IIT Greek Found Dead in Storage Room

Student missing 8 days is found dead in
Illinois Institute of Technology fraternity house
Benjamin Collen died of asphyxia due to inhalation of carbon dioxide
By Emily S. Achenbaum and Mary Owen, Tribune reporters

An Illinois Institute of Technology student missing for eight days was found dead inside a storage room in his fraternity house on campus, but it was unclear Sunday how the 19-year-old's body went unnoticed for so long.

Benjamin Collen, a sophomore biomedical engineering major from Lincolnwood, died of asphyxia due to inhalation of carbon dioxide from a canister, the Cook County medical examiner's office said Sunday. His death was ruled an accident.

A fraternity brother found Collen in the Alpha Sigma Phi house in the 3300 block of South Wabash Avenue on the South Side. Police, fraternity and university officials would not comment on whether the house had been searched since Collen was reported missing Nov. 14.

His parents had made televised appeals for his return or for anyone with information about him to come forward. Family members declined to comment Sunday.

Jeff Bierig, a spokesman for IIT, said the university posted signs on campus and e-mailed all students about Collen's disappearance.

Chicago police said Sunday they are not investigating since no wrongdoing is evident. They declined to comment further except to say that officers responded about 6 p.m. Saturday. A fraternity spokesman said a member called 911.

Collen had belonged to the fraternity since his freshman year and had lived in the fraternity house. More recently, he had been living at IIT's McCormick Student Village, a few blocks away.

Joseph Booker, 20, and a junior at DePaul University, said Collen was a friend and told him a few weeks ago that he had gotten kicked out of the fraternity house.

Owen McCulloch, president of the national Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, said he was unsure why Collen no longer lived in the house. He said he also did not know whether the IIT chapter was in good-standing because the national organization's registrar was unavailable Sunday.

About 25 members live in the unassuming brick fraternity house that is the last on a street of Greek houses. A campus security guard ordered a Tribune reporter attempting to speak to fraternity members off the campus.

Booker, who graduated from Niles West High School in 2007 with Collen, said he was not aware that his friend was inhaling carbon dioxide. He said Collen was a bright student who played on the chess team and won science awards in high school. He said he was an occasional prankster who enjoyed a good debate.

"We thought he was going to do something epic with his life," Booker said.

At IIT, Collen was an ROTC cadet, as were many of his fraternity brothers.

Inhaling carbon dioxide to get high is a less common form of "huffing," which involves household chemicals such as glue, paint, aerosol and fuel.

On Sunday, the "Benjamin Collen is missing" Facebook page had almost 3,500 members who had messages after news of his death was posted.

Some comments: "wow this is unbelievable. if it werent for ben, i wouldnt have passed math in high school," and "Rest in Peace Ben! You will always be with us in that courtyard smoking and laughing and being so you."

Tribune reporter Dan P. Blake contributed to this report.

19-year-old Student killed on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Paul Fortini, a 19-year-old CAS sophomore from Doxbury, Mass., was killed in Brooklyn late Friday after a night out with friends. He was hit by two cars while he walked along the side of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Williamsburg, according to his parents and published reports. But yesterday, as his friends mourned and remembered his life, they mostly recalled a selfless, dedicated friend, who checked in on them nightly and was there when they were lonely, or in trouble, or just needed to talk.
[...]
Fortinis parents, Kathy and Kew Fortini, flew to New York from Boston after learning that their son was missing. Members of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon, spent much of Friday evening and early Saturday morning searching for him before learning he had been killed.
[...]
Fortini joined the fraternity last spring, where he quickly became a model member.

It was guys like Paul that reminded you why you joined the frat, said Josh Terrill, the Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter adviser, who graduated in May.

Sigma Phi Epsilon president and Steinhardt senior Eric Lum said Fortini embodied the fraternitys philosophy.

We usually refer to that prototypical, all-around great guy as a stud, he said. Paul was definitely a stud.

But most of all, he was remembered as a man of many friends.

