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Hazing claimed in death
From the doorway of the Sigma Nu fraternity house, people watch as members of Michael Starks family remove his vehicle from the parking lot of the home on Saturday. (Meegan M. Reid/Herald Journal)
Published:
Sunday, November 23, 2008 2:55 AM CST
The brother of a Utah State University freshman who died from apparent alcohol poisoning claims Michael Starks was the victim of fraternity hazing.

by Herald Journal staff

In a statement made to The Herald Journal outside the Sigma Nu house in Logan on Saturday, George Starks said his 18-year-old brother was “captured” as part of a fraternity initiation ritual, then forced to drink a fifth of vodka in one hour.

Logan police did not respond to phone calls Saturday made in an effort to confirm whether an official accusation has been made or if any charges have been filed in the case. Police have not confirmed the cause of death, but did say Friday that alcohol was involved in the situation.

Starks was in the process of becoming a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, according to the university. He had reportedly been drinking at an off-campus house before returning to the fraternity. Members of the house called 911 at about 4 a.m. Friday when Starks was found unresponsive. He was later pronounced dead at Logan Regional Hospital.

Starks’ family requested a USU police officer stand by Saturday when they visited a university dorm and the Sigma Nu house, 765 N. 800 East in Logan, to collect Michael’s personal belongings.

Tensions got high at the fraternity house during the visit.

“The family asked for him (the officer) to come and keep the peace while they retrieved some of his belongings. He was just there protecting everyone’s interests,” USU Sgt. Joe Huish said. “Nobody got crazy or out-of-hand, but there were some heated things said.”

Although Starks lived in Mountain View Towers, his vehicle was at the Sigma Nu house. A locksmith was also on the scene Saturday to help the family gain entry into his vehicle.

Huish said officers helped family members collect Starks’ belongings at Mountain View Towers.

“As you can imagine, the family’s really distraught,” he said. “The family, right now, is kind of of the belief that they’re not getting all the information.”

On Friday, the family issued a statement saying Starks did not have a history of drinking or abusing drugs.

In an obituary posted to the Starks Funeral Parlor’s Web site Saturday, Michael Starks is remembered for his “kindness and love.” He worked at the Friendship Manor Retirement Home for three years and served homeless people through the Cathedral of the Madeleine’s Good Samaritan Program.

“His kindness and love shined in each of the innumerable ways he connected with family, friends, and strangers every day of the 18 years the world was lucky enough to have him,” the obit reads.

Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc. Executive Director Brad Beacham said the fraternity has temporarily suspended all activities at the USU chapter — a standard measure that will remain in place until the investigation moves forward.

University personnel met with the entire Greek community Friday and school counselors have met with Sigma Nu fraternity members, USU officials said during a press conference Friday afternoon.

A vigil service will be held at the Cathedral of the Madeleine in Salt Lake City at 7 p.m. Monday. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, also at the Cathedral of the Madeleine.

‘An alarming tragedy’
Utah State University’s Gary Chambers, Vice President, Student Services, responds to questions about the death of a student during a press conference with Tiffany Evans, left, Director, Student Services, Friday, November 21, 2008. Police responded to a fraternity home where Michael Starks, a fraternity member candidate, was found unresponsive and later pronounced dead. (Alan Murray/Herald Journal)
By Matthew K. Jensen
Published:
Saturday, November 22, 2008 1:10 AM CST
An 18-year-old Utah State University student was found unresponsive at the Sigma Nu fraternity home early Friday morning and pronounced dead minutes later at Logan Regional Hospital, police say.

USU spokeswoman Tiffany Evans said Michael Starks of Salt Lake City was attending the university as a freshman and going through initiation proceedings to become a formal member of the fraternity’s Epsilon Upsilon chapter at USU. He lived in Mountain View Towers at USU.

University officials and police say alcohol was likely a factor in Starks’ death but caution that the official cause will come only after a complete medical evaluation.

Police are still investigating the incident.

“This is an alarming tragedy and our first thoughts are with the family,” she said. “We’re in the early stages of reviewing the incidents surrounding the student’s death.”

USU Vice President of Student Services Gary Chambers said the first order of business is to console the victim’s family, friends and fellow students.

“It’s not a time to affix blame or point fingers at what may or may not happen, but a time when you need to get your arms around people and help them through this tragic time,” he said during a press conference Friday afternoon.

Logan police reports indicate a 911 call was placed from inside the Sigma Nu residence at 3:55 a.m. by an unknown complainant who said Starks was not breathing. When emergency medical technicians arrived, they learned CPR had been performed by an individual at the scene.

Starks was transported to Logan Regional Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

Police say prior to his death, Starks spent time at a home near 200 North and 200 West. Police have not indicated what took place at the residence. When Starks returned to the Sigma Nu home, friends helped him inside where he fell asleep and was later found to be unresponsive.

KSL-TV reported Friday Starks’ family confirmed he died of alcohol poisoning and also that he was taking part in an initiation.

A family statement reads that Starks had “no prior history of drinking or substance abuse, and the randomness of this tragedy haunts us all.”

“Michael was an outstanding young man who blessed us with 18 years of compassion, love and joy,” the statement reads. “He served many hours of volunteerism and reached out to many people in need. His absence from our family is a devastating loss.”

Starks graduated from Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City and was a general studies student at USU.

Chambers and Evans said Friday Starks’ death is the first of its kind at USU.

“Our frequency of these kinds of problems is very, very small,” said Chambers. “But we do disseminate a lot of information to students pertaining to being wise and being safe in many of their dealings, whether it be alcohol or other areas.”

Chambers said Sigma Nu policy mandates complete abstention from alcohol during the week of initiation and all activities related thereto.

“And of course the university has strong anti-hazing regulations,” added Evans. “We have a zero-tolerance policy and we’re continuously working with our students to make sure they’re safe.”

Sigma Nu Fraternity Inc. Executive Director Brad Beacham said the fraternity has temporarily suspended all activities at the USU chapter — a standard measure that will remain in place until the investigation moves forward.

University personnel met with the entire Greek community Friday and school counselors have met with Sigma Nu fraternity members.

The response from Starks’ professors was one of very great sorrow, Chambers said.

“This was a young man who apparently was known well in his classes. The professors we talked to all knew him and they were very saddened by this event that has taken place,” he said. “That speaks highly toward this young man where in many cases, a professor may not know everyone in a freshman class. But in his case they all knew him.”

Fraternity members and friends gathered at the Sigma Nu home Friday evening to honor Starks’ life.

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