The Death of Carson Starkey: One Year Later - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

The Death of Carson Starkey: One Year Later

12/2/09

CAL POLY -- One year ago, a Cal Poly freshman was found dead, after a fraternity hazing ritual.

On Wednesday, students, faculty and staff paused to reflect on Carson Starkey's death, as well as the changes that have been made in the greek community.

"You don't want to forget what happened, you don't want to make the same mistake," said Kyle Struthers, a member of the Delta Chi fraternity.

Without saying a word, they would pick up a piece of green material and tie it to an arm.

"I feel that pain just putting the arm band on and remembering him," said Harmony Carrera, Cal Poly Panhellenic Advisor.

The 18-year-old freshman student was pledging the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity when he was found dead of alcohol poisoning.

"He was a really good kid, you know, headed for a bright future and in an instance of stupidity it was all taken away," said Tanner Bennett, president of the Delta Chi fraternity.

Starkey died after attending a pledge event called Brown Bag Night.

Since his death, members of the greek community say they have eliminated alcohol from the pledging process.

"It removes a risk factor from the fraternity which is good," said Struthers. "It teaches the pledges that it's not essential to the fraternity experience."

University officials believe students have learned difficult lessons over the last year. Nevertheless, they have tightened the reigns on the greek community.

"I think Carson will be symbolically an important messenger for future Cal Poly students as we look at student behavior, we look at what puts students in harms way and as we remind ourselves as our own immortality," said Stephan Lamb, Associate Director of Student Life and Leadership.

The Cal Poly chapter of the SAE fraternity has been indefinitely suspended.

Four members are facing criminal charges tied to Starkey's death.