Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LOGAN -- Utah State University has suspended a fraternity after an underage girl consumed an excessive amount of alcohol at the frat house and was rushed to the hospital.
The Gamma Epsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha will be suspended indefinitely pending an investigation of the Monday incident, school President Stan Albrecht said.
"We feel we have the right to take any steps necessary to keep the university and its members safe," said James Morales, vice president of student services. "What we do know is sufficient for us to take action ... and implement this suspension immediately."
Police Assistant Chief Jeff Curtis said the girl, who is 17, was "extremely sick," but her current condition was unknown.
Morales declined to say if more than one student was involved. No arrests have been made.
When contacted for comment, a resident at the frat house said "not interested" and hung up.
Curtis said the university is taking under-age drinking more seriously after the November 2008 death of 18-year-old Michael Starks of Salt Lake City. The USU freshman died of acute alcohol poisoning while pledging at the Sigma Nu fraternity.
"I believe that case certainly changed things," Curtis said.
Starks' family sued the university over an alleged failure to address Sigma Nu's past misconduct, but is dropping the suit after USU agreed to strengthen efforts to prevent alcohol abuse.
Because the frat is no longer officially recognized by USU, it has limited or no access to university services pending the outcome of the investigation, Morales said.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
