pull quote: Despite a crackdown on alcohol excess on campus by the university administration and a similar initiative by the city of Oxford, the message hasn't gotten through to many Ole Miss students: Alcohol misuse is dangerous for people at any age.
Greek tragedy
Beta Theta Pi handed
deserved, harsh sanctions
The tragic death of a University of Mississippi student in a pre-dawn accident Sept. 15 at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house has deservedly landed the Greek-letter organization probation and other sanctions for more than a year - because the death was alcohol-related.
Despite a crackdown on alcohol excess on campus by the university administration and a similar initiative by the city of Oxford, the message hasn't gotten through to many Ole Miss students: Alcohol misuse is dangerous for people at any age.
Bradley Johnson, a student from Forth Worth, died after he fell from a tree, striking concrete. Investigation of the heart-breaking circumstances revealed alcohol provided by the fraternity and distributed in violation of university rules was the leading factor.
Beyond the probation through December 2008, other, extensive sanctions require full-chapter community service, alcohol education programs, no social functions, an all-member review related to alcohol, and a $1,000 fine.
This situation was not a matter of expected, typical horseplay but of impaired and faulty judgment. Alcohol obviously was the reason.
Beta Theta Pi will not appeal the sanctions.
The compelling question is a generations-old one that necessarily must be asked: When will students and the organizations to which they belong wise up to the terrible, tragic costs related to excess?
To join an online discussion of these topics, log on to www.djournal.com, or respond at opinion@djournal.com for publication as a letter to the editor.
Newsletters
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Error! There was an error processing your request.
