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: <i>Coghlan v. Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, 133 Idaho 388, 987 P.2d 300, 139
</i>><i> Ed.L.Rep 643
</i>><i> (1999).</i> <a href="http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2009-September/066020.html">http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/2009-September/066020.html</a><br><br>This is the fourth WSU or U of I student falling from upper building floors since 2012 fall semester started this year. <br>
<br>Alcohol is a gateway drug to really stupid behavior, I guess it goes without saying... <br><br>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.<br>
<br>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...<br>
------------------------------------------<br><a href="http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/27/wsu-student-hurt-in-fall-from-balcony/">http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/27/wsu-student-hurt-in-fall-from-balcony/</a><br>
<br><a class="quiet" href="http://www.spokesman.com/2012/nov/27/">November 27, 2012</a> in <a href="http://www.spokesman.com/city/">City</a>
<h1>WSU student hurt in fall from balcony</h1>
<h5 class="subhead">Fraternity member in critical condition; alcohol cited</h5>
<div class="details nested grid-4"><span>
<strong style="margin-right:3px">
<a rel="author" href="http://www.spokesman.com/staff/nicole-hensley/">Nicole Hensley</a>
</strong>The Spokesman-Review
</span></div><br><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>Medics
took Healey to Pullman Regional Hospital and then later to Providence
Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. He was in critical
condition Monday.</p><p>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. </p><p>WSU administrators created an alcohol
and drug task force in response to what they said is a growing problem
of students drinking too much.</p><p>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.” </p><p>Lambda Chi Alpha chapter President Justin Alexander said he was not at the house when Healey fell.</p><p>He described Healey as a “great guy” with a “super good heart.” </p><p>“He’s one of those guys that would do almost anything for you – always a friend,” Alexander said.</p>
<p>------------------------------------------</p><p>Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett<br></p><br>