Jewish And Breaking News: 19-year-old Student killed on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway in Williamsburg Brooklyn remembered by friends

Students remember friend, brother

Jesse Mounce, a brother from the chapter at Eastern Illinois University, was found dead on Friday. His passing leaves a missing piece in the lives of his family, friends, and fratenity brothers.

Jesse A. Mounce (left), seen here with his sister Stephanie was a 20-year-old public relations major. (Submitted Photo)

Friends insist that Mounce is irreplaceable. Over the last few days, they've detailed memories to each other that prove this.

Mounce could light up a face with a smile. He was the go-to guy when a smile was needed. He was quick to poke fun at his friends, the life of the party and a persuasive referee when it came to the slip-and-slide at parties.
[...]
Mounce was a sophomore communication studies major studying public relations. He was also a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon.

His friends and fraternity brothers will never forget him.

Stephen Johnson, Mounce's roommate and fellow Sig Ep, will remember the hours he spent with his roommates talking about everything and nothing.

"Jesse's quick wit and nonchalant attitude made for some interesting conversations," he said in an e-mail. "He genuinely cared about his roommates and his friends and would do anything that he could to help us out."

More than 200 people crowded the Wesley United Methodist Church Friday night to share memories, laughs, songs and tears.

His brothers remember him:

Other memories:
"He was one of the most loyal people I have ever met. It didn't matter if you had known him for two days or for two years, if he considered you a friend, he would have your back no matter what the circumstances were."

-Stephen Johnson, member of Sigma Phi Epsilon

"Jesse was a good friend of mine. He was one of the hardest workers that I have ever met. There was never a time when he would not go out of his way to help someone, someone could ask him to do something and without hesitation he would do everything in his power to help that person. Jesse was a true friend and a great brother, he is going to be truly missed. There wasn't a member of our house who didn't love him. Jesse was a very genuine person, with a heart too big to measure. He affected everyone he met in a good way and the house won't be the same with out him around. Love you brother."

-Kyle Valentine, President of Sigma Phi Epsilon

"Today we the men of Sigma Phi Epsilon mourn the passing of a true friend, a man of indescribable honor and integrity. Though we shed tears at the end of his days, it is the remembrance of his life that helps see us through this hardship. We remember every laugh, every joke, every waking moment filled with happiness because of his presence. It is in this time that we remember him for what he really was, our beloved brother. The ties of our brotherhood extend past this world onward, and it is in this belief that we are comforted in the knowledge that we can never truly be apart from him. Today I still see his face, always with a smile, as he says, 'Hey bro.' Today I can still hear his voice and his laughter as we joke around in chapter. Today and forever I will always remember Jesse Mounce for what he was to me: my colleague, my friend, and most importantly my brother. Jesse I love you, and I miss you dearly."

-Levi Bulgar, member of Sigma Phi Epsilon

Jesse was one of my best friends and had a way about him that always made people smile. He left us way too early and everyone who knew him is going to feel the hurt of losing him, but I hope they remember the great times that were shared because of him.

-Lawrence Digiulio, member of Sigma Phi Epsilon

Note: A YouTube video tribute to Jesse has been created by Christopher Thielk of EIU. Click Here to watch it.

Students remember friend, brother - News

Fraternity Brothers Remember Student Killed in Car Crash

(UPDATE 2: Obituary from the Jackson, TN "Sun"
(UPDATE: The UT "Daily Beacon" has another story that emphasizes the Fraternity aspect.")

Tennessee Alpha mourns a tragic death. Any time something like this happens it is terrible. The loss is worse when it is from your own chapter. The fact that this death was alcohol related, and thus avoidable, makes the loss that much worse.

Knoxville (WVLT) -- Students at the University of Tennessee are still getting word that one of their fellow classmates has died.

Adam Carter, 21, died Saturday morning after a single car crash.
[...]
Adam Carter was a senior at U.T. and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

The brothers there are trying to cope with the shocking news tonight.

