Hank Nuwer, Author; Hazing Deaths Database

My sincere condolences to the families and friends and classmates of both young men–Hank Nuwer
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/548240.html

Cal Poly officials said Wednesday the fraternity that freshman Carson Starkey was pledging when he died was on probation for six months earlier this year because police had to be called to a noisy party.

Starkey, 18, was found unresponsive at 6:24 a.m. Tuesday by students in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity who were living in a private home in San Luis Obispo near the campus, according to police.

The student from Austin, Texas, was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where he died. Authorities are investigating what role alcohol might have played in Starkey’s death. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

* See a video of messages left on Carson Starkey’s Facebook page

Stephan Lamb, the associate director of Cal Poly’s Student Life and Leadership, said Wednesday that Sigma Alpha Epsilon was put on probation by the university from January through June.

Lamb said the fraternity held a party last year that resulted in a noise violation and police report.

The details of that report led Cal Poly to place the organization on probation, which restricted members to chapter meetings and forbade social gatherings. The group was held to a set of rules, including a strict agreement that no underage possession of alcohol be allowed.

The fraternity’s probation was lifted in the summer after fraternity members met with Cal Poly officials several times and appeared ready to act responsibly.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Reported by: Stacy Daniel

Two days after the death of Cal Poly freshman Carson Starkey, another student is found dead.

The body of 19-year-old Favian Mora was discovered early Thursday morning inside of a dorm room in Poly Canyon Village.

Just as students say goodbye to a fellow Mustang, they learn another student has died.

“It’s sad. It’s a tragedy,” said Cal Poly student Samuel Buechler.

Two deaths in three days: the latest tragedy occurred on the third floor dorm room at Poly Canyon Village. Investigators with the University Police Department said a call from Favian Mora’s roommate alerted them that something was terribly wrong with him.

University Police Chief Bill Watton said, “From all indications, at this point it appears to be a natural condition rather than some other outside thing. No indication at all that alcohol, drugs or any other issues.”

Students are in shock.

Buechler said, “I actually saw the ambulance. I was just walking back to my room and I saw ambulances, police and yeah, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Campus police are left searching for answers.

Chief Watton said, “This just appears to be one of those tragic things that occurs from time to time.”

Mora’s death is the second student death in just three days. On Tuesday, the body of Carson Starkey, an 18-year-old Cal Poly freshman was discovered unresponsive after a party at an off-campus fraternity house. He was later pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo.

Grief counselors have been called in to help the students cope with these two untimely deaths.

Investigators said autopsy results for Mora will be released Friday.

Story link

Here is a great Advocate article By JORDAN BLUM
* Advocate Capitol news bureau
Southern University marching band members being nearly beaten to death with 2-by-4-inch wooden boards may sound extreme even for hazing.

But such acts occur in the momentwhen hazing is accepted as part of the culture, sociologists and band directors say.

The Southern marching band’s seven felony hazing arrests last week are the latest in a string of nationwide incidents that led the Inside Higher Ed publication to print a “Bands Gone Wild” headline atop an October story.

“I always refer to it as going to the dark side,”said Lewis Liddell, band director of Southern’s Southwestern Athletic Conference rival Jackson State University.

“Kids are coming to college expecting to do these things and that’s really sad,” Liddell said. “If you don’t watch it, it can blossom into something out of control.”

The impact on Southern’s famed Human Jukebox band will remain unknown for at least a few more days because Southern officials are waiting for the case to be finalized and handed over to the district attorney before taking formal action. So far, the seven arrested have been suspended indefinitely by the university. But the band itself has not been penalized.

“Expulsion surely is in order,” if the allegations are true, said Southern Board of Supervisors Chairman Myron Lawson.

Southern University System President Ralph Slaughter said there already are multiple band education sessions each year concerning hazing, he said.

“We have zero tolerance on hazing. We’re trying to stamp it out,” Slaughter said. “We need to re-evaluate to make sure this kind of thing never ever happens again.”

Southern also has a “marching band anti-hazing contract” signed by band members and their parents that states in part: “Allowing oneself to be hazed is as unacceptable as requiring it of others.”

Southern Chancellor Kofi Lomotey and Band Director Lawrence Jackson did not return multiple phone messages all last week.
Southern’s recent incident was part of a Nov. 25 initiation into the marching band’s unofficial French horn fraternity — “Mellow Phi Fellow” — prior to Saturday’s Bayou Classic football game, according to arrest records. The alleged hazing occurred at a home north of Baton Rouge.

Two of the three students were hospitalized for treatment of injuries that, at least at one point, threatened possible organ failure, according to East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office records.

Richard Kessinger, University of Louisiana at Lafayette sociologist, said mental and physical hazing often is used within organizations to create more solidarity and loyalty so members feel everyone has earned their place.

