New brother taken to hospital with 0.301 BAC; no charges filed
By Greg Scherrer Editor
An 18-year-old student--a new brother of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity--was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital early Saturday morning with a blood alcohol content of 0.301 and later released, following an off-campus drinking event at which several ZBT brothers were present.
"We're not going to file any charges against [the brother who was hospitalized] for underage drinking. He seems to have learned his lesson," Police Chief Jack Vickery said.
Vickery also stated Wednesday that no charges would be filed against other brothers who were present at the house. "In our view, the student disciplinary system will be enough," he added.
According to the police report, the incident took place at McMillan Street in Home Park. The house occupant, also a brother in the ZBT fraternity, would not comment on the incident.
The sick brother called two students who assisted him back on campus, where a passerby suggested that an ambulance should be called so that the brother could be transported to the hospital.
Police were called shortly before 10:00 Friday evening and responded on Techwood Drive near Fourth Street. According to the police report, when GTPD officers arrived on the scene, the brother was "being held up against a car" by one of the two students. He was "vomiting, unable to stand on his own, and was barely conscious."
Dean of Students Gail DiSabatino confirmed
that at the off-campus house, "alcohol was provided by of-age persons to under-age persons."
DiSabatino was called soon after the incident, and went to the hospital. "I felt sick to my stomach," she explained. "The thought that I might have had to make a call to parents that their child is not here because of alcohol terrifies me."
Conflicting Reports
Police questioned the brother at the hospital shortly before he was released. According to the police report, "He stated that when you are a freshman [brother], the fraternity members will 'kidnap' the [new brothers], take them somewhere, and have them drink, but he stated that he was not forced to drink, that he could have said no." This brother did not respond to requests for comment by reporters of The Technique.
The other brothers involved also told police that all activity was voluntary, and that any new freshmen brothers who went to the house went of their own free will and were not forced to drink.
However, the two witnesses who assisted the ill brother back to campus relate a different version of the events. One, who initially spoke to The Technique on the condition of anonymity, said, "We got him and pulled him up, and we were walking out the door. Right as we crossed the threshold, the brothers realized that we were taking him and we were not going to bring him back.
"They grabbed him from behind and it was like a tug-of-war. They pulled him in and shut the door and locked it. We talked them into letting us get [him] out. We went in and got [him] and we had to do something to get him out. We had to take two shots--we did that and got him out."
According to the police report, several brothers did confirm to police that each of the two students did take a shot of alcohol while at the house. Although no brothers would comment to Technique reporters, they did state that all activity was voluntary, according to the police report.
"I'm sure at the beginning it was voluntary, but when it gets to the point where the people are saying, 'let me home--let me get out of here,' it's not voluntary anymore," the witness continued.
Bill Barnes, assistant dean of students and coordinator of Greek affairs, commented, "Part of what we're trying to do now is sort through conflicting stories and find out where the truth is."
"There are different perceptions about the actual events," noted Lee Wilcox, vice president of Student Affairs. "I feel from having read police statements and from the interviews that Bill Barnes conducted, that these new students were pressured to go to this spot and to consume an excessive amount of alcohol."
Two officers of the fraternity were involved in the events in Home Park. Reportedly, at least one of the officers was removed from his leadership position following the incident.
Several of the brothers involved were contacted by reporters but had no comment for The Technique.
Chapter Suspended, IFC Judiciary Process Underway
The ZBT chapter was suspended Wednesday pending the outcome of investigations currently underway. Ben McDonald, executive vice president of the Georgia Tech Intrafraternity Council, expected to have formal charges against the chapter written up by Thursday for the Judiciary Board hearings that will begin next week. The earliest a hearing could be held is Tuesday.
The chapter can be sanctioned as a result of recommendations and findings by the Judiciary Board of IFC. Individual students also may be disciplined for violation of the Student Conduct Code by the Office of the Dean of Students.
"I will consider their recommendations and consult with Dean Gail and Dr. Wilcox before actually issuing a decision," Barnes said.
Greek System Addresses Alcohol Issue
Recent tragedies at LSU and MIT have raised national concern about alcohol abuse on college campuses. Even UGA had three hospitalizations in a one-week period.
"Obviously, it has serious implications for ZBT. As far as Greek life generally at Tech is concerned, it's a black eye," Barnes commented.
"To the credit of the fraternity system, even before the MIT incident happened, [IFC President] Andy Earnest came to me and said we need to raise the awareness level...and very soon after pledges become part of the Greek System," Barnes said.
Earnest explained, "We required for all pledges education about what hazing is, about sexual assault, and alcohol to ensure a basic level of awareness."
Over 400 people attended the program, which took place several weeks ago. However, ZBT was unrepresented at the meeting.
Another program is planned later this month--this one will be strictly about alcohol. Tentatively, a recovering alcoholic, an alcohol counselor from a major corporation, and representatives from the Counseling Center will be involved with the program.
Earnest notes, though, that the Greek system is an easy target, and despite efforts that had already been underway in IFC and around Tech as a whole, a broader perspective is necessary. "It's more difficult for the people that want to attack underage drinking on the college campus to make generalizations about the entire student body. It's easier if they just point the finger at the Greek system," he said.
"The thought that I might have had to make a call to parents that their child is not here terrifies me."
--Gail DiSabatino
Dean of Students
