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Educating the Educators |
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Our son and brother Michael died in a tragic hazing death on November 21, 2008. As a ‘kidnapped’ Sigma Nu pledge, Michael was provided a bottle of Vodka by a Utah State University Chi Omega sorority sister, with instructions to consume as much as much as possible within a given period of time.
November 21, 2008 was our family’s 9-11. It will always be so. In the months following Michael’s death, we concluded that had Utah State University’s safe and protective new student policies been in place at the time of Michael’s admittance or had fraternity and sorority houses been monitored, Michael could well be with us today.
While Michael’s death was referred to as the first ‘recorded ‘ alcohol-related fraternity hazing death in Utah’s history, there have been far too many ‘close calls’ that remain unknown to the Utah public.
Losing our children to apathy, indifference, and neglect – benign neglect – is intolerable. USU President Stan Albrecht insists that the school administration has no control or influence over students while off campus. We are told that loco parentis is passé; Parents need to be aware of this. We were assured during the 2008 Parents Open House that our child was safe and secure in USU’s protective environment, while, in reality, alcohol abuse was rampant, with unregulated fraternity hazing practices already a well-established tradition at Sigma Nu. What was not mentioned, too, was a well-documented history of binge drinking, episodes involving drugs, explosives, and arson, in addition to assault, alcohol-induced suicide, and disorderly conduct.
In consideration of the USU
administration’s ‘hands off – off campus’ policy, we ask for
your help in ensuring that the following incoming freshmen policies are adopted in a realistic effort to provide the protection to our children that we had erroneously assumed they already had. Many other colleges and universities have seen the logic in installing policies that favor the safety of incoming students and minimize the chances or likelihood of death or injury through fraternity hazing ‘traditions’.
Please contact one or all of the following individuals to express your support for the adoption of the following new student policies. It can and will save lives.
We need your help! Write or call your congressional representative today!
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USU’s Code of Conduct relative to Greek organizations and recognition/affiliations must be amended to expressly state that fraternities and sororities are
responsible and accountable for the misconduct of their members and chapters when their behavior and any harm results from fraternity or sorority life.
This same misconduct will be made public to families considering USU for attendance by their child. Nothing less than full disclosure.
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The University’s student code must be revised to provide
amnesty to any student who reports a violation of the code of calls for police or other emergency assistance for a student in distress.
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All Greek housing and social activities on campus are ‘dry’, including any fraternity housing off-campus. No alcohol is permitted in the housing, regardless of whether the designated adult manager is an undergraduate.
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As a condition for recognition or affiliation, national
fraternities will disclose and certify annually to the University where they have lost recognition by a university or suspended a chapter’s charter during the preceding 2 years for alleged violations - sanctions will be identified. This information will be placed on the university’s website for Greek Life, with an appropriate disclaimer stating that the university has not confirmed the accuracy of the self-reporting and is not liable for any claims related to the reporting of such information.
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The University’s website for Greek Affairs shall be revised to include information regarding any recognized fraternity that has been
sanctioned by the University for violations of the university student code of conduct within the preceding 3 years, identifying the alleged violations and sanctions. This portion of the website will also identify the University rules regarding Hazing.
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The University will post the signs of alcohol poisoning in prominent locations around the campus.
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The offending fraternity or sorority
will not be permitted to reapply for affiliation or recognition for 10 years following the incident.
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The University’s student code of conduct regarding penalties for hazing will be revised to provide revocation of university
recognition for any violation of the university’s hazing policy that either caused or risked causing serious injury or death.
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Fraternity membership will be available to only students who have completed the equivalent of 2 semesters of university class work (incoming freshmen are traditional targets of Hazing).
Utah Attorney General -
uag@utah.gov Utah House of Representatives
- csmoss@utah.gov
Utah Senate -
patjones@djasurvey.com
American Colleges and Universities -
musil@aacu..org
Utah Legislative House
Leadership -
chardman@utah.gov Utah Attorney General -
uag@utah.gov
USU Public Relations -
prm@usu.edu
USU Alumni -
alumni@cc.usu.edu Utah State Board of
Regents -
sjenkins@utahsbr.edu