Another student dead

[janette]

This is so scary for me. My DD's are still young but this is just a parents nightmare. I had a conversation with my sisters recently about the legalization of marijuana, one of the reasons I stated is that at least we never hear of someone dying of an overdose of pot. I'd rather my kids smoke a joint than binge drink

Oklahoma student found dead at fraternity

The third death in less than a month at a fraternity house
Friday, October 1, 2004 Posted: 4:14 PM EDT (2014 GMT)

NORMAN, Oklahoma (AP) -- The body of a 19-year-old student was found inside a fraternity house, and the university's president said drinking may have played a role in his death.

Blake Adam Hammontree was found at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday in an upstairs living area at the Sigma Chi fraternity house near the campus of the University of Oklahoma, said police spokeswoman Jennifer Newell.

Hammontree, a freshman, was a Sigma Chi pledge who apparently was at the house for a fraternity function Wednesday night. The state medical examiner's office was working to determine the cause of death, she said.

University president David Boren immediately shut down the fraternity's operations on campus and said he would close the house for the rest of the academic year within two weeks.

"It is my duty as president to reaffirm clearly ... that underage drinking and the violation of the university's rules and policies regarding the use of alcohol will not be tolerated," Boren said.

It was the third death in less than a month at a fraternity house.

About two weeks ago, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr., 18, was found dead at the Chi Psi fraternity house at the University of Colorado following a party with fraternity brothers where wine, whiskey and beer were consumed. Investigators have not released a cause of death.

Also last month, Samantha Spady, 19, died at a Colorado State University fraternity house with a blood-alcohol level of 0.436 percent.

 

[Pin Wizard]

 

[SoonerKate]

Usually, I'll defend the greek system. And I will say it again here -- this could have happened in a dorm, in an apartment, anywhere. That it happened at a fraternity house isn't really the issue. Part of the reason these things tend to happen at fraternity houses is just the availabilty of alcohol to everyone. While most houses are responsible (and dry housing is thankfully becoming a trend), some aren't, and that's when bad things happen.

That said -- I'm in my 5th year at OU. I've had plenty of experience with Sigma Chi, and I know that while, for the most part, they're upstanding good guys, they've definitely had some issues. President Boren has been trying to get rid of them for quite a while now; there've been hazing issues and all sorts of things going wrong for the past few years. Unfortunately, hazing law in Oklahoma is not anywhere near as clearly defined as it should be. While forced behavior is illegal, coerced behavior is not, which leaves a lot of room for a "boys will be boys" defense.

The entire university, especially the Greek system, is shocked -- Thursday afternoon, everyone on campus looked like zombies as the news spread. Hopefully, it's something that doesn't have to happen again before people start acting responsibly.

 

[nativetxn]

This is just so very sad

 

[Disney Doll]

You know, it is very sad, and I certainly feel for the family of this boy.

I wonder why it is the University's fault that this kid drank himself to death? Did a rep from the university hold him down and pour liquor down his throat?

 

[janette]

I can't see that anyone is blaming the University.

What bothers me about it happening in a frat house is that usually means there were people around while he lay dying. He was there for a function the night before. Apparently it must not be that unusual for someone to be passed out there or maybe someone would have gotten him some help.

 

[MelessaG]

I'm a lifelong Norman, OK resident and an alumni of both the University and the Greek system. I'm sorry for the Sigma Chi fraternity, but happy President Boren took such immediate and decisive action. Perhaps this will help more fraternities to step up to the plate when it comes to enforcing their alcohol and anti-hazing policies. My sorority house was dry when I lived there and had been for years. Underage drinking was monitored more closely at our parties and functions than it was at The Mont, Brothers, or any of the other campus watering holes we liked to frequent. We really hated all the rules at the time, and I remember being shocked at how wild things got on the rare occasion I went to a frat party or function. They sure weren't worried about underage drinking there. I have to admit while this is tragic, it isn't a huge shock to me. They are lucky it doesn't happen more often. We sorority girls went in an cleaned things up in our houses and our bylaws years ago, it's high time our fraternity borthers joined us. If they want to continue to exist on campus, they have to. I hope they do...and my thoughts and prayers go out to this young man's family. I'm sure this will be in our local paper for a long time to come.

 

[SoonerKate]

Janette, sadly, it's not uncommon for people to be passed out in the Sigma Chi house.

Sigma Chi was so proud of their "renegade" status on campus that they actually had shirts made last spring promoting the number of semesters they'd been on social probation in the last 20 years. I can't remember the exact number, but it was a LOT.


(Melessa, what sorority are you a member of? Did you go to OU?)