drinking with her that night (who is 21 or older) has the legal requirement not to provide alcohol to a minor or they are liable for the consequences(and my guess is that the state is right now looking at the evidence and deciding if they want to prosecute whomever purchased the alcohol with at least contributing to delinquency and/or possibly contributory negligence in her death). It is a risk people take all the time, but it is a chance they want to take, so with that goes consequences if you get caught.

Also, if any one of them suspected she was in a life-threatening situation, or questioned her health (as in thought the line may have been crossed from drunk to coma), many jurisdictions have laws requiring someone to at least contact proper help (anonymous 9-1-1 call, for example). I don't know about CO, but I know many have laws to prevent people from just walking by a person bleeding out on the street (not that it is really enforced much -- I think usually the state is hoping people will do the right thing).

[33girl]

Originally posted by Glitterkitty
ANd just because someone gets divorced doesn't mean the people who loved them in the past will not be sad at their passing.

I never said that. I meant it wouldn't be appropriate to mourn in the way that a wife would. Being sad and mourning are two different things.

[texas*princess]

I have to agree with IvySpice.

This is a terrible tragedy, but at the same time I feel it could have been prevented.

People die almost every day from drug overdoses, or by effects of their other individual choices.

When you do something like that, you're taking a risk. Sure you might feel good or whatever, but it is really worth it to have 547 drinks in your system??

I can't speak for everyone on this board, but I will openly admit that I drank when I was underage during my freshman and sophomore years. I'm almost certain most people here have, and you have to have gotten the alcohol somewhere.. but that was a choice we made. I don't blame my underage drinking to my older friends or my sister who would buy it for me on occasion, because I'm the one who asked them in the first place. To bring out this "everyone over 21 has a legal obligation" stuff is ridiculous... because driving over the speed limit is illegal, but most people do it anyway. I drive over the speed limit, and I have even got a ticket.. sure that was no fun having to pay for it, but I was the one who chose to drive that fast, so I'm going to deal with it.. I'm not going to blame the bank because they were about to close so I had to drive that fast to get there in time.

Plain and simple, you have to know your limit. I know things like when I should stop drinking, I know that I don't want to take the risk of dying from a drug overdose - so I've never touched the stuff, heck, I've never even smoked a cigarette before, I've never driven drunk before because I didn't want to put my life or other innocent bystanders on the line.

To think you can have that many drinks and be ok is crazy. If you are that intoxicated there is no telling *what* could happen b/c you'd be too "not there" to not realizing what was happening... and that's a scary place to be.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by ZTA1806
Actually, there is a legal obligation. First, she was underage. Any member of the organization who was there drinking with her that night (who is 21 or older) has the legal requirement not to provide alcohol to a minor or they are liable for the consequences(and my guess is that the state is right now looking at the evidence and deciding if they want to prosecute whomever purchased the alcohol with at least contributing to delinquency and/or possibly contributory negligence in her death). It is a risk people take all the time, but it is a chance they want to take, so with that goes consequences if you get caught.

Has there been any indication that there is evidence that she was even drinking at the house?

[ZTA1806]

Couldn't tell you. Really, it's whomever supplied is the liable party, both criminally and civilally.

Yes, she did make the choice to drink, Texas Princess, however I was responding to IvySpice's note that no one hgad legal obligation on any of this.

Yes, I drank when I was underage, and I speed and do many things that as an adult, I understand that I am responsible for the consequences. However, when I was underage and drinking, unless I was to have bought it myself with a fake ID (which I did not), anyone who bought for me was criminally responsible for providing alcohol to a minor. It's just that simple. Again, we all have to decide for ourselves if the consequences are worth the actions. As I remember from my party days in college, at that time the fun outweighed the chance of getting caught. It was the chance I chose to take, and I was lucky. In this case, the former Chi Omega sister was not, and her family and friends have to live with the consequences (of no longer having her with them).

And for that result, I am truly sorry. I almost lost my own brother when he was drinking underage (in high school with, with friends who were aged from HS to over 21), and fell from a 2-1/2 story balcony onto a parking lot. He landed on his head & face. His friends were not prosecuted, but it was considered (I was not caring one way or the other, since he was my concern, but it was a consequence they had to face).

We were very lucky, as were his friends, but not everyone is.