Student Found Dead in Cornell Fraternity House

[SAEalumnus]

The Fraternity Service Center (IHQ) has its latest response, dated June 28, 2011, available here.

[SOM]

Originally Posted by SAEalumnus

The Fraternity Service Center (IHQ) has its latest response, dated June 28, 2011, available here.

The numbers just came out on the family suit:
Cornell University Frat House Sued for $25 Million Over House Hazing Death

http://abcnews.go.com/US/cornell-haz...ry?id=13948311

While it is sad that the man died, and it is sad how he died, the way the story is written, sounds that this is all about getting monies from someone with the deep pockets.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by SOM

The numbers just came out on the family suit:
Cornell University Frat House Sued for $25 Million Over House Hazing Death

http://abcnews.go.com/US/cornell-haz...ry?id=13948311

While it is sad that the man died, and it is sad how he died, the way the story is written, sounds that this is all about getting monies from someone with the deep pockets.

$25 million, huh? Is there precedent for such a high amount? Scott Krueger's family settled with MIT for $6 million, a chunk of which was endowed for a scholarship in his name. Also, MIT apologized and changed a lot of its housing and Greek life policies (aephi alum can probably discuss this a lot better than I'd even try to).

Are the chances high that they'll settle for a smaller amount?

[SOM]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

$25 million, huh? Is there precedent for such a high amount? Scott Krueger's family settled with MIT for $6 million, a chunk of which was endowed for a scholarship in his name. Also, MIT apologized and changed a lot of its housing and Greek life policies (aephi alum can probably discuss this a lot better than I'd even try to).

Are the chances high that they'll settle for a smaller amount?

I have had, in the past, conversations with attorneys who have worked in that Court House. Juries there are very friendly toward the plaintiffs.

[AOII Angel]

Unfortunately, you have a very sad story with ridiculous actions carried out by a few members. One bad apple spoils the whole bunch in many people's eyes. Makes you wonder what they were thinking?

[SOM]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Unfortunately, you have a very sad story with ridiculous actions carried out by a few members. One bad apple spoils the whole bunch in many people's eyes. Makes you wonder what they were thinking?

Angel: I rather sadly agree with you. And yes this will hurt SAE all over country. Pick any of the news stories about this, especially those on college campuses, and the comment sections are ugly to say the least.

And this will also reflect on every other GLO as well.

It would be nice if a National could baby sit each and every member and chapter 24/7/365. But that, as we all know, just is not in the cards.

All our Nationals can do is set policies and procedures up and attempt to educate members on them.

This anti-hazing initiative/education program is located right on SAE's National open home page: http://www.truegentlemaninitiative.n...ing.aspx?Id=94 along with a hazing report phone number.

But as we see with this case and others going back through the years at both SAE and just about every other GLO, there will sadly be the bad, dumb, idiot, and unthinking member who just does not get it. And something sad, bad and very avoidable happens.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by SOM

And this will also reflect on every other GLO as well.

Hazing has always happened, long before it was considered negative and became illegal. It continues in non-GLO groups with less criticism. Reputations and interest in membership for GLOs aren't so easily broken. It's also cultural in that people think different things when they hear "GLO," "Greek," or "fraternities and sororities."

SAE national headquarters will probably figure out what to do to address this issue and SAE will live on.