Fraternities should not be held responsible for individual accidents - Cavalier Daily

An interesting opinion piece in the University of Virginia student paper.

"...as is often the case, missteps by one particular person or chapter increase hostility against fraternities nationwide. Other organizations do not face the same backlash."

The Cavalier Daily :: YAHANDA: Brotherly hate:

Fraternities should not be held responsible for individual accidents
by Alex Yahanda | Jan 21 14

News about Greek organizations generally focuses on what chapters do to get in trouble (search “fraternity” on Google news and the results are mostly negative). This disproportionately gloomy reporting reflects poorly on the chapters’ schools, which in turn leads to punishments that are system-wide overreactions to the conduct of individual houses. Last week, another nationwide news story broke in which a fraternity is being punished unfairly.

According to the Yale Daily News, 86 members of the school’s Sigma Phi Epsilon — nicknamed Sig Ep — chapter are being sued over an incident that occurred in 2011 at a Harvard-Yale football game. Before that game, a former student, Brendan Ross, struck three women with a U-Haul truck that he was driving to the fraternity’s tailgating location. One woman, Nancy Barry, was killed, and the other two were injured. But despite the fact that only one student caused the accident, an excessive number of brothers are now facing legal action.

Many writers whose articles were published last week took note of the fact that Sig Ep’s national chapter has distanced itself from its Yale unit. Its insurance does not cover actions that go against the national fraternity’s policies. Typically, a fraternity’s national organization is able to serve as a safety net to help members of chapters that finds themselves in trouble. With the liability that accompanies fraternities these days, though, it is not surprising that national organizations are hesitant to provide comprehensive insurance for chapters, preferring to save time and money by distancing themselves from those chapters that have participated in illicit activities. In reality, the Sig Ep national’s inaction is not particularly newsworthy. There are two larger injustices that occurred as a result of the U-Haul accident.

The first injustice is that 85 of Ross’ fellow Sig Ep brothers — a group including both former and current students — are now being implicated in a wrongful death suit. Barry’s death was unquestionably tragic. It could have been avoided had Ross been a more responsible driver. Ross deserves to face any appropriate consequences for his actions, and the victims of the accident should receive proper restitution. Implicating an entire fraternity as accomplices in the accident, however, is unfair. Ross alone was directly responsible for what occurred. Though he was driving fraternity supplies to a fraternity-sponsored event, the other fraternity members neither enabled the accident to occur nor should be held responsible for the consequences of Ross’ negligence. Members who were not even present at the tailgate have been swept up by the lawsuit simply for being in the same chapter. This kind of widespread punishment is entirely unreasonable, as there is nothing the fraternity as a whole did that was inherently wrong, irresponsible or worthy of mass legal action.

The second injustice is more glaring: Ross’ record does not reflect any sort of wrongdoing. After pleading guilty to two relatively small driving infractions, he was sentenced to enter a probation program. Four hundred hours of community service later, Ross emerged with no marks on his criminal history.

The Connecticut justice system should be receiving more anger than Yale’s Sig Ep chapter. To be sure, Ross’ life will not return to how it was before the accident. He will forever be associated with Barry’s death. But it makes little sense when someone can kill a person, injure two others and receive no real punishment, even if the event was accidental. Ross was fortunate in a way that other people may not be. His charges were downgraded so that he could benefit from the probation program. Barry’s family also agreed that the probationary program was adequate punishment, as Ross was apparently a good kid who felt “appropriately remorseful.” Despite the agreement between both sides, Ross’ record deserves some blemish. One should not be able to go from negligent homicide with a motor vehicle to community service that easily — and that should be the primary message of Ross’ accident.

Yet the U-Haul misfortune, just because it is associated with a fraternity, will augment anti-Greek sentiments throughout the country. The vast majority of drivers who kill or injure people every year are not associated with Greek life. But, as is often the case, missteps by one particular person or chapter increase hostility against fraternities nationwide. Other organizations do not face the same backlash. During my first year, for instance, a University student in my dorm was hit by a Safe Ride van. There was no national outrage at the University or the Safe Ride program for that accident, and it would have been absurd for that student to consider the entire Safe Ride program to be of lesser value because of the actions of one driver. The same idea holds for Ross’ situation. Nothing about being in a fraternity significantly influenced his accident — his job in the fraternity was to drive the truck, but the other brothers did not cause him to crash it. Individually suing Ross makes sense, but it is not necessary to blame Barry’s death on all 86 members of his fraternity.

Alex Yahanda is a senior associate editor for The Cavalier Daily.

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SigEp Headquarters Message regarding news coverage of Yale incident

This email was sent out today from SigEp Headquarters regarding the news earlier this week that 86 members of the Yale Chapter have been named in a lawsuit.

There was also a Press Release.

