The Paper Trail

Cal Poly Freshman Dead After Fraternity Party

By Alison Go

December 3, 2008 RSS Feed Print

A Cal Poly freshman died Tuesday morning at an off-campus home, reportedly after attending a party at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity the night before, the Mustang Daily writes.

Carson Starkey, 18, was found unresponsive at a fraternity member's house around 6 a.m. After residents attempted to resuscitate him, he was transported to a local hospital, where he died. Pending autopsy results, the official cause of death is still unknown.

Starkey was a pledge at the fraternity, although school officials are investigating whether the party was a pledge event.

Cal Poly has since suspended SAE's charter, as has the group's national organization. The Cal Poly SAE chapter declined to comment for the Mustang Daily's story.

Tags:
students,
California,
Greek life,
colleges

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It is a tragedy when any youth dies. It makes me sick to know that somone so young missed out on so much but you have to realize personal choice. Cal Poly puts on WOW week a week where freshman are warned over and over and over and over and over and over about the dangers of liquor. Cal Poly has had several anti-drinking campaigns through my years here that are widely publicized.

Its not like the guys in SAE came upon a naive young innocent individual who had never drank before. This was a case where an unfortunate young man should have had the guts to say no.

To everyone crying peer pressure and blaming other people, yah WHATEVER. It is not just the Greek system that drinks. I am not a part of the system and neither are many of my friends and I have watched many of them carted off to the drunk tank, the hospital, or the porcelin god.

We live in a culture that glorifies partying and drinking like they are the new gods. Stop blaming a group of people for the actions of one misguided individual. The greek system does alot of good for alot of people. Just like ANY other group some people just take things too far.

I would love to see how many people on sports teams, in motor clubs, or even just in their own families drink regurally. Should all of those institutions be blamed when one of their members drinks too much at an event?

Its time for people to take personal responsiblity for their actions, stop trying to find somone to blame, and realize everyone has the ability to say NO.

This was an accident, not the devious plan of the Greek system to demean and humiliate their members. Leave the poor guys alone to mourn the loss of the brother and let them have time to move on with their lives like any one else after a tragedy.

m of CA 2:29PM June 03, 2009

Jack, Jack, Jack What the hell are you talking about. OH He knew exactly what he was doing, not what he was drinking! Ya some beer, jagermister, tequila. And you drink it at a slow pace, Right. That way when you start not feeling good you can just go lay down and sleep it off. WRONG DIP S__T Lets try this scenario, Walk into frat house hoping to become a member, looking around everythings covered in plastic and a large pail in the center of the room. I'm scared, but no one will hurt me, right, or will I get kicked out if I back out later? Well, there's about 15 other people here going for the same fraternity, and surley they're scared too. My adrenaline is pumping, and I'm ready for the test. (HAZING) I must drink all this mixed up liquor in brown bags before the clock hits 12:30am.. Cant be that bad, I've drank a few beers in my life time. BUT NO HARD LIQUOR Well, I really what to be in this fraternity, make my homeboys proud. Including my mom and dad.

So I do it. I'm getting ripped and not feeling good at all, then someone from the center of the ring yells Pu--y drink up, you have 1hr left. So I drink, and drink, and drink. I throw up and they tell me to quit wasting liquor. So I drink and drink, sweating cant standup or even say anything. My mind know is toasted. Cant remember shi- But can here the guy in the center yelling atme for throwing up in the bucket.I drink more and fell on my face. Did I make it? I'm I a frat brother now. Did I make everybody happy happy happy happy happy happy

Uncle of the ACCUSED of CA 2:14AM May 27, 2009

Jack grow up. Do you even go to Cal Poly or have the slightest idea of what it means to be a part of a fraternity or anything bigger than just yourself. I definitely feel sorry for Carson's family and friends but the blame should not be placed on his fraternity. Carson chose to rush and pledge SAE, nobody forced him too. Furthermore, he like a large majority of college students, particularly freshman students chose to drink. I'm sure SAE brothers didn't hold him down and pour alcohol into his mouth until he died. He made a bad decision and went a bit too far. As cruel as it may seem to say it, it was a mistake he made and he paid the ultimate consequence. I'm sure if Carson was still here he would feel bad but he wouldn't want his brothers which he cared about so much to come into trouble for an accident like this.

And I am in no way a part of or affiliated with SAE by the way.

c of CA 2:58PM January 25, 2009

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