ANOTHER DRINKING DEATH

On October 6. 2000. the Pi  Kappa  Phi  Fraternity  at the California State University at Chico conducted  what  The San Francisco Chronicle described as a “ceremony.” By 1 :00 a.m. the following morning. Adrian Heideman was dead in the fraternity house at the age of 18. The Chronicle reports that Heideman had a blood alcohol level of 0.37 percent at the time of his death. more than four times the legal limit for driving in the State of California. Witnesses reportedly told police that Heideman drank heavily at the “ceremony.” The local district attorney reported that he was “most definitely” considering bringing criminal charges against members of the fraternity. Both the university and the national fraternity promptly moved to suspend the recognition of the chapter.

Two months after Heideman’s  death, on December 5th , the university permanently banned the fraternity from campus. University President Manuel Estebaw said “The Pi Kappa Phi chapter must be punished for its actions related to Adrian Heideman’s death.”

The San Jose Mercury News reported on December 6th that the Butte County District Attorney is expected to announce shortly if criminal charges will be filed against chapter members or the national fraternity.

Undoubtedly, this is a tragedy about which  more will be heard in the future.