Email - Message regarding news coverage of Yale incident - Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity:

Dear Brothers and Friends, I am writing you in response to several news stories that have been published regarding members of our Yale chapter and the support our Fraternity has provided them in response to a recent lawsuit. Following an on-campus accident that occurred more than two years ago, lawyers recently filed suit against our Yale chapter as well as individual members. Contrary to recent media reports, the Fraternity has taken every possible action to procure coverage for our brothers at Yale by our insurance provider and provide the legal representation they need to be rightfully dismissed from this litigation. It is important to me that you know our brothers at Yale are protected and supported. The following press release was issued this morning in response to statements that SigEp was not providing support and coverage for our Yale members. If you have any questions about SigEp's risk management policies or our general liability insurance, please contact SigEp's risk management director,Kathy Johnston. Fraternally, Brian C. Warren Jr. Chief Executive Officer

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86 Sig Ep members sued over 2011 tailgate

An interesting way to attempt to recover damages from a chapter - suing each member individually. I have no comment on the facts of the case as I was not there. I would, however, like to see some commentary from the legal community about the reasoning, chance of success, and possible effect of this strategy. To my layman's eye it looks like some innocent members of the chapter could be subject to a civil and financial penalty simply because of  'guilt by association.' There is also the question of why the insurance coverage chapters must purchase does not apply in this case.

Update: SigEp Headquarters has issued a statement clarifying their support of the Yale chapter.
Also see this later blog post.

86 Sig Ep members sued over 2011 tailgate | Yale Daily News:

Eighty-six current and former members of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Yale are the targets of two new lawsuits over a fatal collision at the 2011 Harvard-Yale tailgate that left one woman dead and two others injured.

Thirty-year-old Nancy Barry, of Salem, Mass., was killed in November 2011 when a U-Haul truck driven by Brendan Ross ’13 — heading toward the tailgate area assigned to the fraternity at the Yale Bowl — accelerated and swerved out of control. Sarah Short SOM ’13 and Harvard employee Elizabeth Dernbach were also injured.

Last month, Short and Barry’s estate filed new suits, identical but separate, individually naming all the students who were members of the Yale chapter of the fraternity at the time of the crash, regardless of whether or not they were present at the tailgate. With Short’s medical expenses exceeding $300,000, Short’s attorney Joel Faxon said he expects a jury to award a sum to Short reaching into seven figures. Paul Edwards, who represents Barry’s estate, said he is looking to recover several million dollars over the death.

The new lawsuit, filed in Connecticut Superior Court in New Haven, is a result of a unique relationship between the national Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the local Yale chapter.

According to Faxon, although Short initially sued the national Sig Ep fraternity in 2012, University Director of Risk Management Kathy Johnston said in a deposition that, legally, the local chapter and national association have nothing to do with each other. Furthermore, the national fraternity’s insurance — Liberty Mutual of Boston — does not cover actions by the local chapter, leading Short to sue the local chapter itself.

“[The national fraternity and its insurance], to try to save money, are trying to distance themselves from the case,” Faxon said. “[The local chapter] has been thrown under the bus … by the national fraternity, so the only remedy that our client has is to sue the local fraternity.”

Faxon said that in his 20 years of litigation, he has never seen such an arrangement, as national fraternities typically come to the aid of their local chapters. Because of Connecticut law, which defines the chapter as a voluntary association, the chapter can only be sued by way of its individual members.

Seven current and former members of the fraternity declined to comment on the case. Several others did not respond to requests for comment. Johnston also did not respond to request for comment.

“I have no doubt that each and every one of [the members in 2011], in paying dues to the national organization, had an expectation that the national organization was going to get them the insurance coverage they needed and was going to stand with them,” Edwards said.

According to documents filed in Connecticut Superior Court Monday, 84 of the defendants are now represented by Jeremy Platek, an attorney based in White Plains, N.Y.

Edwards said Platek’s representation of the defendants is likely a sign that the national fraternity is beginning to take greater responsibility for the case.

“I would be surprised if all the fraternity members had collectively gotten together and decided to hire one lawyer on such short notice,” Edwards said. “The odds are very high that he was appointed to represent them by the national fraternity.”

Attorney Eric Smith, a colleague of Faxon’s who is also working on the case, said the defendants were notified in late November and early December. The first of the defendants made their initial court appearance on Jan. 6, and the last will do so today.

According to Edwards, though, the cases are likely to remain in the court systems for a number of years.

With these two new lawsuits, the 2011 tailgate collision has now sparked a total of four lawsuits — two from Short, and two from Barry’s estate — against not only the fraternity and its members, but also the University, the city of New Haven and other parties.

Faxon said he expects the four lawsuits to be potentially joined into one in the near future.

In the event of an award of damages or settlement, Faxon said, the fraternity members would likely pay through their parents’ homeowner’s or automobile insurance. Faxon predicted that the defendants’ insurance agencies would in turn sue the national fraternity and Liberty Mutual Insurance. Eventually, he said, the national association would likely take responsibility for any damages awarded by a jury, but the timeline for such an event remains to be determined.

