Here is the story link. Just came across this. 42 deaths in three weeks?
Author: 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. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com
Here is the link to the KDVR story
Excerpt:
WELD COUNTY, Colo. — The college student convicted of providing alcohol to a minor who died after jumping off a second story balcony was sentenced to two years probation Tuesday.
Kyle Riley’s conviction was based on the death of Ross Higuchi, 18, a University of Northern Colorado freshman. Higuchi died after he jumped off a second-story balcony at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house during a post-initiation party on April 16.
Higuchi jumped following a heated debate with fraternity members about damage to a door, which those fraternity members said Higuchi would have to pay for.
Higuchi’s blood-alcohol content level at the time of his death was .286. Riley, 22, admitted to providing Higuchi with the alcohol, which a prosecutor argued to Weld County judge Michele Meyer should be a “mitigating factor” in Riley’s sentence.
That sentence could have been as severe as 18 months in jail.
Riley, who was sentenced to 200 hours of community service in addition to two years probation, was remorseful and succinct at the sentencing.
“I’d like to apologize to the Higuchi family,” he said. “I broke the law. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Higuchi’s mother, Janile Higuchi, was emotional as she spoke about the death of her son, saying her daughter is still so upset “it’s like I lost two children,” and that her husband “often wakes up screaming Ross’ name.”
Speaking directly to Riley, Janile thanked him for going to police and said “I do not want you to go to jail because it wouldn’t solve anything.”
Instead, Janile said, she hoped Riley would spread this story to local high school students.
“Every year we hear of preventable tragedies,” Janile said. “This was preventable.”
Link to the full Times-Standard story
Excerpt:
An investigation into the incident and other violations of student and athletic codes of conduct began after school officials received a phone call on Aug. 6 indicating that a number of players on the men’s soccer team had been involved in hazing and underage drinking at an off-campus party.
At a press conference Tuesday, Vice President of Student Affairs Peg Blake said alcohol was believed to have played a large role in the alleged hazing.
Blake said more than 20 players attended the party, all of whom engaged in hazing activities “designed to humiliate and degrade players” and heavy drinking. Although she would not provide specifics, Blake went on to say that the lives of two student athletes were put in serious jeopardy. Neither received medical treatment.
The Clarion-Ledger disputes what school officials say happened at the beginning of school.
Excerpt: Photographs of bruised backsides of what appear to be Madison Central High School students contradict comments from school officials that recent alleged hazing incidents among students did not involve physical violence.
A number of photos posted on an Internet picture-sharing site, Instagram, are appended with captions that allude to MCHS and initiation activities, possibly involving paddling.
One photo of a purple and blue backside includes the caption, “We have been welcome to Madison central.”
Moderator: Once again, a high school principal refuses to shed any light on the hazing. Link to Evansville Courier and Press story on Memorial High School cheerleader incident.