Two SDSU TKE pledges die in auto accident

[hoosier]

Fraternity is hit hard by I-8 accident killing two




TKE remains active after expulsion from SDSU

By Jeff McDonald
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

February 13, 2002

Between sobs and regret and second-guessing, members of a banished fraternity and campus officials struggled yesterday to understand the weekend deaths of two San Diego State University freshmen in a freeway crash.

The college had expelled the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity from its sanctioned events in December 2000 after a hazing ritual left a teen-ager near death from alcohol poisoning.

But the fraternal order known by its acronym TKE remains active in the campus community. And national leaders of the organization are at odds with SDSU administrators over whether the local chapter should be reinstated.

According to some students, members of the fraternity who call themselves "Tekes" take pride in the expulsion and continue with regular club activities even though they are not approved by the university.

"They're still here," said Aaron Lomac, a senior who lived next door to the TKE house and worked for the school's Interfraternity Council. "A suspension doesn't do any good."

A few minutes after 8 a.m. Sunday, a pickup carrying three San Diego State students rolled off Interstate 8 east of Willows Road. Brian Jimenez and Zachary Jacobs, both 18, were killed.

Jimenez was from Redlands in San Bernardino County; Jacobs was from Wilton, a small community south of Sacramento.

Eighteen-year-old Joji Peters is recovering at a local hospital.

California Highway Patrol investigators said the truck was speeding west at 90 mph. It veered off the interstate as it rounded a sweeping right turn, the CHP said.

All three were ejected from the truck. It was unclear yesterday who was driving and there was no information available about whether alcohol was involved. The young men were camping in the Ocotillo area just past the Imperial County line, fraternity officials said. The campout was not a sanctioned fraternity event, although several members referred to the weekend as a "retreat."

University spokesman Jason Foster said the campus has disciplined the group repeatedly, even since the expulsion. Parties and under-age drinking continue to occur on the College Place cul-de-sac where the TKE house and other fraternity houses are.

Foster said the school warns incoming freshman that TKE is not recognized by the university.

"We've done everything we can do to address the situation with TKE," Foster said. "Ultimately, they are responsible for their own conduct."

Kevin Mayeux, executive vice president of the TKE grand council headquarters in Indiana, said the entire fraternity is devastated by the deaths of the young students.

"A lot of guys are extremely shook up because they've lost roommates and friends," said Mayeux, who hurried to San Diego yesterday to deal with the accident. "There's immense grief and sorrow."

The grand council still recognizes the SDSU chapter despite the university discipline. Mayeux said the San Diego chapter acted properly after the 2000 hazing incident by expelling the responsible member.

"What you had was one person acting on his own," he said. "He could have been a member of AAA or the Catholic Church or anything else."

TKE has about 85 members at San Diego State, and about 9,300 members at 266 other schools, Mayeux said. There are 200,000 living alums, including former President Ronald Reagan and broadcaster and ex-quarterback Terry Bradshaw, he said.

The crash victims were not full-fledged fraternity brothers. "They were just beginning the process of becoming members," said Jon Streeter, the newly installed president of the SDSU chapter.

It was unclear why the men were heading home so early in the morning, although one fraternity member suggested they were trying to beat the Imperial County heat.

However, the trip had nothing to do with any induction rituals, the TKE chapter president said. "We are a non-hazing fraternity," Streeter said. "Hazing is strictly prohibited within our risk management guidelines."

Jimenez and Jacobs did not live at the College Place fraternity that SDSU officials once called the "Animal House" of the school. Both men lived in the Templo del Sol residence hall on campus.

About 15 fraternity brothers live in the house, which is owned by a local nonprofit called San Diego Teke Corp. When the chapter hosts parties or social events, members make sure to follow all fraternity guidelines, Streeter said.

"We still run just like any other fraternity, doing philanthropic events, working in the community," said Streeter, who said one of his top priorities as chapter president will be to win reinstatement from the university.

"It's more beneficial to the community to keep us here than to take us away at this point."

