Chi Phi at Penn State Suspended Due to HS Student Death

[chi-o_cat]

A 17-year-old high school student died at an off-campus house where several members of Chi Phi live. It is not their official fraternity house.

Article:
Penn State Chi Phi fraternity suspended after 17-year-old male dies on West College Avenue

[Rod D]

Not nearly enough information to link this to the fraternity yet.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Rod D

Not nearly enough information to link this to the fraternity yet.

My thought exactly!

Off campus housing, not in the Chi Phi House.

When it comes to Greeks, the News always has to put a huge spin on it rather than the possible truth! Then, The School cannot do anything but follow that lead or look week for possible Law Suits.

The shame is that no one looks at the so called victim and what he or they themselves did to themselves!

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

The shame is that no one looks at the so called victim and what he or they themselves did to themselves!

That'd be part of the defense and would certainly be brought up in any litigation. Most schools define an organizational function very broadly, i.e., any time two or more members congregate, the organization is having a function.

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That'd be part of the defense and would certainly be brought up in any litigation. Most schools define an organizational function very broadly, i.e., any time two or more members congregate, the organization is having a function.

Right. Under that definition, any time sorority girls go to the bathroom is a "sorority function." And that's a weak minded university official who needs to hide behind that definition because they can't figure it out.

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

My thought exactly!

Off campus housing, not in the Chi Phi House.

When it comes to Greeks, the News always has to put a huge spin on it rather than the possible truth! Then, The School cannot do anything but follow that lead or look week for possible Law Suits.

The shame is that no one looks at the so called victim and what he or they themselves did to themselves!

While certainly alcohol or other substances may have played a part (no evidence yet) it's just as likely that the kid could have had some type of heart defect.

[GreekOne]

Originally Posted by Rod D

While certainly alcohol or other substances may have played a part (no evidence yet) it's just as likely that the kid could have had some type of heart defect.

General understanding (for what that's worth) around PSU is that he was a 17 year old HS Senior visiting his sister who attends PSU. It was the White Out Michigan game which was featured on ESPN Game Day with festivities starting in the early am for a 7:30 pm game. Tailgating and parties went on all day long. This house is one of the "senior"off campus houses for members of Chi Phi. He ended up there after a long day of partying, with his sister or other older HS friends (which supposedly included more than alcohol). He ended up unable to breathe.

The thought is that since the fraternity was suspended, there must be cause to believe that he was served (underage) at least alcohol or more at that party. As was said, definition of a fraternity event means 3 or more of the members of a chapter present. This party met that definition.

At the end of the day, I believe that to present a zero tolerance on dangerous behavior the university suspended this chapter. However, what was going on there was no different than what was going on in a thousand other off campus houses that night. It was a big party weekend with many out of town guests.

It is very unfortunate but it really was no more than a tragic accident.

[*winter*]

Not just Greeks, but young adults need to get more serious about who they're serving alcohol to. This can literally destroy your life if the person can't handle what they're drinking (and the word is full of 17 year olds who think they can and wind up passed out, because their experience with alcohol is more limited than they'd care to admit).

If you're there and you're 21...it's a lot of problems. That's why by the time I was 21, we just went to the bars. It's a fine line to walk, but having legal charges or a lawsuit isn't worth it.

[Rod D]

Originally Posted by *winter*

Not just Greeks, but young adults need to get more serious about who they're serving alcohol to. This can literally destroy your life if the person can't handle what they're drinking (and the word is full of 17 year olds who think they can and wind up passed out, because their experience with alcohol is more limited than they'd care to admit).

If you're there and you're 21...it's a lot of problems. That's why by the time I was 21, we just went to the bars. It's a fine line to walk, but having legal charges or a lawsuit isn't worth it.

The unintended consequences of taking away beer at 18. At 18, beer acted like training wheels. Today, Mix in flavored hard liquor and you have big problems. These kids can drink the hard liquor faster than they can metabolize it.

[*winter*]

The 21 drinking age is so ridiculous, IMO...so much of what happens on college campuses is related to this in one form or another.

[ASTalumna06]

Autopsy Results Released For Erie Teen Who Died In State College

https://onwardstate.com/2019/11/23/a...hYR01lPlYyGbHI

An Erie teenager who was visiting State College in October died of chemical asphyxia due to nitrous oxide, Centre County Deputy Coroner Debra Smeal reported on Friday night.

John “Jack” Schoenig’s death has been ruled accidental, according to the coroner’s office.