“In the end, there’s not going to be any difference in the outcome of the case,” Faxon said. “[Short] would get the same compensation whether or not we had all these people involved.”

Edwards said he hopes the case is settled before trials are required for each of the defendants. He added that insurance companies often do not come to the settlement table until the eve of a trial.

Short first filed a lawsuit over the incident, naming Ross and the U-Haul company as defendants, in April 2012.

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Vigil Honors SigEp Student Killed in Crash

Vigil honors student | The East Carolinian:

Sigma Phi Epsilon held a candlelight vigil on Dec. 2 for fellow fraternity brother Edward Blake Tolley who died in a car accident on Friday, Nov. 29.
He died in a car accident Friday in Raleigh, according to President of Sigma Phi Epsilon, Clay Schools.

An article on WRAL stated that the driver of the vehicle, Logan Aronson, was traveling around 90 mph with Tolley in the passenger when he went off the road and hit three trees. Neither Aronson nor Tolley survived the wreck.

Schools said the fraternity is working together to deal with the loss.

“It’s sad, but having each other really helps to deal with that pain,” said Schools.

Tolley was also heavily involved in the fraternity, according to Alex Puente, a brother of Sigma Phi Epsilon and close friend of Tolley’s.

“He was a fraternity man,” said Puente. “He took that seriously and he was involved in a lot of events we had.”

Puente said that Tolley was great person to have around.

“Blake was a really smart guy, full of jokes, a really witty guy,” said Puente. “He could talk to anybody about anything; that was the kind of guy he was.”

Tolley was also a model of school spirit, and he also appreciated vinyl records.

“He wore more purple than anyone ever did at any football game,” said Puente. “He had a record player and had almost 100 records.”

He was home visiting his family for Thanksgiving break when the crash occurred.

“He was a real family man he was always going home to see his family,” Puente said.

Tolley was a construction management major at ECU and was planning on working at a construction firm he interned for in Washington D.C. last summer.

“He had a whole career set out for him,” said Puente. “He knew what he was doing.”

This writer can be contacted at news@theeastcarolinain.com.

By Ryan Clancy
December 3, 2013.
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Sig Eps remember brother at vigil - WKU

Tragic accident takes a new member.

Sig Eps remember brother at vigil - College Heights Herald: News:

Jackson French

On Saturday night, members of Sigma Phi Epsilon gathered in the Valley to mourn the passing of one of their pledge brothers.

Fordsville freshman and Sig Ep pledge Cory Beavin died Friday night, Sept. 27 in a car accident in his hometown.

Fraternity members and other friends of Beavin assembled at an intersection of sidewalks in front of McCormack, many of them holding lit candlesticks.

Ashland freshman Caitlin Brown, one of Beavin’s friends, spoke to the crowd, inviting members of Sig Ep to speak about Beavin and share their favorite memories of him they had.

Brown said little is known yet about the circumstances of Beavin’s death.

“We don’t know many details,” Brown said. “We don’t know if he was with friends or if he was the one driving. We don’t know if he was under the influence of any sort.”

During the vigil, a radio placed on a bench played music from the 2012 movie adaptation of Les Miserables.

Brown said the use of the movie’s soundtrack had two meanings.

“He loved that movie and he loved France,” she said. “He was obsessed with it.”

She said the soundtrack was also played because of a particular memory it brings to her mind.

“One of the last memories that me and three other friends of his had together is, we were in his car blasting music from Les Mis and one of our friends hated it and we were all just singing to him,” she said. “It was just one of the last memories we had together.”

During the vigil, the mourners walked around McCormack and after they returned to the area in front of the building, Andrew Cusick, a 2011 WKU graduate and former Sig Ep member, led the fraternity members in singing Alabama’s ‘Dixieland Delight’, which he said is their fraternal song.

When the singing was over, the mourners were invited to write messages on a posterboard that will be displayed at the funeral or on notecards that were then affixed to a small crucifix.

Brown said information about the funeral will be made available as soon as possible.

Louisville freshman and one of Beavin’s pledge brothers, Nick Vaetens, said he got to know Cory during their time in Sig Ep.

He said he thinks Beavin’s death has brought the fraternity closer together.

“We’re showing respect and love to a brother,” he said. “Not everybody in the house, not all the alumni knew him but we all come together. We take care of our own.”

Brown said Beavin’s death has been difficult for her and for Sig Ep. “We’re taking this very hard right now,” Brown said. “We’re all very solemn and very depressed but we’ve all stayed together today to just be there for each other.”

She said it was difficult to lose Beavin because “his life just began, his adult life in college. He didn’t even get to live not even a year of it.”

“We were all going to go out when he got back and, you know, be together and now we’re just here for each other instead of with him,” she said.

