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2004 Hazing chapter now has alcohol-related death — Kevin McDonald: University of Washington’s Alpha Sigma Phi

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SEATTLE – A University of Washington student died after falling from a window at his fraternity house over the weekend.

Emergency crews were called early Saturday morning after 21-year-old Kevin MacDonald of Kent fell head-first into the concrete ground from a third-floor window of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house. He died later that evening.

Police say people reported that MacDonald had been drinking the night before. UW and Seattle police are investigating and an autopsy is pending.

In 2004, the UW suspended Alpha Sigma Phi’s recognition after two students complained about taunting and hazing at the fraternity. The UW has since restored the fraternity’s status.

By Hank Nuwer

Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division.

He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Fairbanks, Alaska. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com

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