A Sigma Nu initiation ritual proved deadly at Utah State University, as a freshman died of acute alcohol poisoning, registering a BAC over over four times the legal limit, reached after a hazing event orchestrated by Sigma Nu with the assistance of certain Chi Omega sisters. Officials at USU exhibited a strange combination of ignorance and incuriosity when asked to comment on the incident: they are evidently discovering for the very first time that alcohol is consumed on occasion during greek events and initiations. "That came as a surprise to campus officials, according to USU general counsel Craig Simper," reports the Salt Lake Tribune. Really? That came as a surprise? This despite supposedly exacting rules against any underage alcohol use, which appear to be honored more in the breach than in the observance. More troublingly, the Tribune further reports that "Utah State University officials say they have no plans to more closely monitor its affiliated Greek-letter societies." Really? So to sum up: strict no-tolerance policy for underage drinking; profound ignorance of widespread flouting of said policy; no plans to change either the policy or the oblivion. See no evil; hear no evil; speak no evil?
The Tribune doesn't get a gold star for its coverage of the tragedy, either, referring to the incident in its lede as a "fatal fraternity initiation prank." Probably the greiving family, helpfully quoted after a notably lurid description of the events leading up to the freshman's death, would prefer not to hear this institutionally-ignored and organizationally-sponsored abuse described as sophomore hijinks gone awry. Just a thought.
Salt Lake TribuneDesert NewsUS News & World ReportLogan Herald-JournalChronicle of Higher EducationUnited Press International
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