“You’re more likely to stay with the group and treat it more important,” Kessinger said. “It’s like a fraternity — it’s for life. Once you’re in it, you’re in it.”

But hazing leads to aggressive and dangerous behavior, he said.

“Those acts or behaviors might spill over into other areas of their lives,” Kessinger said.

Jackson State’s Liddell said he sees hazing as an attitude problem, noting that he knows of instances where school bands have even hazed students in middle school. Jackson State had band hazing allegations last year, but Liddell said the problems have decreased since the early 1990s.

While Liddell emphasizes the nationwide problem — including recent band hazing at the University of Wisconsin and the University of California at Davis — he sees problems at historically black colleges.

“Some of our African-American males have a serious sense of misplaced masculinity and what it means to be masculine,” Liddell said.

Kessinger agreed.

“We’re supposed to be aggressive and manly men and be able to beat someone up,” Kessinger said.

Frank Wickes, LSU’s band director, said there is “no place” for hazing in marching bands.

Wickes said LSU’s “The Golden Band from Tigerland”  has avoided hazing controversies by preaching a code of conduct and zero tolerance policies. But he can understand how hazing can become a part of band culture.

“There’s a lot of different philosophies,” Wickes said. “Some (bands) are run different ways. Some are student run, and some traditions are bent over the years.”

Southern has suffered public marching band hazing allegations in 2005, 2001 and 1995.

First-year members of the marching band are referred to as “crabs.” The Bayou Classic traditionally represents the time when new band members move out of “crab” status.
Southern students have mixed feelings on who is to blame for hazing allegations.

Southern sophomore Natasha Jones, of St. Martinville, who is not a member of the band, said the victims are partly to blame for allowing themselves to be hazed.

“They just didn’t think it was going to be that bad,” Jones said, noting that it was not the victims’ fault the alleged hazing went far overboard.

Southern junior Sherman Allen, of Shreveport, said the band director should be blamed because the hazing occurred under his watch.

At the same time, Allen, who is in a Southern fraternity, said some hazing — such as making new members perform tasks — can be character-building as long as no one is physically harmed.

How the case will play out legally is another matter.

Earlier this year, hazing charges against some Tulane University fraternity members were dropped when the alleged victims decided not to cooperate.

Col. Ricky Adams of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office would not discuss whether something similar could occur with the Southern case.

“At this point, everyone is cooperating,” Adams said without elaborating.

WEstern New York high school link

All: These losses are numbing for all college communities.  I have talked last week to two of the families who lost their sons in November. Can you imagine the heartbreak of having an empty plate on your table at Thanksgiving if you are a dad or mom?

Program alert. Denver area Greeks–there is a hazing prevention conference at AFA in Denver right now. You can hear Dave Westol and his powerful presentation. Hank

I am up early but teaching or prepping for class all day-this is all I could find at 5 a.m. Thanks to Dave for headsup.

Hank — This paper will have updates later in day:  http://www.sanluisobispo.com

An 18-year-old Cal Poly fraternity pledge died early Tuesday after a night gathering that may have involved alcohol, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

Residents of the home of a Sigma Alpha Epsilon member called 911 at 6:24 a.m. after finding freshman Carson Starkey unresponsive. The students unsuccessfully attempted to administer CPR and emergency workers could not revive the student.

Starkey, of Austin, Texas, was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where he subsequently died. Authorities are investigating what role alcohol may have played in Starkey’s death. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

The fraternity has been temporarily suspended by the university, and it must cease all activities until after the investigation is complete, said Ken Barclay, Cal Poly’s director of Student Life and Leadership.

Barclay said the home is located within a couple of miles of campus. Police Department Capt. Dan Blanke would not release the address of the privately owned home or the names of the residents living there, saying it would interfere with the ongoing investigation.

A friend of Starkey’s family answered the phone in Austin on Tuesday afternoon and said that the young man’s parents did not want to comment about the death. University officials said Starkey’s parents would travel to San Luis Obispo today. University officials expressed sadness over the death of the student, who studied architectural engineering and enjoyed tennis, lacrosse, cycling and occasionally running, according to a survey that Starkey responded to on Facebook — a social networking Web site popular with college students.

“This is a tragedy and we are all heartbroken over the loss of a valued member of our community,” said Cornel Morton, vice president for student affairs at Cal Poly. “Our hearts go out to the family. We are working closely with the family and anticipate meeting with them shortly to offer our assistance as they navigate this difficult time.”

Barclay said that Starkey was attending an all-male fraternity get-together in the hours leading up to his death.

The fraternity has 47 members and 17 pledges this fall, but not all of the members were present at the home that night, Barclay said.

According to his comments on the survey on Facebook, Starkey graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in June. When asked if he drank or partied, Starkey answered yes to both, but said he rarely smoked. He described himself as “shy, then outgoing,” and as “mostly a night owl.”

Starkey said his grades were important, and that he was “pumped to live in San Luis Obispo.”

