8 Charged In Chico Hazing Death

Article link here. Read it fast as it seems the Chico Enterprise Record is now charging to read archived new columns after 24 hours of being posted.

Today, at a noon time news conference, Butte County DA, Mike Ramsey will announce the names of those who will be charged with the the hazing death of 21 year-old Matthew Carrington. Carrington died as a result of cardiac dysrhythmia an interrupted heart rhythm due to water intoxication.

Over all, this has been a troubling year for Chico State students and staff due to the number of near death experiences. Just this year alone, there have been 3 near fatalities due to drinking and now this death. I'm hoping the charges against these 8 students will send a message about hazing as well as alcohol abuse.

I'm interested as to why these types of reports are growing in number. When I pledged, there was a fair amount of drinking going on, but I don't recall any problems with drinking induced deaths or near deaths being reported. Now be aware that while I was an active, it was common to have kegs at the house on Fridays or weekends, alcohol was allowed at the fraternity house, and large parties were not uncommon. These days, there is no alcohol allowed in or around fraternity houses, therefore there are no large parties or kegs on the porch, but the problems attributed to drinking seem to have increased. I guess when the partying gets pushed underground things get out of hand.