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Remembering a SigEp giant, Brother Mack Rankin

It has been a month since many of us gathered for the 2013 Conclave, yet the names of our members who had their last “roll call” during the Necrology are still with us in memory. Since then we have added to their numbers, with the latest SigEp, Brother B.M. “Mack” Rankin Jr., Texas-Austin ’50, passing into perpetuity.

A lifelong Texan, Mack grew up in Gladwater and attended the University of Texas at Austin where he joined our Texas Alpha Chapter in 1947.

After graduating, he served for four years in the U.S. Army as a First Lieutenant and was stationed in Germany during the implementation of the Marshall Plan. When Mack returned home, he began a highly successful career in the oil and precious metal industry.

Mack was a passionate advocate and activist. Indeed, it was his passion for life and cut-to-the-chase attitude that led to his many accomplishments. He wanted to get things done – and done in the right way. Mack invested substantial time in training the next generation of oil industry professionals and gave generously to the institutions he believed in. Among other projects, he sponsored endowments at the University of Texas for the head football coach and a professorship in the business school. He also partly funded the Longhorn Dining Hall, which bears his name, and led a successful fundraising campaign for the expansion of the Darrel K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

Mack also gave generously to SigEp, serving on the National Board of Directors and as a Life Trustee of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Educational Foundation. In 1981, we honored Mack with the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation.
Mack was someone who inspired others by his character and his service. Below are some of the words from the friends and brothers who knew him best.

“Mack Rankin was truly one of a kind. Those of us who had the privilege of working with him on local chapter issues, National Board issues and SigEp Foundation issues always knew where he stood and, most importantly, why. We turned to Mack for solid business advice that was so important to SigEp being a successful not-for-profit organization."
Gary Griffith, Texas-Austin ‘70 

“Mack was an inspiration to everyone that served on the National Board with him. He was a straight-talking, no-nonsense businessman who, under a seemingly gruff demeanor, clearly had a love for not only Texas Alpha, but for SigEp. He added a great deal of business sense to the board and insights to the undergrads and alumni alike. He also created some very amusing and memorable moments. He was, indeed, a special guy.”
Norm Nabhan, Purdue ’71 

“His style was direct, but caring; he was patient to a point, then demanded action. Some of his most effective moments expressed this, such as, ‘Brothers, please, I will speak with him. It will be corrected.’ We all knew there would be no negotiation. He was a really big Texan, an immensely proud Texas Alphan and a demanding brother. What a gift to us who knew him.” 
Ken Maddox, Oregon State ‘75

Thank you, Mack, for everything you taught us and did for our Fraternity. “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You will be missed.

Fraternally,

Rev. Ray Ackerman
National Chaplain

David K. Spyke - Ohio University

It is always a sad day when we lose a brother.

OHIO: Compass | University mourns:

David Spyke

Photo courtesy of: Ohio University Information Technology

Ohio University is mourning the loss of 20-year-old undergraduate student David K. Spyke in a skateboarding accident.

According to a report in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Spyke was skateboarding with friends in Anderson Township, southeast of Cincinnati, when he crashed and struck his head late in the afternoon of Sunday, May 12. He was airlifted to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he died at 2:45 a.m. Monday, May 13.

"We are deeply saddened by such a sudden loss," said Vice President for Student Affairs Ryan Lombardi. "David was an active member of our community and had a great love for Ohio University.  We express our condolences to David's family and his friends."

Spyke, of Anchorage, Alaska, had just completed his sophomore year in Ohio University’s College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in biological sciences. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

"David was one of my outstanding advisees," said Steve Reilly, professor of Biological Sciences. "He was a hardworking, organized and motivated student and had a bright future. This was a terrible loss. I know the Biological Sciences faculty and students are unanimous in sending our deepest sympathies to his family and friends."

At Ohio University, Spyke made the dean's list numerous times and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. He was a Gateway Excellence Scholarship recipient whose goal was to become a neurological science researcher.

"David was a great guy who was very open minded," said junior Sigma Phi Epsilon member Matt Lewis. "He was one of my best friends and everyone went to him for advice. He was brilliant."A memorial service was held on Saturday, May 18 at Hillel at Ohio University.

"We hosted a memorial gathering for David on Saturday and I was impressed by the incredible outpouring of love and support from his family and friends," said Rabbi Danielle Leshaw of Hillel at Ohio University. "His parents were appreciative of everyone who showed up and it was an honor for us to host the ceremony."

Students in need of support can call Counseling and Psychological Services anytime at 740-593-1616 to speak with a counselor.

Donations in Spyke's honor can be made to the Brain Injury Association of America, Ohio University Foundation or The Sierra Club.

The family will host a memorial gathering from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, May 20 in Lyndhurst, Ohio, at the home of David's uncle Ben Spyke.


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SigEp Student dies Friday of natural causes

The IL Nu Chapter (Eastern Illinois University) is in our thoughts and prayers today. A fine young man with what looked to be a great future has passed away without any warning or obvious reason. .
Student dies Friday of natural causes
By Samantha McDaniel and Tim Deters/Student Governance Editor and Managing Editor

Nick Allen

Eastern student Nick Allen was found dead Friday in the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, 2103 12th St.

