THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 152
When he discusses drinking, tragedy and lawsuits with people nationwide, Dave Westol gets rapt attention by flashing a picture of grim young men in dark suits and ties their hands folded. Their heads bowed
"I throw that slide up, and the audience inevitably becomes silent," said Westol, a former chief executive officer of the national Theta Chi fraternity and now an official for the Fraternal Information and Programming Group, a nonprofit that educates Greeks nationwide on risky behaviors and legal liabilities.
The picture shows the funeral of 19-year-old University of Kansas freshman Jason Wren, who was pronounced dead from alcohol poisoning on March 8, 2009, in his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
Before Jason Wren died, he was best known for his big heart and fun-loving nature. He was outgoing. He was athletic. He played for the KU lacrosse club.
But since his death, Wren is better known for how and where he died. His name has taken on a national and local role as an attention-grabber for experts like Westol and a wake-up call for universities. He is just one student among grim statistics that show significant alcohol abuse among college students — especially those at the University of Kansas — and even more abuse among fraternity members nationwide.
BEFORE
Jason Wren died in a fraternity, but he spent most of his time at the University elsewhere.
In August 2008, his freshman year, he moved onto the first floor of
Oliver Hall. Five months later, he told his father he had to move out for violating undisclosed rules.
Jay Wren said he called the Department of Student Housing to ask why his son had to leave, but a representative told him that information was confidential because of the University's privacy policy. According to a court filing by SAE's lawyer, Jason was kicked out for repeatedly violating the University's alcohol policy. Because it was mid-semester, he had nowhere to live. The filing said Wren was able to pledge SAE through a friend and immediately move into the house.
Diana Robertson, director of Student Housing, said in an email that — in addition to increased emphasis on alcohol education — the department has changed its policy. It now notifies parents when a student's housing contract is canceled because of alcohol or drug violations.
Jay Wren told The Kansas that his son had downplayed his write-ups — that a resident assistant found a shot glass, and later a beer can, in his room, and that he had been seen holding a beer can for a friend while the friend used the restroom.
Reading about that claim in a Kansan story brought back memories for the resident assistant on the other side of that incident. Since Wren didn't live on the RA's floor, the RA hadn't yet realized he wrote up the freshman whose death dominated newspaper headlines.
"I don't feel guilty about it at all, but I feel like a part of the chain of events that caused this to happen," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
SEE WREN ON PAGE SA
Contributed photo
Jason shares a moment with his sisters Katie, left, and Victoria. Wren graduated from Araphoe High School in Littleton, Colo., in May 2008. Victoria committed suicide about 10 months after Jason's death.
What do you think?
BY JANENE GIER | jgier@kansan.com
LEIGH ANN BAKER Topeka senior
"I think I'll most remember when I got into grad school. What I want to most remember is why my education is important to me. I have something to do with my life now. I'm going somewhere. A step further - in a direction. I was worried about jobs and now with the grad program I got into, which is library science, I'll be able to get a better job in a very specific field.
Wichita graduate student "I helped bring in a speaker for the group I'm involved with, Intervarsity. So that was really an experience to actually practice bringing someone in and he spoke on the myth of moral neutrality. It's kind of, what the importance of morals are in our society in relation to faith and academia. I think it's interesting to see that sometimes our society is very much like,'whatever floats your boat, works for you.' It was interesting for me to hear that you could still have a moral stance while still being in a diverse society.
ASHLEY PETERSON
TAYLOR HOVORKA
Overland Park senior "I want to remember I that came here and did what I was supposed to, or did what I planned on doing in the four years, which is really important to me. It seems really real and I feel like it's been forever. My time is up and I'm ready to move on. I'm definitely ready for the real world. I'm excited to get paid for all the hours I put in every day."
What will you remember most about this semester?
What would you most like to remember?
DILLON DAVIS
Topeka freshman
"I'd like to remember all of the new experiences I've made, and friends that I've made, and how much better my life has become after this first year at KU. I've learned a lot of new routes, which places to avoid, which ways to get to class quicker, what buildings are which, what kinds of classes to expect, the places in town that I know are good, places to eat. I'm just going to be that much more prepared for next year."
ERIC ROWLANDS Manhattan junior
"Probably filming the 'Gates of Summer', because that was really weird. It's a larping event and I went there to film it for documentary and that was pretty crazy. Larping is liveaction role-playing and so it was like 200 people who were dressed up like characters in costumes and battle armor and, and getting drunk and fighting each other."
Extended hours began May 8 and will continue through the end of finals week. Watson library will operate until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. Anschutz will be open 24 hours a day and will have extended checkout periods until midnight. Spahr library will be open 24 hours a day between Sunday and Friday.
University of Kansas libraries are open for extended hours to accommodate students studying for final exams.
BY CHRIS HONG chong@kansan.com
Libraries stay open 24 hours a day
In addition to the extended hours, there will be free coffee and hot chocolate in Anschutz and Watson libraries every night between Monday and Thursday of finals week from 10:30 to 11 p.m. The Hawk Stop at Anschutz will be operating 24 hours a day during finals week as well.
INDEX
Classifieds ... 8A
Crossword ... 7A
Cryptquips ... 7A
Opinion...6A
Sports...10A
Sudoku...7A
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
CAMPUS
WEATHER TODAY 9270
Forecasts by KU students. For a complete detailed forecast for the week, see page 2.
Leaving KU See inside for a list of graduates
GRAD GUIDE | INSIDE
JAYPLAY | INSIDE
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Three students share their extreme stories
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