In November of 2006 an SAE freshman pledge by the name of Tyler Cross died after drunkenly falling from his Tower's balcony. His blood and alcohol level was .19 when he died (more than twice the legal limit). Cross' autopsy also revealed bruises on his back and ass that were inconsistent with the fall from his balcony. Did I forget to mention that his death took place during SAE's notorious build week for their party of the year Jungle and that Cross was a bamboo pledge? Odd much?
Anyone reading this blog is pretty up to date with the events that take place in West Campus...so you kids do the math and I'm sure you can put two and two together to realize why the late freshman after returning to his dorm after a night at the fraternity, during it's"Hell week," was intoxicated and rushed to his balcony to throw up...only to fall to his death.
According to the police warrant one pledge informed investigators that pledges for the SAE fraternity were told two important rules "Don't talk about pledgeship" and "don't die."
Wow. Those rules make me feel warm and fuzzy.
Now that a year has passed the university and the SAE fraternity have reached an agreement to how SAE conducts its new member and initiation process and its social activities. Under the terms of the agreement SAE:
- Shall be a conditionally registered student organization in good standing for five years beginning April 7, 2008. If at the end of the five years the dean of students determines SAE has fulfilled the obligations under the agreement, SAE shall be granted unconditional registration as a student organization. A number of terms of the agreement related to structural change in SAE operations shall remain in effect permanently;
- Must strictly prohibit hazing. SAE shall take an active role in the development and delivery of training on the prohibition of hazing and on alcohol abuse. All members of SAE shall attend an annual educational program on hazing and alcohol awareness and abuse issues that is approved by the dean of students;
- Shall permanently bar from membership any member who engages in hazing;
- Shall suspend any member who provides alcohol to a minor or any member who fails to report hazing or provision of alcohol to a minor;
- Shall annually inform pledges and members of the terms of the agreement prior to the pledging period;
- Will limit its fall pledge period to eight weeks and include in its Pledge Education Program elements approved by the dean of students;
- Will initiate a required pledges study hall from Sunday through Thursday of each week during the pledging period;
- Shall provide its chapter adviser and the Dean of Students Office a written schedule of all SAE new member recruitment or rush activities;
- Shall assure that all pre- and post-party and event clean-ups and other housekeeping activities during the pledge period will involve all members of SAE, not just pledges;
- Shall employ a full-time resident assistant who will live in the SAE house and help chapter officers supervise the fraternity's activities;
- Is subject to "unannounced visits to the SAE house and its common areas" by the university police department, Austin Police, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission or the Dean of Students Office;
- Shall assure that alcohol served at any party or event must be dispensed by a third-party vendor, provider or caterer licensed by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
- Must allow a representative of its Advisory Board, the chapter adviser or a resident assistant to monitor all new member or rush activities;
- Will eliminate any non-sanctioned parties or events.
The punishment will also include giving advance notice to the university and SAE alumni advisers of large parties among other things, limiting the attendance of guest at large parties to those named on a pre-party guest list, requiring the use of off-duty police officers to distribute tamper-proof wrist bands and to provide security, and limiting parties or events to Fridays and Saturday with an ending time of 2 a.m.
These 'new' rules seem like the university has really taken action except for the fact that everything that has been bolded was already suppose to be followed. As a member of the greek community myself, I am very aware of these rules and my greek affiliation follows them strictly--to the point it's annoying. SAE member's knew of these rules. Not only are they suppose to be reminded during their pledgeship, but as freshman every member of a greek organization is required to attend Greek101 which explains the seriousness of hazing. If frats weren't busy throwing pennies at each other and calling out "Phi-gays!" during the lectureship to establish which frat is superior--maybe they would have learned a thing or two.
But seriously, is anyone reading through the lines of bullshit being fed by the university and SAE? Tyler Cross' college career and LIFE were cut short because a handful of guys had a hard-on for their ego trips and "tradition."
I hope who ever the pledge trainers were for SAE during Fall 2006 were punished severely...like jail time severe. UT credit hours revoked severe. Something! People have been sentenced for less. AND lets be real--any guy who wants to be a pledge trainer is usually a huge dbag and trying to make up for other departments that are severely lacking. I remember freshman year one pledge trainer had a huge issue with feeling me up at any party I attended at a particular frat. Every time I threatened his life he would run off without saying a word. Later I learned he had a lisp problem which included a story with the tag line "Come on baby, thuck it"-- like I said, pledge trainers are the shiniest of all tools.
So congratulations UT for showing the greeks who's boss, I'm sure the slap of the wrist you gave the frat really left a sting. I'm also sure the SAE alumni who donate large amounts of dough to the school didn't sway your decision at ALL in this disciplinary decision either.
Rest in peace Tyler Cross.
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