A black banner with Adam Carter's initials hangs over the greek letters at the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity house, a traditional sign of mourning.

"Everybody takes this loss really hard," said Ryan Hollis, chapter president.
[...]
Knox County Sheriff's officials say Carter lost control of his ford explorer [...] and hit a tree.

He died at the scene.
[...]
Adam was the first friend Jonathan Burlison met when he came to U.T. four years ago.

"It's gonna be tough, but as a brotherhood and a chapter, everything's going to be okay," said Burlison.
[...]
Police say alcohol and speed were a factor in the crash.

They also say Adam Carter was driving on a restricted license.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Adam's family, the chapter members, and the volunteers who regularly interact with the chapter. No one should have to deal with such a loss.

WVLT - Home Knoxville, Tennessee - Breaking News, News, Weather, Sports and Traffic from VolunteerTV.com.

Letter from VA Tech Chapter President

We received this email from Chandler Givens, Chapter President of VA Kappa. He asked that we pass it along. We are glad to do it.

...I have received a myriad of emails/calls from brothers all over the country, if you would like to post the e-mail which I have sent to all chapters, I would like them to know that we appreciate it.

Chandler

---

-----Original Message-----
From: Chandler Givens
Sent: Mon 4/16/2007 7:29 PM
To: Kaminski, Bryan
Cc:
Subject: Letter to send to nationals for all chapters to read

Today Virginia Tech experienced an unimaginable tragedy of scale never before seen in the United States.

Over the past 24 hours the VA Kappa chapter has received a vast array of e-mails and phone calls from Sig Ep chapters around the country expressing their concern. I would like to personally thank all of you who have gone out of your way to show your chapters support, it means a lot to us to know that brothers whom we never even met have a sincere concern for their counter-parts miles away in Blacksburg.

We are working closely with nationals and internally to try to help begin to cope with the tragic loss of our fellow students here at Virginia Tech. As of 6:30PM today (4/16) all members of VA Kappa chapter have been accounted for. We are extremely fortunate that none have been directly afflicted, however; the scope of the damage done today is far-reaching, and it will be a long while before things return to normal.

We hope to come together as a brotherhood and begin to heal and move forward in a positive direction. Updates may be found on our website:http://www.SigEpVT.org. The hearts and prayers of the VA Kappa chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon go out to all who were affected today by these senseless acts of violence.

Thank you again for all of your support,

Chandler Givens
President
VA Kappa Chapter
Sigma Phi Epsilon

HQ Statement on the events at VA Tech.

Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity Zollinger House, Richmond, Virginia April 16, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Christopher T. Minnis, Director of Operations Phone: 804-353-1901, ext. 315 FAX: 804-359-8160

SigEp UPDATE

Richmond, Virginia… Sigma Phi Epsilon mourns the unimaginable loss of life at Virginia Tech Monday morning. Thankfully, all the men of the Virginia Kappa Chapter are accounted for and safe. Chapter members are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support shown by members across the country. Chapter leadership is working swiftly to provide support and guidance to chapter members as they cope with this terrible tragedy. Chapter President Chandler Givens posted the following to the chapter web site at [www.sigepvt.org]:

Over the past couple of hours I have received numerous e-mails and phone calls regarding the status of the Virginia Kappa brotherhood here at Virginia Tech. There has been a tremendous outpouring of support, and I would like to personally thank all those whom have taken the time to express their concern for our brothers during this time of tragedy...We are gathering those of the chapter who wish to mourn together tonight at our chapter house, and we plan on meeting tomorrow and attending the memorial service, together as one...As of now, I have heard of no brother directly involved in the incident. The hearts and prayers of the Virginia Kappa chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon go out to those who have suffered today in the midst of this senseless act of violence.

Brother Givens went on to post later this evening that all members have been accounted for and are safe.

Regional Director Bryan Kaminski is now on-site to support the chapter during this difficult time. The Headquarters staff is working to refer those seeking help to the appropriate professional counseling services. The chapter anticipates participating in a university-wide gathering on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.