Beta Theta Pi pledge dies at Penn State

[thetalady]

Such a tragic event at Beta Theta Pi at Penn State.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/que...id=LENOVODHP15

[Kevin]

Just tragic. It sounds like an awful accident. I've seen a lot of reports where people are jumping to conclusions before the facts are fully investigated.

[PGD-GRAD]

Yes, I agree that it probably was an accident. But the resulting issues are the problem: providing alcohol to minors, moving the injured party without regard to possible spinal or brain trauma and NOT calling for help immediately.
As advisors, we are so aware and constantly preach the correct response. Sadly, this could have been many national chapters at many schools. There are too many litigatable issues to even count.

[Kevin]

There are lots of good defenses too, i.e., assumption of the risk. When the school has apparently labeled it as a "pledge/hazing event," I tend to wait until the facts come out because it's going to be either ridiculously bad for Beta, or there could still be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this terrible tragedy. Time will tell. Not speculation.

[ASTalumna06]

Penn State bans fraternity parties from serving alcohol

http://www.wpxi.com/news/penn-state-...ohol/492646295

[honeychile]

Is that house fairly new? I remember going to a few parties there (a few years ago), but I don't remember it looking like that.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

Penn State bans fraternity parties from serving alcohol

http://www.wpxi.com/news/penn-state-...ohol/492646295

I really don't like it that schools do this. Now, instead of partying mostly safely at home, they'll party in rented houses all around town, then drive back to their homes. Far less safe. Kids are going to drink in college. The best thing we can do is educate them on how to do it responsibly--and a policy stating that all underage drinking is irresponsible and we're going to pretend it doesn't happen will claim lives.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Just tragic. It sounds like an awful accident. I've seen a lot of reports where people are jumping to conclusions before the facts are fully investigated.

I have to agree here as we all have or could be accused of this including myself.


My main problem with this whole thing was how long it took to contact some one for help for this young man! I am very disturbed by that fact!

I also get upset with any College is when something happens the Fraternity is suspended with out a full review of all of the circumstances. But in todays enviroment, that seems to be the norm today.

[Kevin]

Suspended isn't the same as expelled.

[33girl]

They've "suspended" or "banned" fraternity parties at Penn State a million billion times. It usually lasts until the next upcoming vacation (thanksgiving, Christmas, spring break, end of year) is over. No one wants that whole party population unleashed into the general State College area permanently.

For being the Whiskey Rebellion state, Pennsylvania has always had the most ridiculous puritanical laws toward alcohol (which of course bear no resemblance to what actual humans do). Maybe now that we're stepping firmly into the 1970s & selling beer in grocery stores, we'll also change attitudes and realize that keeping kids safe more important than busting them for drinking underage.

[navane]

Remember, Liam Neesom's wife, Natasha Richardson, fell and hit her head while skiing. She was "fine", talking and refusing medical treatment for several hours before someone finally got her to the hospital. She later died.

If the young man in this case was also intoxicated, I can understand why the others didn't fully recognize his injuries. Like Kevin said, we need to wait for the full facts to come out.

[jolene]

Just saw this article--freshman dies after night of binge drinking: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-drinking.html

[*winter*]

Originally Posted by jolene

Just saw this article--freshman dies after night of binge drinking: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-drinking.html

??? This is at MU in Ohio

[ChioLu]

18 members charged in the death.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/18-frater...210035188.html

[navane]

Originally Posted by navane

Remember, Liam Neesom's wife, Natasha Richardson, fell and hit her head while skiing. She was "fine", talking and refusing medical treatment for several hours before someone finally got her to the hospital. She later died.

If the young man in this case was also intoxicated, I can understand why the others didn't fully recognize his injuries. Like Kevin said, we need to wait for the full facts to come out.

Well...I said we should wait until the full facts are out and the facts are indeed now coming out. I've just read an article which presents a more detailed picture of what happened. The nearly hour-by-hour description of this young man's death are horrific and, apparently, the events were caught on video surveillance cameras. So sad.

The article: https://www.yahoo.com/gma/penn-state...opstories.html