Other campus: Punishment sends wrong message (Cal State-Chico)
December 8, 2005
(U-WIRE) CHICO, Calif. – When 19-year-old Richard Amador lost consciousness during a fraternity event, his soon-to-be fraternity brothers acted fast. Despite a near-fatal .496 blood-alcohol content, Amador was taken to the hospital and put on life-support. He lived.
When 21-year-old Matthew Carrington began having a seizure after drinking gallons of water during a fraternity ritual, the fraternity members did not act fast. Carrington was left lying on a couch. His friends did not take him to the hospital. He died. One semester later, some of Carrington’s fraternity brothers are sitting in jail and facing fines of up to $3,160.
Fraternity brother Kevin Hallmeyer, who bought Amador the alcohol but also took him to the hospital, may not be going to jail, but his fines could add up to much more than $3,000. No good deed goes unpunished – and Hallmeyer’s actions are no exception.
He’ll be paying all medical bills that Amador’s insurance doesn’t cover.
By holding Hallmeyer responsible for thousands of dollars in bills – bills he wouldn’t have incurred if he had left Amador to die – the courts are sending young people the wrong message.
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Hallmeyer has already held a community service event. He has paid his debt. Forcing him to pay his debt in cash is only going to hurt the next student with alcohol poisoning.
While it’s not clear who should end up paying the hospital bills, it doesn’t seem right that you get off easier financially for hazing someone to death than for providing alcohol that someone drank on their own will.
Staff Editorial
The Orion (Cal State-Chico)