Cal Poly Suspends SAE Chapter: Death of Pledge under Investigation

[exlurker]

My condolences to the family and friends of the young man who died.

News report on the death of the Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo student is at:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/lo...ry/546523.html

Edited to add: Two press releases (police, university) are posted at:

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=9447297

[LaneSig]

I really hate to hear news like this. My condolonces to his family.

[DEVODUDE]

This is really sad news. My sympathy to the family.

ZBT:"Inspiring Today's College Men To Become Leaders Of Tomorrow."

[exlurker]

Update December 12, 2008

Just a slight update on the investigation:

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/paper-tr...-incident.html

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/lo...ry/557017.html

[exlurker]

Update December 17, 2008

Caly Poly has suspended Sigma Alpha Epsilon "indefinitely." Also, "all" Greek activities are temporarily suspended until after a meeting scheduled for January 2009 between the administrator for Greek life and the GLOs at the university. See the story on a San Luis Obispo paper's site:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/lo...ry/561690.html

[exlurker]

Update May 21 '09: Four Arrested in SAE Pledge's Death

Arrests have been made in the (alleged) hazing and alcohol poisoning death of Carson Starkey, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge at Col Poly – San Luis Obispo, an Austin TX paper reports on its web site May 21 ‘09:

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte...n_mans_ha.html

Excerpts from longer report:

San Luis Obispo, Calif., Police Department officials announced . . . that they have arrested and charged individuals in connection with the Dec. 2, 2008, death of 18-year-old Carson Starkey . . . of Austin.

Starkey died of alcohol poisoning during a fraternity initiation in California on Dec. 2. He had pledged to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity during his freshman year at California Polytechnic State University. According to a police report, Carson died as a result of hazing, and autopsy results showed his blood alcohol content was between .39 and .44.
. . .
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney charged four fraternity members with felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with Starkey’s death.

Haithem Ibrahim, 20, of Lafayette, Calif., who was Starkey’s big brother in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, was charged with a felony violation for hazing causing death or great bodily injury and a misdemeanor for furnishing alcohol to a minor causing death or great bodily injury.

Zacary Ellis, 22, of San Luis Obispo, allegedly in charge of the alcohol binge involving pledge members, was charge with the same felony and misdemeanor charges as Ibrahim.

Russell Taylor, 22 of Fresno, who allegedly bought the alcohol Starkey drank, was charged with two misdemeanor counts for hazing and furnishing alcohol.

Adam Marszal, 21, of Carmichael, who allegedly took part in the alcohol purchasing, were charged with the same two misdemeanor counts.

The four suspects posted bail and were freed Thursday from the San Luis Obispo County Jail. They surrendered to authorities Thursday after warrants were issued for their arrest.

The arrests followed months of investigation into the death of Starkey following a fraternity drinking ritual called Brown Bag Night, one of the events during the school’s pledge week. . . .

Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo has issued a formal statement, according to another news source:

http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=10405678

The Starkey family has also issued a statement:
http://www.ksby.com/Global/story.asp?S=10405143

[Ghostwriter]

My heart breaks for this family. They are in my thoughts and prayers.

After all the warnings. After all the negative publicity about hazing and alcohol abuse and misuse, all I can say is what was wrong with this chapter. What part of the years and years of preaching against hazing did they not understand? Unbelieveable.

A young man is dead and there was no reason for it. What a waste!

[exlurker]

Update August 21 '09: Testimony in Court

See article, which has a few more details about the alleged incident leading to the pledge's death:

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/lo...ry/822850.html

[exlurker]

Update September 23 '09: Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/conte..._wrongful.html

Excerpt:

The family of Carson Starkey, an 18-year-old from Austin who died in California last year after binge drinking with his fraternity, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fraternity and members that they allege are responsible for his death.

Starkey was a freshman pledge of Sigma Aphla (sic) Epsilon at California Polytechnic State University and died in December 2008 after drinking at a fraternity event. He drank to the point of unconsciousness and was left in a vacant utility room by some of the older fraternity members, where he ultimately died, according to the lawsuit. His blood alcohol level was .39-.48, which the lawsuit states is the equivalent of surgical anesthesia. . . .

[exlurker]

Half-million dollar settlement reported (update Sept. 10, 2010)

News report (see below) is that one of the members of the fraternity -- the late Mr. Starkey's "big brother" -- will be responsible for paying the $500,000.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktl...,7547488.story