Texas Fraternity Ordered to Pay $16.2 Million to Parents of Dead Pledge
A Texas judge has awarded $16.2 million to the parents of a University of Texas freshman who fell to his death two years ago after being hazed by a campus fraternity, the Daily Texan reports. Tyler Cross, 18, was a pledge at Sigma Alpha Epsilon, whose local chapter and national organization are being ordered to pay the student's parents $2.5 million for mental anguish and nearly $81,000 for funeral expenses, as well as additional damages.
According to investigators, on the night Cross fell from his fifth-floor balcony, pledges were given half-gallon bottles of liquor to drink, and an autopsy report showed Cross had a blood alcohol level more than twice the Texas legal driving limit. The lawsuit also said that Cross was subjected to sleep deprivation, beatings with large bamboo sticks and paddles, and "other acts of assault or battery" in the days before his death.
This year, four SAE members pleaded no contest to various hazing- and alcohol-related charges, and the fraternity has agreed to revamp its pledging and social activities in order to remain on campus. The organization must now give the school advance notice of parties, limit its attendance, hire off-duty police, and hold parties only on the weekend with a 2 a.m. curfew.
A civil case against several alumni groups associated with the fraternity is pending.
Tags: Greek life | University of Texas | hazing | courts
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Reader Comments
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
wtf the people need to just accept responsibility for there actions and what they did was drink waaay to much and got alcohol poisoning there for they died they had the chocie to say no ive drank to much but no they continuie to drink
so i think fraternities are not the problem, i think its the fault of dumb kids who want to fit in so bad for sum reason tht they do retarded things.....thnk you :]......ceices!!!!!
Just say No.
It really is a shame that these things still go on, but really, people learn to say no to obviously stupid activities. I am in a fraternity, and made it through pledgeship without ever coming close to being hazed, or doing things on this level of immaturity. I feel sorry for the parents, and for the members of the fraternity, but these things really need to stop.
Positive Media Coverage?
First, I am sorry for the parents' loss. How awful to lose a child, no matter what the circumstances.
I am a second generation member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and there have been numerous family members who have also been members of fraternities and sororities. All of us have had nothing but positive experiences as a result of our collegiate Greek affiliations.
While tragedies such as what happened to the young man at the University of Texas will always find their way into the media, the flip side of the argument is why doesn't the media cover the numerous POSITIVE things that fraternities and sororities do on their campuses and in their communities?
For example: my ATO chapter at Sam Houston State University has undertaken an annual observance at Sam Houston's gravesite in Huntsville, TX where the United States and Texas flags are replaced annually. This ceremony brings out local, regional and state civic and government representatives, as well as university officials. The chapter also works closely with the local radio station (KSAM-AM/FM) on various charitable events and community service projects.
Unfortunately, there will always be persons in any organization who will cause problems for the others who behave responsibly. But if the media would seek out the GOOD THINGS that fraternities and sororities are doing for their organizations, their schools and their communities then it would help buffer the negative new whenever it happens which - fortunately - is not too often.
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