Student dies of overdose
A USU freshman died Friday morning, Nov. 21, during a pledge for membership into the Sigma Nu fraternity, said Capt. Jeff Curtis of the Logan City Police Department.
Michael Starks, 18, was unresponsive on the corner of 800 East and 700 North, Curtis said. CPR was performed before Starks was transported to Logan Regional Hospital, Curtis said. Starks was pronounced dead shortly before 4 a.m.
“From what we’ve heard, this was part of an initiation process with the fraternity,” Curtis said.
While the official cause of death is still under investigation by the State Medical Examiner’s office, Curtis said Starks’ blood alcohol content was “very high.”
Starks’ family said he had no prior alcohol use, in a statement released Friday.
“Michael has no prior history of drinking or substance abuse, and the randomness of this tragedy haunts us all,” the statement read.
Police have identified the individuals who supplied the alcohol but have taken no action as of Sunday night, Curtis said, pending the results from the medical examiner and further investigation. Officials from the national chapter of Sigma Nu are currently at the fraternity house and have been in contact with the Logan City Police, he said. An official meeting between police and Sigma Nu officials is scheduled for Monday, he said.
According to a statement provided by the Sigma Nu organization Friday, all activities of the USU chapter have been suspended.
“That suspension is a standard measure and will remain in place until we’re able to gather more information about this tragic loss,” Fraternity Executive Director Brad Beacham said in the statement.
Beacham also said fraternity staff and local alumni leaders are providing support to the chapter and communicating with university officials.
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the family of this young man and all who had the opportunity to know him,” he stated.
USU has not taken action against the fraternity or any individuals pending the completion of Logan City’s investigation, said Tiffany Evans, director of student involvement. A Greek-wide meeting was held Friday to notify the different organizations of the death, she said, and counseling was provided.
“We’re just keeping in touch and seeing what their needs are,” she said.
This incident was atypical for dealings between the university and the fraternities or sororities, she said.
“We don’t tend to have a lot of problems (with our Greek community),” Evans said.
In a statement released Friday, John DeVilbiss, executive director of USU Public Relations and Marketing, said the university is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident, as well as reviewing it within the university.
“This is alarming and tragic,” DeVilbiss said in the statement. “We are shocked and saddened. Our first priority is with the family of this young man who lost his life, and our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”
Starks lived in Mountain View Towers on campus and was a graduate of Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City.
“Michael was an outstanding young man who blessed us with 18 years of compassion, love and joy. He served many hours of volunteerism and reached out to many people in need. His absence from our family is a devastating loss,” the Starks family said in their statement.
–lisa.m.christensen@aggiemail.usu.edu