Alcohol/Hazing Death at Rider University Hurts Greeks
Update 8/12/07:
As of now, Anthony Campbell, 51, Rider's dean of students, and Adriano DiDonato, 22, a student who was also fraternity's house manager, pleaded not guilty in previous hearings. Adriano did not speak during his arraignment. His lawyer Paul Norris said, "I don't believe the indictment is fair to individuals like Adriano, and to anybody else who is a resident assistant, that they're somehow now put into a position to monitor every single person's activity."
On Friday (8/11), Michael J. Torney, 21, the former president of the fraternity chapter pleaded not guilty to aggravated hazing in a case involving the binge-drinking death of Gary DeVercelly, Jr., 18, of Long Beach, CA.
Torney's lawyer, Michael Rogers, said his client shouldn't be held responsible for the events that resulted in DeVercelly's death. "He had nothing to do with the demise of this young man," Rogers said.
The lawyer said that the former chapter president did not participate in any hazing and was not even in attendance when the pledges were drinking. "He was shocked the fact that there was a charge brought against him... because he didn't do anything," Rogers said. (cue laughing)
A criminal charge would derail Torney's plans to become a lawyer. Currently, Torney will be attending Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA this fall. Note that this decision was made months before DeVercelly's death.
I would think as chapter officers, we are held to a higher standard and level of responsibility to ensure that nothing disastrous will happen in the fraternity. As president of the chapter, you are the leader and spokesperson of the group. Also, you are ultimately held responsible for actions and conduct of your members. It's not just a title that you can boast on your resume, it shows that the brothers or sisters rely on you to lead them. If Torney was chapter president during that whole year, then he should be held responsible. It does not matter if you were not at the event.
This coming week, there will be hearing for the last two charged: Ada Badgley, 31, the university's director of Greek life, and Dominic Olsen, 21, pledge master of the fraternity's spring 2007 pledge class.
The University has not yet taken any disciplinary action against the five individuals.
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Fraternity deaths such as Scott Krueger (Phi Gamma Delta) at M.I.T. in 1997, Benjamin Wynne (Sigma Alpha Epsilon) at Louisiana State University in the same year, Blake Hammontree (Sigma Chi) at Oklahoma University in 2004, and others have continued to remind the Greek community at Case and at any other college or university that we must be vigilant in combating hazing and alcohol abuse.
We should also be reminded about the death of Stephen Donnelly, a fellow Case student who was a pledge at the Zeta Psi Fraternity. His death prompted an alcohol ban at all Greek parties for six weeks.
While we all take steps to eliminate acts of hazing and educate members on responsible drinking, we must work to let our fellow brothers and sisters at other colleges and universities know what they do, it will affect Greeks everywhere in this country.
Last Friday (August 3), a pair of school officials, including the dean of students, and three students from Rider University have been charged with "aggravated hazing" in the death of 18-year-old Gary DeVercelly after he was admitted into the Capital Health System's Fuld hospital in Trenton, NJ, following a night of heavy drinking at a Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house on March 30.
His blood alcohol content (BAC) was .426, more than 5 times the legal limit.
Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini Jr.:
"The ramifications of this for colleges and universities in New Jersey, and across the country, is that it will send some kind of message that the standards of college life, when it relates to alcohol, need to be policed carefully."
Friends and classmates of reportedly informed authorities that Gary told them that he would be drinking vodka during a pledge initiation event at the fraternity house.
People who were charged:
Ada Badgley, the university's director of Greek Life
Anthony Campbell, the dean of students
Adriano DiDonato, residence director and housemaster of the Phi Tau fraternity house
Dominic Olsen, pledge master of Spring 2007 Phi Tau pledge class
Michael J. Tourney, fraternity chapter president
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The grand jury found that the five listed above "knowingly or recklessly organized, promoted, facilitated, or engaged in conduct" which resulted in injury to DeVercelly, as well as William Williams, a freshman who was also hospitalized the night DeVercelly died but survived.
Rider University announced that the Phi Tau chapter has been "dissolved." Also, a new set of policies are being drawn up headed up by a task force of faculty, staff, and students.
If convicted, the officials and fraternity members would face a max penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Also note that another 15 people have been charged with providing alcohol to underage people, and 23 have been charged with underage drinking related to the March party. A search of the Phi Tau house resulted in three students charged with drug-related offenses.
Comments
Posted by: Internet Marketing Singapore
Posted on: August 5, 2007 03:17 PM
I don't know why fine young people want to kill themselves this way. Life's too easy?
Posted by:
Posted on: August 6, 2007 09:54 AM
It is sad that the DeVercelly family needs to blame RU for their son's death. Gary and his family thought he was old enough and mature enough to live responsibly while at school. His bad choice to drink too much cost him his life. Getting money and/or jeopardizing the careers of university officials for the loss of their son doesn't alter the fact that they didn't prepare him for the consequences of overdrinking. I do extend my sympathies to the family.
Posted by: Steven Lux
Posted on: August 8, 2007 11:07 AM
While truly unfortunate, these alcohol-related tragedies are rare. While commonly 80% of college students describe themselves as users of alcohol, most do so moderately and without significant negative health outcomes. In fact 68% of college students nationally used alcohol 5 or fewer days or not all within 30 days of taking the National College Health Assessment in the Spring of 2006 (N=93,926). Another indicator of moderation is that when asked about their most recent "party" occasion, nearly 62% of respondents reported drinking 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 drinks, with 3hrs being the average number of hours "partying" This results in estimated blood alcohol levels of .05 BAC or less for people weighing over 130 lbs. (While .08 is the legal limit for intoxication, .05 most closely correlates with lower risk of harm). That being said, we need to continue to work to minimize tragedies and other negative outcomes due to excessive drinking.
I believe part of the problem lies in the perception of the college drinking culture. Yes, drinking alcohol is normative - heavy drinking is not. However, pre-conceived expectations, excessive media reports and our culture's tendency to focus on the negative and tragic all help set the perception that the norm for college students is to drink heavily - when it is clearly not. Again, this data tends to point to moderation more than excessive drinking.
I am concerned that the response to this tragedy will consist of "get tough policies" including tougher regulations, increased minimum pricing, less tolerance for rule breaking, etc. None of these measures have been proven to be effective. In fact, they may actually contribute to making things worse. Let's not forget "real" alcohol and drug education that avoids "demonizing" the substance and focuses on how to avoid harm and how to develop a "healthy" relationship with the substances that we choose to interact with in our lives. I urge everyone to avoid the tendency to blame everything on the drug. Alcohol will never disappear. Some people may never be able to drink in a healthful way, but most people can develop a relationship with alcohol that gives positive benefits and minimizes the risk of harm. We have to make sure that our young people know that while drinking may be a majority behavior in college, drinking heavily is NOT the norm. Most drink responsibly and most do not suffer tragedies like Gary DeVercelly.
Posted by: James (Author)
Posted on: August 8, 2007 01:10 PM
It seems that the college drinking culture wants to drink hard and fast, and get wasted and sick as fast as possible. Is there some sort of high just for getting wasted in the first 30 minutes of a party or event? Do people know how to consume alcohol properly? Do they know how to manage drinking beer, liquor, and wine? It's more fun to enjoy a couple of drinks and shots, but over several hours instead of over 15 minutes.
While it is true that these unfortunate incidents are rare as compared to other events, it still has an adverse impact on the Greeks' insurace costs. If you ask why the chapter's insurance budget rose another couple hundred dollars, it's because of tragedies such like Gary DeVercelly and other students who died in similar situations.
This is important that Greeks should look at being proactive and try to stop problems before they get worse.
Posted by: Steven Lux
Posted on: August 9, 2007 10:31 AM
I think that college (often the first chance at real freedom to really do what you want!)is where most young people learn to drink. It takes much practice, just as if they were learning to drive. So, while I understand that kids who don't have a lot of free time and want the intoxicating effects quickly - often go too far, I dont't think that kids intentionally drink massive amounts quickly in order to throw-up or become so intoxicated that they can't enjoy what they are doing. It's just a matter of not knowing how alcohol's going to affect you, the feeling of intoxication (an altered state) that they just crave more of - then often don't stop until it is too late and then they often regret what they did. People who consistently have negative outcomes when they drink - do end up having the greatest risk for alcoholism. And, unfortunately, we do not want to teach young people "how" to drink moderatley and safely (like we do with a car) because of the double standard in this country about alcohol and drugs.
Posted by: bob
Posted on: August 9, 2007 11:36 AM
Steven said, 'I dont't think that kids intentionally drink massive amounts quickly in order to throw-up...'
No, they intentionally drink to see how fast they will get sick.
It's a game that shows up on myspace and facebook at the like. 'Here is a pic of Sara puking only 1 hour after the party started....'
I can't count the number of times I've heard teenagers and college students say, 'I'm going to get so wasted tonight' or 'Dude, let's go out. I need to get wasted.'
Being drunk is the objective. How fast is how they keep score.
Posted by: it happens
Posted on: August 9, 2007 09:11 PM
I went to Rider and I a Greek student. This is not the 1st time kids drank and Rider did not know. The Greek system was in trouble for hazing in the past, Ada Badgley's (archon 1999) own house Phi Sigma Simga Theta Eta chapper had there issues. She would be the dumpest person in the world to honestly say she does not know what goes on in the houses.
She has no direct control and its not like she pured drinks down the kids mouth. Yet if it was a strucured function and Rider turned their eyes b/c this is what always happens. Big little night, sweathear night, Bid night and so one then they are liable.
Posted by: Motorhomes
Posted on: August 10, 2007 02:30 PM
Man, I would die if my kids ever did that!
Posted by: make sense of it.
Posted on: August 12, 2007 06:19 AM
in response to writer "it happens". to say that Ada would be the dumbest person in the world in this instance would mean you havent a clue about being greek. What happened at that house was seriously unheard of. students in general not just on rider but everywhere drink allot but not like that. be that as it may, not all greeks go to the houses, I am a greek student on rider and I know that there are plenty of greeks who dont go to the parties there. With all the security and all the administration watching 24/7 no one can stop or catch every single person who drinks underage or is involved in dangerous drinking activites. So why Ada? Indicting Ada and Dean Campbell was the only dumb thing about this whole ordeal. That poor kid made a dumb choice that cost him his life and his parents a lifetime of grieving. Influenced or not, What was he thinking? Who has the ability to consume that much alcohol? Lets say for example, If Daly's provides you crappy food, do you eat it? so Who ever provided the liquor brought it to that house. Should he have drank it? Where is the human judgement in all this? legally pointing fingers and placing blame is not going to solve this. Kids need to just stop drinking like idiots.
Posted by: James (Author)
Posted on: August 12, 2007 12:36 PM
We are faced with the public's impression that all Greeks love to party and get drunk, and the fraternities and sororities across the country are trying to tell them that we do much more than that. Often, the public fails to note that the Greek academics are higher than the overall undergraduate population, promote community service projects around campus and the city it resides in, and so on. It just takes one drinking or hazing death to knock us down the perception ladder a few more legs.
I know we want to have a good time, but at least you gotta have a decent risk manager and designated brothers / sisters that will try to make sure anyone that drinks too much, they can take the proper steps to make sure that person is alright.
Posted by: erik
Posted on: January 5, 2008 03:12 PM
The problem Nr.1 is our kids don´t know the real problems in the world. 1 week in a town like cairo an our children wouldn´t drink so much!
Posted by: Web Hosting Singapore
Posted on: February 27, 2008 01:57 PM
Young people should be educated further to treasure life better..