Allen, who was a sophomore pre-business management major, was found at the foot of his bed and pronounced dead at 11:53 a.m. Friday, Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers said.

The cause of death has not been determined but was not suspicious, Schniers said.

Schniers said Allen had a history of epilepsy.

While it is unknown whether epilepsy was a contributing factor to Allen’s death, Schniers said it is the most likely cause of death at this time.

A toxicology report has been ordered and will take six to eight weeks to return results.

Allen was vice president of membership development for Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, vice president for public relations of the Interfraternity Council, a student senator and chairman of the University Enhancement Committee, and recently organized the annual Safety Walk to identify and address areas of safety concern on and off campus. Allen also served as Billy the Panther for the 2012-13 season.

Derek Collinsworth, the president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, was a close friend of Allen and said he had a strong, respectable character.

“He was a very hard-working individual and always put others before himself,” Collinsworth said.

The death of Allen has hit many Sig Eps hard, Collinsworth said, but the outpouring of support from the Greek and Eastern communities as a whole has been reassuring and comforting.

Student Senate Speaker Mitch Gurick said Allen was a strong voice across multiple organizations in the campus community.

Joseph Dray Crouch - 02/28/2013 - Chattanoogan.com

This young man was only in the TN Alpha chapter for a short time, but he was still a brother. When he passed away recently the current chapter members honored him with a notice on "The Rock" - an impromptu billboard used for years by students with something to say.

Crouch, Joseph Dray

UTK Student Graduated From McCallie In 2010

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Dray Crouch

Joseph Dray Crouch, 20 of Ooltewah, died on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at his home.  

He was born in Memphis, Tn., and graduated from McCallie in 2010. Dray was a Life Guard at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church for four years. He attended University of Tennessee at Knoxville and was a brother of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.  

Dray was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Joseph Eli Crouch and Dottie Metcalf.

Survivors include his parents, Sandy and Jill Crouch, Ooltewah; sister, Carrie Crouch, Ooltewah, maternal grandparents, Nelson and Sandra Fagan, Blairsville, Ga., and several other extended family members.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, in the funeral home chapel with Chaplain Joshua Deitrick and Parker Nicholson officiating. 

Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort and to view the memorial tribute.

The family will receive friends from 12-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.

Penn student dies weeks after apparent fall on campus

"While he was no longer affiliated with the chapter, he remained close with many of the undergraduate members. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends." -- Brian Warren Jr.

Penn student dies weeks after apparent fall on campus

With perfect SAT scores and on full scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, Thomas J. Hartford had a bright future and the brightest of outlooks.

"He lived life to the fullest," his father said.

But that life came to a tragic end on Wednesday after Hartford, 22, a senior from Stroudsburg, suffered a massive stroke following an apparent fall on campus nearly two weeks ago.

Hartford's body was found in a pool of blood on a concrete surface outside the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 10, said his father, Thomas W. Hartford. He had been in intensive care at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital.

His son, he said, had attended a gathering for potential new members at the fraternity house on the evening of Jan. 9. After the event ended, he remained at the house, socializing with a small group of friends, the father said. His son was last seen at 12:45 a.m.

Hartford suffered multiple skull and facial fractures, severe brain trauma, a broken wrist and optical nerve damage, he said.

The doctor told him the injuries were consistent with a fall from about 15 to 20 feet, he said. University of Pennsylvania detectives who investigated told him they believe Hartford either fell from the window or had been locked out and was climbing up to get in the window.

22 NIU frat members charged in freshman's hazing death

Quoting Michael Ellis from his Facebook post:

A young person's death is a tragedy in everyone's eyes. The vanquishing of the bright future of a young man, because of silly over-indulging in alcohol is saddening, dismaying, disheartening.

The letters on this young man's sweat shirt were not Sigma Phi Epsilon -- this time. But this tragedy happened to all fraternity members everywhere, regardless of campus, fraternity affiliation or year of graduation.

Please take the time to talk about this event, its root causes, and whatever we can do in our own chapters to ensure that our Brothers are informed and educated about the choices they make and that they press others to make. No one has to behave this way and by the time you're 18 - 22, you really need to know better and do better. *Let's all get better at making sure everyone understands that*.

22 NIU frat members charged in freshman's hazing death - chicagotribune.com

(Note: the video was removed becaus of an "autoplay" issue. It can still be found on the Chicago Tribune link abouve)

Hearing held for murder suspects, Northwest remembers fallen student with ceremony

This is an update to an earlier story about the death of SigEp Tomarkin Smith.

Hearing held for murder suspects, Northwest remember fallen student with ceremony - Northwest Missourian: Community

Northwest will remember the spirit of a fallen student with a bell ringing ceremony Dec. 14 at 10:30 a.m.

