Tuesday, April 4, 2000

WRITER: Tom Jackson, Communications Director, 706/542-8090
CONTACT: Richard Mullendore, Vice President for Student Affairs 706/542-8223

UGA SUSPENDS ALPHA TAU OMEGA PENDING OUTCOME OF DEATH INVESTIGATION
Statement by Michael F. Adams, University of Georgia president, regarding the death of Benjamin Folsom Grantham III

ATHENS, Ga. -- The University of Georgia today placed Alpha Tau Omega fraternity on interim suspension pending further investigation into circumstances surrounding the death of fraternity member Ben Grantham. Grantham died March 30 as the result of injuries in a car wreck in Oconee County. Law enforcement officials are investigating the death as a possible case of hazing.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Victor Wilson, acting on recommendation of Director of Student Activities Pat Johnson, issued the ruling today after reviewing the matter with Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Mullendore, President Michael F. Adams and the president's senior administrative staff. Mullendore notified ATO's executive director of the action in a 3 p.m. meeting today.

Under university student affairs policy governing organizations, interim suspension of a unit's organizational status is an available option "when an alleged action of the organization is of such an egregious nature as to require an immediate response." While under interim suspension, the chapter may not hold any social or recruitment activities. Members who normally live in the house will be allowed to stay there at least through the close of spring semester.

Representatives of the Alpha Tau Omega national organization are on campus conducting their own investigation and also have the option of issuing sanctions as the probe continues.

No criminal charges have yet been filed by law enforcement agencies, but the matter remains under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol, the Oconee County Sheriff's Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Western Judicial Circuit district attorney.


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Statement by UGA President Michael F. Adams regarding the death of student Benjamin F. Grantham III

"This is a terrible tragedy. We join the Grantham family and Ben's many friends in mourning his loss. If we learn anything in such a dark moment, it is that pranks and fun and foolishness are not always harmless. They can go horribly awry, and there is no turning back from the damage done.

"The university takes very seriously the responsibilities of our students to one another and of our student organizations to abide by the law and our regulations. As we work through the grieving process, we also must gather information on why and how this happened. From the perspective of the university's student and organizational conduct codes, if there is responsibility to be assigned and disciplinary action to be taken, it will be done in due course."

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  • UGA suspends fraternity pending investigation of student death
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