The Mississippi State University chapter of Alpha Tau Omega faces investigation after underage drinking was reported Wednesday night at a party held at the campus fraternity house.A student was taken to Oktibbeha County Hospital from Cresswell Hall Thursday at 2 a.m. on suspicion of alcohol poisoning, according to a report from the MSU Police Department.
The report is unclear as to whether this was related to the fraternity incident.
MSU police and student affairs officials have spoken with representatives of the local fraternity chapter and also contacted representatives from the national headquarters, according to the report.
“The residence hall staff noticed intoxicated students who had been at that event,” vice president for student affairs Bill Kibler said in a report in the Clarion-Ledger. “They are trained to recognize and follow up on students who appear to be intoxicated.”
Alcohol is a problem on the MSU campus, but is a significant problem for virtually every campus in the country, he said in an interview.
Wynn Smiley, ATO chief executive officer for the national fraternity, said the alleged incident does not go along with ATO ideals.
“We are looking at the allegations, but we do not condone underage drinking,” Smiley said.
Smiley said he believes that in response to the incident, the chapter has done a good job.
“The chapter is responding appropriately after the fact, and the individuals involved are stepping up to the plate,” he said. “It’s about taking responsibility where responsibility can be taken.”
Students also could face criminal charges. University police are handling the case, though the fraternity house is in the Starkville city limits, Kibler said in the Clarion-Ledger.
“[Those in violation of the campus’ alcohol policy] can receive anything from a reprimand to expulsion from the university,” he said in an interview.
He also said there are some programs at MSU to help curb the use of alcohol on campus.
“There are an array of things to help inform students about the hazards of excessive consumption of alcohol,” he said in an interview.
MSU oftentimes handles situations that involve students who violate the alcohol policy.
However, Kibler said that since he has been at the university, he has not experienced alcohol allegations on this level, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
MSU has experienced other incidents related to alcohol abuse over the years.
The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in 2001 and 2003 was penalized for alcohol-related reasons.
Also in 2005, MSU sophomore Kyle Giachelli, a Kappa Alpha member, died after being hit by a car in an alcohol-related car accident.