[Vision2020] Spokesman-Review 11-27-12: "WSU student falls from balcony, in critical condition; alcohol cited"

[Ted Moffett]

I was discussing with a friend the numerous students from U of I and WSU
who over recent decades have fallen from upper floors of buildings, the
very day this recent fall happened, before reading about this incident.
One of the more tragic cases at the U of I happened in Aug. 1993: *Coghlan
v. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 133 Idaho 388, 987 P.2d 300, 139 *>* Ed.L.Rep
643 *>* (1999).*
http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2009-September/066020.html

This is the fourth WSU or U of I student falling from upper building floors
since 2012 fall semester started this year.

Alcohol is a gateway drug to really stupid behavior, I guess it goes
without saying...

But the frequency of illegal under age access (recent victim was 19) to
alcohol by college students, makes a joke of any laws intended to prosecute
those who distribute alcohol to under age drinkers.  It seems that if we
are going to criminalize distribution of cannabis to those under 21, the
penalties and law enforcement emphasis for distributing alcohol to under
age drinkers should be equally severe, if not more so, given the dangerous
effects of alcohol intoxication on behavior, arguably more dangerous than
the effects of cannabis.

But alcohol still maintains an aura of mainstream acceptability, leading to
a level of tolerance of this dangerous drug that is irrational.  How many
are in prison for distributing alcohol to under age drinkers, compared to
cannabis?  I'm not suggesting prohibition, but still...
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http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/27/wsu-student-hurt-in-fall-from-balcony/

November 27, 2012 <http://www.spokesman.com/2012/nov/27/> in
City<http://www.spokesman.com/city/> WSU
student hurt in fall from balcony Fraternity member in critical condition;
alcohol cited
* Nicole Hensley <http://www.spokesman.com/staff/nicole-hensley/> *The
Spokesman-Review

Police say alcohol was a factor in another incident at Washington State
University, where a student fell two stories early Sunday from a
fraternity balcony.

Griffin E. Healey, 19, was unconscious but breathing when Pullman police
arrived at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, 910 N.E. Colorado St., just
after 1 a.m. Sunday.

Witnesses told police Healey was trying to sit on the second-floor railing
when he fell backward and hit his head. A retaining wall and some rocks sit
under the balcony, said Pullman police Cmdr. Chris Tennant.

Medics took Healey to Pullman Regional Hospital and then later to
Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was in critical
condition Monday.

The fall was the fourth this fall by college students who were reportedly
drinking alcohol – three at WSU and one at the University of Idaho.

WSU administrators created an alcohol and drug task force in response to
what they said is a growing problem of students drinking too much.

The task force met earlier this month to analyze the school’s alcohol and
drug programs, said WSU spokeswoman Kathy Barnard. “Really, the task force
is looking at general policies and procedures,” Barnard said. “The context
of this fall is different because it happened off campus, but it still
involves a WSU student.”

Lambda Chi Alpha chapter President Justin Alexander said he was not at the
house when Healey fell.

He described Healey as a “great guy” with a “super good heart.”

“He’s one of those guys that would do almost anything for you – always a
friend,” Alexander said.

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Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
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