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09/24 National GORDIE Day |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 | 9:30 AM EDT
CARMEL, INDIANA – Today, six chapters: Akron, Central Michigan, Lawrence Tech., Murray State, Wake Forest, and Washington will participate in National GORDIE Day. Activities include handing out informational materials, hosting a speaker, or hosting an event on campus to raise awareness.
National GORDIE Day is an alcohol and hazing awareness event held across the United States and abroad each fall. The Gordie Foundation (www.gordie.org) coordinates efforts with colleges, universities and high schools, and provides free educational materials to participating institutions. This is the first year that Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is participating. Click Here to see a complete list.
On September 17th, 2004, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr. ("Gordie") was found dead at the Chi Psi Fraternity house at the University of Colorado at Boulder. On the evening of September 16th, Gordie and twenty-six other pledges dressed in coats and ties for "bid night", were taken blindfolded to the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest where they were “encouraged” to drink four "handles" (1.75 liter bottles) of whiskey and six (1.5 liter) bottles of wine around a bonfire in 30 minutes. They were told, “no one is leaving here until these are gone.” When the group returned to the Fraternity house, Gordie was visibly intoxicated and did not drink anymore. He was placed on a couch to “sleep it off” at approximately 11pm. His brothers proceeded to write on his body in another fraternity ritual. Gordie was left to "sleep it off" for 10 hours before he was found dead the next morning, face down on the floor. No one had called for help.
Statistics show that 82% of hazing deaths involve alcohol. Sadly, Gordie Bailey’s death was just one of these tragedies. We also know that 5,000 students under the age of 21 will die this year alone in alcohol-related incidents. Clearly, the need exists for frank, honest discussions about hazing and alcohol misuse.
The Gordie Foundation is committed to facilitating these conversations, and we believe National GORDIE Day is key to getting the ball rolling toward positive progress and away from destructive hazing activities and high-risk drinking.
This year, National GORDIE Day coincides with National Hazing Prevention Week. We hope the anti-hazing efforts taking place nationwide will help provide a framework to discuss responsible alcohol use.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Steve Latour, Director of Chapter Services
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| 317.843.1911 ext. 235
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Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Yale University in 1845, and currently recognizes 68 chapters and colonies across the country. The Fraternity aims to be the co-curricular organization of choice for discerning young men through the provision of an enriching brotherhood experience and a full range of character and leadership development opportunities. The national headquarters of Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity is located in Carmel, Indiana.
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