After a late-night altercation, Kevin D. Mooney, 31, and Tony M. Overlin, 23, of Bethany, Mo., were charged with second degree murder and felony assault in the death of Tomarken Smith Sept. 14.

A preliminary hearing for Mooney on Tuesday afternoon was attended by many Sigma Phi Epsilon members and included testimonies from Sgt. Rick Smail, Maryville Public Safety, witness Kenny Forrester, witness Matthew Reynolds and Sig Ep member Colby Branstine, a close friend of Smith. Smail testified that he did not see who started the altercation inside Molly’s between Overlin and Smith, but he did identify the men running from the scene outside to be Overlin and Mooney. Overlin was often referred to as “the man with tattoos” and was said to be the one whom Smith pushed down in the bar and who, according to Forrester and Reynolds, was the first to assault Smith outside. The defendant, Mooney, was identified by all witnesses, and according to Forrester and Reynolds, was the one who hit Smith to the ground.

The hearing was completed and is under advisement. Judge Corey Keith Herron will make the decision on whether the case will move to circuit court. No date was released for when this information will be available.

On the three-month anniversary of Smith’s passing, there will be a bell ringing ceremony. The bell ringing will be followed by the commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. in Bearcat Arena where Smith’s family will be accepting a posthumous degree on Smith’s behalf. This degree recognizes the achievement of students who have died and completed most of their curriculum.

Northwest President John Jasinski said he recognizes the whole community has been greatly impacted by Tomarken’s passing this fall, therefore, it is appropriate to honor his memory with next week’s bell ringing.

“He was deeply engaged in the University culture through his coursework, membership in his fraternity and as a student employee,” Jasinski said.

Sigma Phi Epsilon President Chase Adams said after everything his chapter and Tomarken’s family have been through with this tragedy, this is some of the best news they have received.

“Tomarken was a remarkably dedicated individual, and he really wanted to be the first person in his family to graduate from college,” Adams said. “Although T.O. is gone, his family can forever be proud of his accomplishments and hold in their possession what Tomarken was striving for: a college degree. I can’t wait to see the smile on his mother’s face. I know she is going to be so proud.”

Chico State suspends Greek activities after death

A senseless and tragic death shuts down the entire greek system
Chico State suspends Greek activities after death - San Jose Mercury News:

CHICO, Calif.—Chico State University suspended all Greek activities Thursday after the death of a student who drank too much alcohol while celebrating his 21st birthday.

Campus President Paul Zingg said fraternities and sororities will be barred from recruiting students or having social events until the spring semester. They also will have to cover or remove Greek letters from their houses during the suspension, according to the Chico Enterprise-Record ( http://bit.ly/XKiWDf).

Mason Sumnicht, a communication design major, was found unresponsive at an apartment last week after a night of drinking at downtown Chico bars with friends. The San Diego native was taken by ambulance to Enloe Medical Center and placed on life support after being treated for extreme alcohol poisoning.

Sumnicht died Thursday from an alcohol overdose, according to the Butte County coroner's office.

CSU officials would not comment on any fraternity affiliation for Sumnicht, but the campus newspaper, The Orion, reported that he was pledging the Sigma Pi fraternity this semester.

In addition to the young man's death, school officials said there have been other recent problems involving fraternities and sororities, including allegations of hazing, sexual assaults and drinking with potential new members.

Students don't get a "free pass" for allowing a brother to drink 21 shots on his 21st birthday and "pass out in his vomit,"

Asaid Zingg, speaking to a gathering of the Greek community in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium. Zingg said he had demanded changes from campus Greeks seven years ago when a student died during a fraternity hazing incident and there was a riot in downtown Chico. Things improved greatly, but the situation has deteriorated recently, he said.


"I don't think it's fair to generalize us all into the negative group," Courtney Wessel, a member of the sorority Sigma Omega Phi, told the Chico Enterprise-Record.
———
Information from: Chico Enterprise-Record, http://www.chicoer.com (More detail)

Northwest Missouri SigEp Dies After Assault

It is tragic when a young man loses his life. Especially so when he is attacked after defending his friends. Usually when we see a death it involves hazing, or gross overuse of alcohol. Regardless of what the article says, we see this as more than just "a simple fight with deadly consequences." This was an honorable young man who paid dearly for being honorable.

Student from Jennings at NW Missouri State dies after attack; two suspects charged : Stltoday

More details surface on death of Northwest student - Northwest Missourian: News

Tomarken Smith 

A Northwest student died last night after an altercation in front of Molly's Party Club early Friday morning.

Senior Tomarken Smith, 21, was pronounced dead as the result of an alleged assault at 2:21 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Hospital and Health Services. Smith was from St. Louis.

Senior Colby Morris, a friend of Smith’s who was with him at the club, said the altercation began when Smith tried to stop one of the accused men from dancing with one of Smith’s female friends. Maryville Public Safety reported the two accused waited for Smith outside of the bar.