The house is in a residential neighborhood. Blanke could not confirm how many people lived there, but said he thought they were all students.

Four detectives from the department were working on the case Tuesday, with assistance from Cal Poly police and the Sheriff’s Department.

“I know there will be a fairly large number of interviews conducted in the end,” said Blanke, who did not know how many people attended the party.

Cal Poly is cooperating with police as the investigation continues, university spokeswoman Stacia Momburg said. In addition, the vice president of SAE’s national board and the fraternity’s regional director were set to meet with Cal Poly officials Tuesday night to discuss the next steps in the investigation.

Cal Poly has suspended the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter following the possible alcohol-related death of a university freshman.The 18-year-old student, identified by San Luis Obispo Police as Carson Starkey of Austin, Tex., was found unresponsive at a local residence about 6:20 this morning. He was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where he died.In a statement this afternoon, Cal Poly officials said the university and national chapter of SAE has also suspended all activity at the fraternity until further notice.

Police said Starkey was found by friends who attended an SAE party at a local residence.“This is a tragedy and we are all heartbroken over the loss of a valued member of our community. Our hearts go out to the family,” said Cornel Morton, vice president for student affairs at Cal Poly. “We are working closely with the family and anticipate meeting with them shortly, to offer our assistance as they navigate this difficult time.”Cal Poly administrators and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff/Coroner, Cal Poly University Police departments are investigating what role alcohol may have played in Starkey’s death.More from the Mustang

A Cal Poly freshman died Tuesday morning after being found unresponsive in a local home. He had spent the night at the residency after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity party there Monday night, according to a Cal Poly press release.

After discovering him unresponsive at approximately 6 a.m., residents attempted to perform CPR before calling 911.

The student, Carson Starkey, was an 18-year-old architectural engineering freshmen and pledge of the fraternity. Cal Poly has since suspended SAE’s charter.

“When a tragedy like this happens, the normal practice with our university is to suspend the organization pending further results of investigation,” said Ken Barclay, Cal Poly’s director of Student Life and Leadership.

He added that that national organization of SAE also suspended the chapter.

The cause of death is currently unknown. An autopsy will be performed Thursday as well as a toxicology report to see if drugs or alcohol was a factor in Starkey’s death, according to University Police Department Captain Bill Watton.

Watton added that the police were investigating whether the party he attended was part of a fraternity pledge event.

“We’re taking this one step at a time,” said Anton Deleon, incoming president of Cal Poly’s Interfraternity Council and a business administration senior. “It’s definitely a tragic situation; action will be taken.”

The president of Cal Poly Sigma Alpha Epsilon declined to comment and calls to SAE nationals were unanswered at press time.

_____

PRESS RELEASE from the San Luis Obispo Police Department

WHAT:                     DEATH INVESTIGATION

WHERE:                   San Luis Obispo

WHEN:                     December 2, 2008 @ 6:24 AM

DECEASED:            Carson Leonard STARKEY  18 years of age (D.O.B. 04-17-90)
Austin, TX

At 6:24 AM on the morning on December 2, 2008, residents called 911after finding Cal Poly freshman Carson STARKEY unresponsive at their home where he had spent the night. He was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center where he subsequently died. San Luis Obispo Police detectives are working closely on the investigation with the Office of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff/Coroner, the Cal Poly University Police Department, and University administrators. The investigation will include determining what role alcohol may have played in Carson STARKEY’s death. Investigators learned that Carson STARKEY had attended a party during the previous evening at the home where he stayed the night.  An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2008.

Link

ATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) – Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with an alleged hazing incident involving the Southern University Band.  Both men are members of the band.

East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested Harvey Harrison and Carlos-Andres Carter, both 19 years old. They are each charged with aggravated battery and ritualistic acts.

Two male band members are hospitalized in the intensive care unit at a Baton Rouge hospital as a result of injuries they suffered during the incident. As of Tuesday morning, both victims were listed in serious condition.

“We have interviewed a witness, and have several suspects to interview today,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Kellie Engels said Tuesday morning. Deputies are investigating the incident, which reportedly happened last Friday. The band took part in Saturday’s Bayou Classic football game in New Orleans, which featured Southern University versus Grambling State.

Sources say hazing is nothing new within the Southern University band, but it depends on your definition of hazing. Our source within the band says most often, hazing usually hovers around paddling, slapping, or neckin,’ which is a stiff slap to the back of the head. It is in the form of older students picking on younger students, so they may earn their letters.

The incident that has left two students hospitalized went well beyond that. Sources say the two students in the hospital are both freshmen and from out of state. The band members usually hang with others in the sections they play in. Sources say these students played horns and that the hazing took place off-campus, near Zachary. It also allegedly involved people not in the band.

The university would not release specific details of the incident and issued only a brief statement late Monday afternoon. In a two-line statement, the university wrote: