UH OH... bad news about Theta at Vanderbilt. Sigh. This makes me so sad.
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http://www.vanderbilthustler.com/vne.../400cc7d768bfc
A Metro police official cleans up debris from 31st Avenue South after a three car accident resulted in one arrest.
Student jailed after car accident
Sorority members violate national Bid Day "no alcohol" rule; investigation underway
by Nick Hailey
January 20, 2004
Four Vanderbilt women were involved in an alcohol-related three-car accident on Sunday afternoon, said Metro Police officers.
Senior Virginia Sherrill was arrested at the scene on two counts, driving under the influence and implied consent violation, according to two warrants acquired at the Criminal Justice Center Detention Facility.
There were only minor injuries, said officer Joe Donofrio, an officer on the scene.
Information on the three passengers and the drivers of the two other cars involved as well as the details of the minor injuries was unavailable as of press time Monday because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Sherrill, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, violated a unanimous agreement of the National Panhellenic Conference as well as Kappa Alpha Theta rules and Panhel recruitment rules forbidding the consumption of alcohol on bid day, said Kristin Torrey, Greek Advisor.
Disciplinary actions towards Sherrill and the Theta sorority are currently under investigation by the Office of Greek Life, but more details are needed before a determination can be made, she said.
Sherrill failed to yield the right of way at the stop sign at the intersection of 31st Avenue and Vanderbilt Place, Donofrio said. Sherrill’s Lexus SUV hit a Saab sedan, which was coming thr ough the intersection on 31st Avenue, flipped and hit a Taurus sedan, which was stopped across the intersection on Vanderbilt Place, he said.
“A DUI obviously violates the student code,” said Ruth Nagareda, director of student conduct and integrity. “In a case like this we will look to see how serious the accident was, if people were hurt, what her blood alcohol was, the surrounding circumstances, the student’s disciplinary history and prior alcohol offenses, particular serious ones, but there is no one automatic penalty that comes into play.”
The Student Handbook states that the minimum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol is disciplinary probation and the repeal of campus driving and parking privileges.
According to the warrants, “the defendant had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage about her person with watery eyes and dilated pupils… Three field sobriety tasks were conducted and the defendant showed signs of intoxication on all three. Found inside the defendant’s vehicle was an open bottle of Skyy vodka and an empty bottle of Cook’s champagne (sic.)”
Kappa Alpha Theta National Headquarters will investigate the incident, said Liz Rhink, the Director of Communications for Nationals.
“We will cooperate fully with the university and consult with Panhellenic,” she said. “There is not enough information at this time to make decisions. Each disciplinary case is decided on what specifically happened.”
The National Panhellenic Conference has unanimously agreed that bid day is a day for celebrating and welcoming new members into a sisterhood, and doesn’t need to involve alcohol or men, Torrey said.
“We take this very seriously,” she said. “We are very thankful that the women are okay, that’s the most important thing.”
Sherrill posted bond Sunday night for $3,000, said Kenny Ham for the warrants and bonds office.
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