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Newsletter > January 2003 > "NEVADA DROWNING LEADS TO HAZING CHARGES"
NEVADA DROWNING LEADS TO HAZING CHARGES
Timothy M. Burke, Manley Burke, tburke@manleyburke.com
At approximately 2:00 a.m. on October 10th, Albert Jerome Refuerzo Santos drowned in Manzanita Lake at the University of Nevada Reno. Santos was a freshman pledge of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Published reports indicate that at the time of his death he had a blood alcohol content of .062. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to file criminal charges against the pledges or fraternity members. In December, the University of Nevada Reno brought disciplinary violations against 15 students who had been members or pledges with the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. The charges range from illegal swimming to hazing. A month earlier, the University had banned the Pi Kappa Alpha Chapter from campus and prohibited its 33 members from joining any other Greek organizations.
The Reno Gazette-Journal editorialized on December 22, 2002 that:
“The evening that ended with the death of Albert Refuerzo Santos undoubtedly started innocently enough. College kids usually consider themselves invulnerable and are sure that the rules apply to everyone but them. A late-night swim probably seemed harmless, especially to young men who’d apparently been drinking.
“But actions have consequences, and breaking the rules resulted in a tragic death. It is a tough lesson, but one that all students should – must – learn.”