The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Alcohol awareness classes over banning fraternities

I am writing in response to the series of articles you have done on the death of SIU Freshman, Brent Johnson. My letter isn't about the way you have covered the event, which I think you have done very professionally, but it is about the way your University has chosen to handle the event.

I knew Brent in high school, we were on the wrestling team together for a couple of seasons, and he was a kind and determined individual. His death certainly came as a shock to me, and to the community of Mahomet. Growing up in Illinois, SIU has always had the reputation of being a "party school." So is it really that much of a shock that a fraternity on its campus had alcohol, consumed alcohol, and distributed it to a minor?

I personally am not a member of any Greek organization, but I feel the way SIU is choosing to handle this situation is completely wrong. Why simply punish the fraternity? What message are you sending them? It is wrong to get drunk, and have one of your friends accidentally die. I am sure they are aware of this, and I am sure those students who were with Brent that night regret their actions.

I think this is just a way for SIU to shirk off any responsibility in this situation. Wouldn't it be wiser to make all the fraternities take alcohol awareness classes, or to make all incoming freshman take a course on the responsibilities of drinking.

You are not going to get college students to stop drinking alcohol; it is just impossible, so why not teach them how to drink responsibly.

Recently at Ball State a student was shot four times because of a situation that started with him having too much to drink. How long are universities going to just sit by and watch their students die because of lack of knowledge? It seems that a university should teach its students how to be responsible in all areas of their lives.

I think SIU should take the high ground on this situation and teach instead of punish. If you just punish students for this incident, it is probably going to happen again. Don't let Brent's death be in vain, let other students learn the perils of irresponsible drinking.

Tim Turner

Editor in Chief of the Vincennes University Trailblazer

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