"You guys lost a good kid," Keith Wood, director of Maryville Public Safety said. "It was a simple fight that had deadly consequences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as a student body."

Kevin D. Mooney has been charged with a class A felony murder in the second degree and a class A felony assault in the first degree. Tony M. Overlin has also been charged with a class A felony murder in the second degree and a class A felony assault in the first degree, according to the Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney's office. Bond is set at $100,000 for each defendant.

Smith was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. Sigma Phi Epsilon Chapter President Chase Adams said the chapter is deeply affected by the news.

"The Missouri Lambda Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is deeply saddened by the loss of our brother..." Adams said. "The chapter extends its heartfelt condolences to his family. This is a very tough time for all of us. Please offer your thoughts and prayers for family, friends, brothers and the campus community as we struggle to cope with this tragic loss.”

University President John Jasinski shares Sig Ep sympathies and wants people to remember Smith for who he was as an individual.

“We have to celebrate life here and celebrate Tomarken’s life,” Jasinski said. “He did all the things we would like Bearcats to do. Be engaged, be involved, be successful and be challenged. As I saw him, like many students, he wouldn’t let me walk by without saying ‘hello,’ but more importantly than that, if you talk to a variety of individuals on campus, throughout the Student Union when I was here earlier this morning, to a person he was always smiling, in a great mood and loved life.”

Starting the Year Off... Wrong!!

Fortunately neither of these involves SigEp directly, though there is a connection with the first incident:

Just this past weekend, a Purdue freshman fell to his death in an alcohol related incident.

BY ALLIE GOODRICH | Assistant Features Editor
A Purdue freshman died early Monday morning in Indianapolis after falling off of a fifth-floor balcony.
18-year-old Xavier Somerville, a Lawrence Central High School graduate, was a freshman in the undergraduate studies program.
According to a case report from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, Somerville was at The Avenue Apartments near IUPUI's campus early Monday morning when police arrived, responding to a noise complaint. Witnesses said there had been drinking in the apartment, and Somerville got scared when police showed up. He was trying to swing from the fifth floor balcony to the fourth floor, when he lost his grip and fell. He was taken to Wishard Hospital, but died from his injuries.
The news came as a shock to one particular group of students on campus. It was just a couple weeks ago that Somerville accepted a bid from Sigma Chi fraternity. Chapter president Mark Back said while brothers are mourning this loss, their main focus is supporting Somerville's friends and family.
"He was a guy who stood out to me as someone who would have been a great Sigma Chi," Back said. "Our main thing is we want to be there for support. We can't imagine what his parents and his family's going through right now."

According to Mike Ellis, a SigEp AVC member at Purdue:

This boy was a scholarship winner last weekend from SigEp's BMS.  His accident didn't happen at his selected Sigma Chi fraternity, nor thankfully at SigEp.  But it goes to show how young men can (esp 18-22 yrs old) can make such poor choices at times, especially when they are influenced by alcohol.

This is just another reminder of how tragic such poor judgement can be.

...And in another story from last week, another alcohol related death, this time at Theta Chi at Fresno State:

Florida A&M President Resigns in Wake of Scandal | NewsFeed | TIME.com

Members of the Florida A&M University band 
at a funeral for fellow band member Robert Champion, 
Nov. 30, 2011 in Decatur, Ga

Florida A&M President Resigns in Wake of Scandal | NewsFeed | TIME.com: "(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) — The president of Florida A&M University submitted his resignation Wednesday, the same day the university was sued by parents of a drum major who died during a hazing. It was unclear if the two events were related."

'via Blog this'

George Desdunes

Cornell fraternity pledges acquitted in high-profile hazing case

ITHACA -- Sixteen months after George Desdunes died of alcohol poisoning at a Cornell University fraternity, the three men accused of hazing in his death have been acquitted of all charges. The verdict by Judge Judith Rossiter on Tuesday afternoon comes more than four weeks after the bench trial ended in Tompkins County Court in May.

Max Haskin, Ben Mann and Edward "EJ" Williams -- the three former Cornell freshmen and pledges to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity -- were cleared of all criminal wrongdoing in a case that put a spotlight on binge drinking in college fraternity culture. Desdunes, 19, died the morning of Feb. 25, 2011, with a blood alcohol content of .35 percent, according to court documents.

The case centered on the mock-kidnapping of Desdunes and fellow fraternity member Greg Wiler as part of a tradition meant to foster a sense of brotherhood with the prospective fraternity members. The pair were taken to an off-campus townhouse and asked questions about fraternity lore, with wrong answers resulting in punishments ranging from exercise and singing show tunes to drinking cups of alcohol. Wiler testified that he was blindfolded and given candy and vodka but was never forced to do anything against his will during the approximately hour-long ritual.

SDSU FRATERNITY LEADER FOUND DEAD

SDSU FRATERNITY LEADER FOUND DEAD | UTSanDiego.com: (<-link to full article)
"SAN DIEGO — A San Diego State University fraternity leader was found dead in another fraternity house Friday morning, campus officials said.

