Social fraternity suspended
Kalen Ponche
Issue date: 1/18/07 Section: News
Alpha Kappa Lambda social fraternity has received a two-year suspension from the University by the Conduct Hearing Board. The sanctions follow the injury of a student after a bid-night party in September. The fraternity members are appealing the ruling.
Eighteen-year-old freshman Ryan Schafer signed his bid with AKL Sept. 15 and then continued to the house of an AKL member where he consumed alcohol, according to a report submitted to the national fraternity by AKL chapter president, senior Dan Naumann.
Schafer then went to another off-campus residence where he continued to drink. AKL members later took him back to the AKL house to "sleep off the effects of the alcohol," the document said.
Schafer said the individual who was watching over him left to use the bathroom, and when he returned was unable to find him. Schafer said he tried to leave the AKL house but fell down the stairs. He was later found at the bottom of the stairs, bleeding from his head.
"I woke up the next morning, and I didn't feel very bad, I just felt very tired, so I went back to my room and slept for quite a bit of the day," he said. "On Sunday morning I decided I probably needed to get it checked out, so I went to the hospital."
Schafer suffered skull fractures and was sent to Boone County Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Schafer said he feels fine now.
"I just drank way too much, and it was on my own accord," he said. "I didn't have anybody saying, 'drink this much.' There were people there that weren't drinking out of my pledge class. I guess I just got carried away."
Schafer, who still is a member of the fraternity, said he hasn't felt any ill will from members since the incident occurred. He said he thinks the fraternity should take some responsibility for what happened.
"Obviously it did happen on their watch, but it shouldn't be something so detrimental that it can erase 53 years of history because of one incident," he said.
Please see AKL, Page 7
Eighteen-year-old freshman Ryan Schafer signed his bid with AKL Sept. 15 and then continued to the house of an AKL member where he consumed alcohol, according to a report submitted to the national fraternity by AKL chapter president, senior Dan Naumann.
Schafer then went to another off-campus residence where he continued to drink. AKL members later took him back to the AKL house to "sleep off the effects of the alcohol," the document said.
Schafer said the individual who was watching over him left to use the bathroom, and when he returned was unable to find him. Schafer said he tried to leave the AKL house but fell down the stairs. He was later found at the bottom of the stairs, bleeding from his head.
"I woke up the next morning, and I didn't feel very bad, I just felt very tired, so I went back to my room and slept for quite a bit of the day," he said. "On Sunday morning I decided I probably needed to get it checked out, so I went to the hospital."
Schafer suffered skull fractures and was sent to Boone County Hospital in Columbia, Mo. Schafer said he feels fine now.
"I just drank way too much, and it was on my own accord," he said. "I didn't have anybody saying, 'drink this much.' There were people there that weren't drinking out of my pledge class. I guess I just got carried away."
Schafer, who still is a member of the fraternity, said he hasn't felt any ill will from members since the incident occurred. He said he thinks the fraternity should take some responsibility for what happened.
"Obviously it did happen on their watch, but it shouldn't be something so detrimental that it can erase 53 years of history because of one incident," he said.
Please see AKL, Page 7
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