Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

Here is the link to the story

Salt Lake Tribune: a very important, rarely precedented

development.

Logan » Utah State University is not immune from civil liability in the hazing death of fraternity pledge Michael Starks, 1st District Judge Clint S. Judkins ruled Thursday.

An 18-year-old freshman from Salt Lake City, Starks died of alcohol poisoning after a Rush Week activity Nov. 20, 2008. More than a dozen Sigma Nu fraternity and Chi Omega sorority members were prosecuted for related misdemeanors.

Michael’s parents, George and Jane Starks, have settled civil claims against the Greek chapters’ national organizations, but they filed a lawsuit against the university alleging officials should have exercised better control over Greek life, ignored years of bad behavior among Sigma Nu members and owed a duty to students to warn them of the dangers of Greek life.

“Information is power,” George Starks said. “There is a world full of parents who need to know what is happening. We want to bring it into the light and illuminate it.”

Reed Stringham of the Utah Attorney General’s Office asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Utah law shields the university from civil damages because the Starkses are alleging their son died as a result of “a negligent misrepresentation.” This is a circumstance where case law specifically allows governmental immunity, he wrote in court filings.

The Starkses’ lawyer, Charles Thronson of Salt Lake City, said USU officials have denied any responsibilityfor Michael Starks’ fate. Yet, the Sigma Nu chapter at USU had a long history of activities that required law enforcement intervention, he alleged. Police records indicate the presence of alcohol, drugs and explosives, as well as episodes of arson, assault, alcohol-induced suicide, disorderly conduct and more.

“The university knew of these activities — or should have known — and remained silent,” he said. “There was nothing but absolute silence.”

After hearing arguments, Judkins rejected the state’s immunity claim, allowing the lawsuit to move forward. USU general counsel Craig Simper declined to comment.

A student originally from France died at a birthday party. First reports indicate no mention of hazing.

Man found dead at CMU fraternity house
Monday, March 08, 2010
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A 20-year-old man was found dead in a Carnegie Mellon University fraternity house Sunday afternoon, according to a statement from the school.

Matthew Tembo, 20, was a student at University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and was at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house on Morewood Avenue for a birthday celebration, Pittsburgh police Detective Christine Williams said. An autopsy had not yet been performed late Sunday, and there was no cause of death.

Foul play is not suspected, the university statement said.

The Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s office said that Mr. Tembo is from France, though no city was provided.

He was a student at Carnegie Mellon during the 2007-08 year, according to the CMU statement.

The university is contacting his family and friends.

CMU is offering support to students from its Counseling and Psychological Services.

Congrats to Florida State. Kudos and applause to ZTA for sponsoring.

http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/86682032.html

Moderator — The WISH-TV investigative story on a 1998 hazing case at Carmel High School shows that the school was not required to release its settlement payment to a swimmer who alleged that three other swimmers harassed, bullied and sexually assaulted him when he was a first-year swimmer. Clearly, taxpayers in Carmel have a right to that PAYMENT information PAID WITH CARMEL TAX DOLLARS — as a similar hazing case at Poway High School demonstrated was right and necesary to reveal so far as the amount was concerned. I hope Indianapolis stations or the Indianapolis Star newspaper can get those records.

The video follows from WISH-TV

http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/hamilton_county/past-carmel-suit-details-alleged-abuse

Here is a similar case in Michigan and background on that Poway High School case which was investigated by the San Diego Tribune. The Tribune  filed a FOIA request and obtained the amount.

Hank Nuwer: Hazing Deaths Clearinghouse, Unofficial

Story link

Excerpt:

As part of Lehigh’s celebration of Black History Month, Kimbrough delivered a speech titled “Dilemma: The History of Fraternalism in America.”

Kimbrough is the president of Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., as well as an active member of the Association of Fraternity Advisors.

He addressed past and recent developments in fraternal culture in the United States.

“Fraternities were created to fill an emotional and social vacancy on college campuses,” Kimbrough said.

The original focus of fraternal organizations was on five main concepts.

“The founders of all the organizations that existed early on created ‘the blueprint,'” Kimbrough said.

He described the blueprint as the “five basic ritualistic precepts of Greek life,” character, scholarship, fellowship, service and religion.

He then addressed the relatively recent digression of “the blueprint,” or what he calls “the blueprint two.”

“After 1930, we created the blueprint two; we have a lot of good things going on, but we have this curse to deal with as well, and that curse is hazing,” Kimbrough said.

Due to hazing he said, a new version of the original blueprint has developed, he said.

“Furthermore, hazing is one of the main reasons the values of fraternities are incongruent with their actions,” Kimbrough said.

“Our rhetoric still does not match our reality. We say one thing and do something else,” he continued.