[josh8o]

It has really been a sad time on our campus...every Greek organization feels for TKE at this time. There was a candle light vigil last night in Greek circle. It was really nice. Our thoughts are prays are with their families and friends.

[shadokat]

As someone who has been on a campus where numerous greek deaths have occurred, I feel for everyone at SDSU, especially TKE. Dealing with death is such a hard thing for college students, because we all feel like we're invincible, and then someone among us is taken away, and it makes us realize our mortality. I will say some prayers for the TKEs at SDSU. Your campus is in my thoughts. As Greeks, be there for each other. When we had tragedy on my campus, one greek organization with a large house would have dinner for everyone at their house (our system wasn't that big). Later, another house would open its doors to everyone, and it really helped.

[The1calledTKE]

My prayers go out to those pledges their families and their chapter. It just proves that you shouldn't speed and definately should wear your seat belts.

[HeidiHo]

It's sad that these guy's deaths were overshadowed by the chapter's history. They weren't there when the alleged hazing occured, they don't live in the house, they weren't at a fraternity event so why was any of that relevant to the article?
My thoughts are with SDSU and the TKEs
H~~~~

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by HeidiHo
It's sad that these guy's deaths were overshadowed by the chapter's history. They weren't there when the alleged hazing occured, they don't live in the house, they weren't at a fraternity event so why was any of that relevant to the article?
My thoughts are with SDSU and the TKEs
H~~~~

My sentiments exactly, Heidi. Boo to the reporter who used the death of 2 kids as an opening for his sensationalistic article.

To the friends, family, and fraternity brothers of those who died: My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[josh8o]

Originally posted by HeidiHo
It's sad that these guy's deaths were overshadowed by the chapter's history. They weren't there when the alleged hazing occured, they don't live in the house, they weren't at a fraternity event so why was any of that relevant to the article?
My thoughts are with SDSU and the TKEs
H~~~~

The thing that most people don't know is that TKE often goes into the desert for events. This was an accident, but since the TKE's will not say anything about it they could have been comming from an event.

[The1calledTKE]

Well the guys in the car were pledges speeding. If they were coming back from an event there is nothing wrong with that. And the on the old hazing charges, they must most likely be false because in this day and age if it was true TKE IHQ would shut down they chapter very quickly because a lot of people are lawsuit happy these days. If IHQ is still supporting them then the eveidence the school had must have been very weak if they had any at all besides alligations.

[Kevlar281]

Originally posted by hoosier
The crash victims were not full-fledged fraternity brothers. "They were just beginning the process of becoming members," said Jon Streeter, the newly installed president of the SDSU chapter.

I really hope he was quoted out of context because I don’t see how their associate status makes this any less of a tragedy.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Kevlar281

I really hope he was quoted out of context because I don’t see how their associate status makes this any less of a tragedy.

I think that probably the brother was asked if they were associates or bros and said they were just starting pledging. The writer is the one who tossed in the "not full-fledged" comment. Asshole.

[josh8o]

Originally posted by zntke711
And the on the old hazing charges, they must most likely be false because in this day and age if it was true TKE IHQ would shut down they chapter very quickly because a lot of people are lawsuit happy these days.

as a student of sdsu, and a member of the greek system, i can tell you that our school likes to dick over fraternities.... however, the hazing from fall 2000 was real, and a big enough deal to get tke kicked off campus. i understand if you think that nationals from tke still support them then the hazing charges from the school would be false. one BIG rule at sdsu is no alcohol is allowed during new member events. if a pledge got alcohol from hazing, then do the math. not everyone is perfect.

[The1calledTKE]

Having alcohol is hazing? Forcing to drink would be but not having alcohol. I don't know if they hazed or not but obiously IHQ doesn't think so.

[Kevlar281]

Originally posted by 33girl


I think that probably the brother was asked if they were associates or bros and said they were just starting pledging. The writer is the one who tossed in the "not full-fledged" comment. Asshole.

Ouch I really hope the “asshole” comment was directed towards the writer of the article and not myself.