Barzeen Barzanji, 20, of Santee was president of Sigma Alpha Epsilon campus fraternity and a junior criminal justice major, school spokeswoman Gina Jacobs said.

Someone at another on-campus fraternity house, Phi Kappa Theta, called 911 around 8:30 a.m. about a student found there unresponsive, Jacobs said.

Jacobs said campus police and the county Medical Examiner’s Office were called in to investigate.

The Medical Examiner’s Office said Barzanji was found dead in bed. The cause of death has not been determined pending an autopsy, but Jacobs said a preliminary investigation does not indicate foul play."

'via Blog this'

SigEp loses OGH John McClure

Friday, Apr 20 2012

Dear Brothers and Friends,

It is with a heavy heart that the California Theta Chapter at Sacramento State announces the passing of John D. McClure, Sacramento State Renaissance. Brother McClure served as a faculty advisor, chapter counselor and Alumni and Volunteer Corporation board member to the Sacramento State Chapter for nearly 50 years.

John promoted kindness, brotherhood, leadership and personal accountability to over 1,000 brothers whom he impacted greatly. As a recipient of the Order of the Golden Heart, Distinguished Alumnus, Man of the Year, and Order of Delta Phi Omega awards, Brother McClure was well regarded and recognized for his passion of SigEp brotherhood. He was fond of saying, "Think before you speak and ask yourself: Is it necessary, is it kind and is it true?” In addition to brotherhood, he was an expert in Napoleonic French era history and was always eager for a discussion on politics.

A celebration of John McClure's life will be held in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, May 19, 2012. You can read a remembrance of Brother McClure and leave comments.

For additional information, please contact me or Tim McCormick.

Fraternally,

James Amen, Sacramento State ‘96
District Governor, District 25, California 

One Dead in Accident at Yale Bowl

Brian Warren, of Richmond, Virginia, National Executive Director of Sigma
Phi Epsilon in New Haven Sunday morning at the Yale University Sigma Phi
Epsilon Connecticut Delta Chapter fraternity house on High Street.

By Ann DeMatteo
Peter Hvizdak / Register


NEW HAVEN — The mood at the Sigma Phi Epsilon house at Yale Unversity is of “shock and concern” following an accident at Yale Bowl yesterday that killed a woman and injured two others, a national fraternity official who flew in from Colorado said Sunday.

Sources have said it was a fraternity member who drove the U-Haul box truck into three women, killing one and injuring two in a parking lot where there was lots of tailgating going on before the Yale-Harvard game. The box truck was full of beer kegs, allegedly headed for the fraternity’s tailgating section.

Brian Warren, executive director of the national fraternity of which the Yale chapter is a part, would not confirm Sunday that a fraternity member was the one who drove the U-Haul into Lot D, as Warren said he is waiting for the police report.

But, he did say brothers were in the vehicle.

Warren had been at a national meeting in Colorado on Saturday and flew to New Haven as soon as he was informed of the tragedy.

Police have identified the driver of the truck as Brendan Ross, whose address they list as 31 High St., the address of the chapter house for SigEp. Ross was sober and no criminal charges have been filed, pending the outcome of an investigation by the city police department’s accident reconstruction team, police said.

There was an “inexplicable acceleration of the vehicle,” Warren said Sunday, referring to Saturday’s tragedy.

“As you can imagine, the fact that there was a death has really shaken people up,” Warren said.

“Everyone is thinking and praying for the families of the victims...One of the purposes of coming here was to support (the members) and assist in the investigations and be here if they wanted to talk to me.”

Nancy Barry, 30, of Salem, Mass., was killed when the U-Haul ran over her. A Yale School of Management student Sarah Short, was seriously injured and is in Yale-New Haven Hospital with broken bones. A Harvard University employee who was at the Bowl, Elizabeth Derbach, was treated at the Hospital of St. Raphael and released.

The Yale chapter of SigEp, known as Connecticut Delta, was founded about a decade ago. It is one of 241 chapters across the country. The Connecticut Epsilon chapter is at Quinnipiac University.

The chapter has about 100 members and Warren said he was meeting with them in small groups. About a dozen live in the chapter house at 31 High St.

He said he was fitting in the meetings around the schedule of the brothers, who are going home for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Besides SigEp, Sigma Nu and Sigma Alpha Epsilon have houses next to each other on the street. Students coming in and out of the houses, as well as students walking along High Street, declined comment on the tragedy Sunday.

According to Warren, fraternity brothers have had access to the university’s Health Department in order to seek counsel or advice.

The fraternity’s purpose is to “build balanced men” and to assist them in the transition from high school to college through “co-curricular opportunities,” and to make successful undergraduates and graduates, Warren said.

He said the Yale chapter is an “incredible chapter filled with incredible men.”

“They’re still shocked,” he said.