Cal Poly Freshman Dead After Fraternity Party

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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

its unfortunate some of us cannot drink responsibly and hold our liqour and even more unfortunate that liqour leads to so many deaths. learn how to control your liquor!

VF of CA 8:11PM December 20, 2008

My heart breaks for Carson's family. They are the finest people anyone would hope to know and don't deserve to be living this Hell.

gh of TX 10:38AM December 14, 2008

My condolences to his family.

Jaydee Cohen of 2:05PM December 08, 2008

I am a CSU retired faculty member who proudly served for years prior to retirement at Cal Poly, POMONA.
There is also a CAL POLY San Louis Obispo, or SLO. They are sister schools, both outstanding, but they are not one campus.
Your reporting should indicate which of the two was the unfortunate location of the student fatality. I strongly suspect it was SLO, but we deserved to know from your story.

Dr. Carl Clavadetscher of VA 5:40AM December 08, 2008

I wish people would know the true circumstances and what the boys that found this poor young kid dead are going through...they are all young and very immature. This is tragic for everyone. No need to point fingers. Just hopefully learn and slowly move on.

unknown of CA 4:39AM December 07, 2008

I'm dumbfounded by comments that reflect more concern for the reputation of the Greek Community than for the loss of a human being and the infinite repercussions of his death on his family and friends. Carson's death is yet another tragic example of a systemic pattern that manifests itself with alarming frequency in the Greek Community. Someone should have been looking out for this young pledge, who was far away from home, and in the company of people mistakenly considered his friends and "brothers." Let's hope that the investigation discovers who is responsible and that the law holds them accountable as criminals. And I don't simply mean the fraternity, but the individuals involved. Hopefully, somebody's rich daddy's money won't create a cover-up this time. Enough is enough.

Jack of TX 12:00AM December 07, 2008

The whole Greek system SHOULD be under scrutiny. This kind of preventable idiocy happens all the time. What an incredible waste of a promising young man's life.

of TX 12:46PM December 04, 2008