Saved from : http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~53~2446237,00.html Article Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 CU death blamed on alcohol By Jim Hughes Denver Post Staff Writer University of Colorado freshman Lynn "Gordie" Bailey died from acute alcohol poisoning with a blood-alcohol level of 0.328 percent, the Boulder County coroner's office announced Monday. Bailey, 18, died after a Sept. 16 ritual for the Chi Psi fraternity involving wine and whiskey, Boulder police said. There were no other drugs in Bailey's system, according to coroner Tom Faure, who has ruled the death an accident. Faure's findings "speak for themselves," said Bailey's mother, Leslie Lanahan. "They say what a tragedy this is." The drinking that day started about 9 p.m., and Bailey was passed out by 11 p.m., police said. If Bailey's weight estimated by the person who called 911 - about 230 pounds - is accurate, Bailey drank the equivalent of nearly 22 beers during those two hours, according to an online blood-alcohol level calculator. On Sept. 5, Colorado State University sophomore Samantha Spady died from alcohol poisoning in Fort Collins. Spady, 19, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.436 percent. Bailey's family members said Monday that they are unhappy with CU's response to his death. "They invite these kids up there, to the No. 1 party school, and then they avoid all responsibility of integrating these kids into the community. There's no responsibility or leadership," said Michael Lanahan, Bailey's stepfather. "We don't see anyone at this point trying to do the right thing. They're just circling the wagons." CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny last week said the university would be implementing a series of reforms, ranging from an end to fraternities' recruitment of freshmen in the fall semester to new training and educational programs for CU personnel and students. "We are committed to doing everything we can to prevent such a tragedy from happening again," Byyny said Monday in a news release. Bob Maust, who chairs CU's standing committee on substance abuse, said he hoped the two recent deaths in Colorado will help college students realize the dangers of binge drinking. "We just keep refusing to acknowledge as a society that alcohol, by definition, is a toxin," Maust said. "You don't have to be drinking and driving, or operating a power tool, or getting into a fight or anything like that. You can just sit down and drink yourself to death." In his regular monthly radio address Monday morning, before Faure's announcement, Gov. Bill Owens emphasized that alcohol abuse is not unique to college campuses. Everybody shares some responsibility for the problem, he said. "I'm not ... typically one who has socialized guilt," he said. "But we do ... not provide the right role models, and some parents aren't teaching their kids how to drink responsibly or to stay away from alcohol completely." Police in Boulder are still interviewing Chi Psi members and other students as they investigate Bailey's death, Chief Mark Beckner said Monday. The fraternity's national organization has suspended the local chapter, pending the results of internal and police investigations. / Staff writer Erin Cox contributed to this report./ / / / Staff writer Jim Hughes can be reached at 303-820-1244 or jhughes@denverpost.com ./ All contents Copyright 2004 The Denver Post or other copyright holders. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed for any commercial purpose. Denver Post Ethics Policy Terms of use | Privacy policy RELATED Oct. 20: CU chides students in booze story Boulder to review rules tied to alcohol Oct. 17: Candidate for regents rips CU's ties with Coors Oct. 16: CSU alcohol panel to hold public forum Oct. 15: A fatal mix of zest, trust Oct. 11: CSU frats go dry in wake of student's death Stop splitting hairs Oct. 10: National Chi Psi leaders say "hazing" led to death at CU Oct. 9: Boulder creates alcohol plan Oct. 10: Kids suffer from culture of privilege Oct. 8: Frat brothers scrawled slurs on dying pledge Oct. 7: Boulder frat's charter revoked Oct. 3: CU asks for halt to liquor licensing Fears swirl around device to inhale alcohol Oct. 2: Oklahoma fraternity death ruled as alcohol poisoning Oct. 1: CSU alcohol panel sees no quick fixes Student, 19, found dead at University of Oklahoma Alcohol deaths renew mom's resolve Sep. 30: CU neighbors ask Boulder to tighten liquor licensing Frats at CU resist rush limits Sep. 29: Greeks' CU rush will be delayed Sep. 27: Past tragedies, reforms offer path for CU, CSU Sep. 26: "It's time to party" Sep. 24: College towns see underage drinking rise The brotherhood of booze Sep. 23: Grieving parents want CU to change Frat rite died to death CU woes with alcohol, pledges not new Millions paid in hazing lawsuits Sep. 22: 400 gather at CU student's rites Kin of CSU's Spady start effort to fight alcohol abuse Sep. 21: Excerpts from 911 distress call "He drank way too much" CSU students silently protest game beer ban Sep. 20: Frat mourns pledge's death Sep. 19: Teen was making his mark at CU Amid ban, fans hit booze early CU Greek events halted Sep. 18: Student found dead after CU frat party Sep. 19: Spady's death already changing CSU culture Sep. 17: Coroner: Spady had up to 40 drinks before her death 19 cited as CSU death is probed Sep. 15: Lieutenant governor to lead CSU alcohol probe Sep. 12: Students' binges growing heavier Police track "trail of alcohol" "Sam" mourned in stories, songs Sep. 11: Police tracking "trail of alcohol" Sep. 10: Hometown says goodbye to Spady Family insists "one mistake" killed daughter Death spurs CSU frats to ban booze at houses Sep. 9: Woman felt safe at frat house Sep. 8: How to send condolences Alcohol deaths among college students Frat suspended after alcohol death Many are to blame in CSU death Student remembered with stories, tears Sep. 7: Hometown remembers Spady as "good kid" Booze, not foul play, eyed in CSU death Sep. 6: Body found at CSU fraternity