Greek leaders to discourage annual Shasta trip

Oregon State is stunned by this news and the Greek students are trying to find an appropriate way to respond.

Decision based on Zalunardo's death, past Shasta incidents

By Dan Traylor
The Daily Barometer

Sam Leinen The Daily Barometer Brice Nesbitt, president of OSU's Interfraternity Council, and Panhellenic Council President Laura Cushman address their desire for Greeks to no longer attend the Shasta trip at a Monday press conference.

The leaders of OSU's Greek community plan to discourage members from making the annual Mother's Day weekend trip to Northern California's Shasta Lake.

The announcement comes in the wake of the death of OSU student Gina Zalunardo, who, according to police, committed suicide while visiting the lake on the weekend of May 6.

Past instances of death or injuries factored into the decision to discourage the trip, which is not officially sponsored by the university or the Greek community.

"We are moving to discourage Greeks from participating in this event," said Brice Nesbitt, president of OSU's Interfraternity Council.

Nesbitt made the announcement before TV news cameras and other media at a Monday press conference organized in response to the Zalunardo's death.

Panhellenic Council President Laura Cushman joined Nesbitt in the announcement, saying leaders have one year to figure out how to prevent students from making the trip.

Nesbitt said two OSU greek chapters already discourage members from going to Shasta, including Sigma Phi Epsilon.

In 2001, a member of the fraternity drowned at Shasta Lake while attempting to jump from one houseboat to another.

Luanne Lawrence, OSU's vice president for advancement, said Greek leaders are planning a meeting with the leaders of each house to discuss the Shasta trip.

"They will be encouraging the leadership to send a strong message that this is not something Greeks will participate in next year," Lawrence said.

Lawrence said the idea came from students but has support from the university.

"The university for years has been concerned about the level of participation in this trip and has tried to discourage it," said Lawrence, who added that the university provides safety information about the trip each year.

Nesbitt said he believes members of the Greek community will listen to the call to not make the trip.

"With the given situation, a lot of people's eyes have opened," he said.

Dan Traylor, news editor