Student Found Dead in Cornell Fraternity House

[SOM]

Updated 4:45 p.m.: George Desdunes '13 was found dead in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house early Friday morning, according to a University statement.
http://www.cornellsun.com/section/ne...ernity-house-0

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_828444.html

RIP Brother. Good thoughts and wishes to Family, Brothers and friends.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by SOM

Updated 4:45 p.m.: George Desdunes '13 was found dead in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house early Friday morning, according to a University statement.
http://www.cornellsun.com/section/ne...ernity-house-0.

Very sad news. My condolences to Mr. Desdunes' family, SAE brothers, and friends.

[SOM]

Sad Update date:
Police Continue Investigation Into Death of George Desdunes ’13
George Desdunes ’13 died Friday morning after he was found unresponsive in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. Alcohol consumption may have played a role in the death, Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing told the Associated Press on Sunday......
http://cornellsun.com/section/news/c...es-%E2%80%9913

[SOM]

Fraternity temporarily suspended at Cornell:
....Cornell officials said that information they have received about the use of alcohol is sufficient enough to conclude that the fraternity likely violated the university's recognition policy, according to the Cornell Chronicle. That policy outlines the university's expectations - including the observance of state and federal laws....
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...sey=nav%7Chead

http://cornellsun.com/section/news/c...sae-fraternity

http://www.ivygateblog.com/2011/03/b...th-of-brother/

[Gusteau]

So sorry for the young man, his family, and his chapter.

One of our international officers visited my chapter yesterday and we discussed, among other things, risk management at lunch. He said that 100% of the Risk Management Committees (the body that deals with RMF in Delta Chi) he had sat on were alcohol related incidents. Most of my chapter was surprised and said they would have guessed hazing in the majority; it's very telling as to how we as undergraduates underestimate the dangers of alcohol.

[SOM]

Cornell student's death investigation update:
http://www.theithacajournal.com/arti...sey=nav%7Chead

[SOM]

A very well written Op-Ed from a Cornell SAE Alum:
Remembering Tradition in the Wake of Tragedy
http://www.cornellsun.com/section/op...n-wake-tragedy

[SOM]

Sixteen Former SAE Pledges Plan to Join TKE
More than a month after the University revoked its recognition of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, 16 former SAE pledge members are joining the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity instead, according to students involved.

http://cornellsun.com/section/news/c...-plan-join-tke

[SOM]

Cornell Fraternity Sued Over Student’s Drinking Death-
The mother of a 19-year-old Cornell University sophomore who died after drinking heavily at a fraternity house in February filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the fraternity on Monday, saying her son was hazed and then left to die.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/ny...etro&seid=auto

http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/stor...cP-eAN1Xw.cspx

[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.