Hazing Violation Suspends KDR College Mourns Nathan Alexander

April 9, 2015 | Vol. 113 no. 21 | middleburycampus.com Hazing Violation Suspends KDR By Joe Flaherty that take place in Greek life at The College suspended the other colleges and universities. social house Kappa Delta Rho Vice President for Student (KDR) on March 24 after it con- Affairs and Dean of the College cluded KDR members had vio- Katy Smith Abbott made the lated the College’s hazing pol- determination that the hazing icy. KDR residential members policy was violated after an in- were required to move out of vestigation by the Department the house by April 6. The house of Public Safety. The sanction, will remain unoccupied for the as communicated to KDR, was remainder of the semester. suspension of the student or- A statement from the Col- ganization. KDR members are lege provided to the Campus eligible for other college hous- said, “From its investigation, ing during the housing draw for the College determined that neXt semester. KDR also cannot ivan valladares current KDR members had vio- recruit new members and can- Residents of the Kappa Delta Rho (KDR) social house were forced to move out after KDR was sus- lated the College’s hazing policy not hold activities until the suspended for hazing on March 24. The house, pictured here, will remain unoccupied until the fall. in a number of areas, including pension period is complete. verbal abuse, blindfolding, and The College handbook states, encouraging the use of alcohol.” “For purposes of this policy, Administrators in the Dean hazing is defined as any act The class of 2019 // at a glance of Students office as well as committed by a person, wheth- the KDR leadership declined to er individually or in concert comment on the details of the with others, against a student hazing allegations, citing pri- in connection with pledging, Out of applicants, just students were accepted. That’s vacy concerns and the need to being initiated into, affiliating 8,894 1,512 17% keep the specifics of the inves- with, holding office in, partici- tigation confidential. pating in, or maintaining mem- The events that took place bership in any organization or to initiate the investigation oc- team affiliated with Middle- Expected enrollment: bury College; and which is in- 20% curred during the fall semester. On Nov. 24, the College received tended to have the effect of, or & word of a possible hazing policy should reasonably be eXpected 590 100 to have the effect of, humiliat- violation by KDR. On Dec. 10, of incoming students were admitted through early decision Regs Febs then-Dean of the College Shir- ing, intimidating or demeaning ley Collado informed KDR that the student or endangering the the organization was officially mental or physical health of the on probation and could not hold student.” any activities until the investi- KDR will have the opportu- gation was completed. nity to reapply to the Student According to the Dean of Stu- Government Association to re- dents office, a student brought turn as a student organization forward the hazing allegations in December 2015. If criteria against KDR. are met, they can petition Com- $10.6 million 17% 50 The concerns were over munity Council in spring 2016 house activities that were a part to return as a residential social will be awarded in of admitted students were countries will be represented of new member education: the house and participate in Inter- by the class of 2019 activities to acquaint new mem- House Council (IHC) functions. bers with the house that are If approved by Community evan gallagher akin to the initiation activities SEE KDR, PAGE 3 College Mourns Nathan Alexander ’17 By Christian Jambora and been messaging Nathan for Phil Bohlman hours and had not heard back On Thursday, April 2, Na- from him. I kept teXting him than AleXander ’17 was found in and went to his room to check his room in Milliken Hall after if he was there,” Nazer said in taking his own life. an email. “All along, I believed President of the College Ron- he was either too stressed with ald D. Liebowitz announced Na- work to answer or simply need- than’s passing in an email ad- ed space from us.” dressed to students, staff, and Nazer reached out to Na- faculty. than’s sister and discovered he “We know this comes as a had not been replying to her great shock to his many friends, messages. classmates, and faculty mem- “This is when I thought there bers. Public Safety discovered must be something wrong and Nathan after receiving a request called Public Safety,” she said. from a fellow student who was A Public Safety officer dis- concerned about his where- covered Nathan in his room, abouts,” he wrote. where emergency medical ser- The request was submitted vices pronounced him dead. by Maggie Nazer ’17, a close The cause of death was asphyxi- friend of Nathan who last saw ation. In the late afternoon, him three days before he was upon receiving confirmation discovered. Emilie munson that the family had been noti- On April 7, students gathered in Mead Chapel for a candelight vigil to honor Nathan’s life. “His girlfriend messaged me worried because she had SEE COMMUNITY GRIEVES, PAGE 2 IT’S SUGARING FLIPPANT SHIRTS ARTS & SCIENCES SEASON IN VT MAKE A SPLASH REVIEWS THE PAGE 4 PAGE 15 NILE PROJECT PAGE 18 inside 2NEWS | APRIL 9, 2015 Community Grieves Loss of Student Community CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 fied, Liebowitz sent an email informing council the College community. “At a difficult time such as this, I encourage everyone on campus to look out Update for one another,” he wrote. By Emma Dunlap That evening, students, staff, and faculty were invited to gather in Coltrane Lounge, where staff members from the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious The Community Council met twice in Life, Parton Center for Health and Well- late March to address the end of the year ness, and members of the Commons agenda. team offered support. On March 16, Community Council Vice President for Student Affairs and hosted two presenters form Weybridge Dean of the College Katy Smith Abbott house: Gabriel Antonucci ’17 and Laura announced a schedule of opportunities Xiao ’17 for the purpose of clarifying for students, staff, and faculty members Weybridge house’s mission. to gather in remembrance and support. Weybridge house’s original mission A candlelight vigil was held in Na- was related to environmental studies than’s honor on Apr. 6 in Mead Cha- and has over time become more food and pel. From Apr. 7 to Apr. 9, community sustainability focused. The house looks members were invited to the Fireplace to “promote living sustainably and show Lounge in Ross Commons Dining for that it is possible to live on a local diet… conversation and reflection. it is not a privileged idea…you can feed “I encourage you to find ways to ad- people (both) locally and affordably,” dress your own feelings, questions, and said Xiao. concerns—whether in one of the sched- Students living at the house eat about daisy williamson uled gatherings, with your dean, with 50 percent of their meals on the house kiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, ing someone go out of their way to come one of the counselors at Parton Center budget, according to Xiao. Weybridge where he developed interests in public knock at your door is better than just for Health and Counseling, with a chap- houses 18 students who work to promote policy and a passion for sailing. At the sending you a text. But before everything lain at the Scott Center, or with friends,” local food by buying from select local College, he had not yet declared a major else we must find the strength and cour- Smith Abbott said in her email. farmers. With both a residential life bud- but took courses in economics and po- age to open up to each other, be real, be She continued, “If you, or someone get and a budget as a student organiza- litical science. vulnerable, and take it from there.” you know, might need help over the next tion, Weybridge hosts small dinners for His loss is deeply felt by those who days and weeks, please reach out to one about 25 people every Mon. and Wed., as knew him. If someone you know exhibits warn- of us.” well as a Sat. brunch that are all open to “I think that this tragic incident ing signs of suicide: Nathan’s girlfriend, Marium Sultan the Middlebury community. The house has the potential to inspire a collective ’16, was studying abroad in Sri Lanka also hosts a yearly event titled “Feast” transformation of the social environ- when she learned of Nathan’s death. that feeds about 300 people. ment and our relationships on campus,” “Take advantage of the moments to be On Mar. 30, Community Council dis- said Nazer. as kind as you can to others because you cussed a proposal recently passed by She continued, “Many of us suffer never know when you will have another the SGA Senate to extend Thanksgiving quietly as we greet each other and take chance to,” she said. “The last thing Na- break to include the Mon. and Tues. of part in social gatherings that often make than told me was that he loved me. He Thanksgiving week. SGA President Tay- us feel more isolated. Reaching out and told me he was lucky to have met me, lor Custer ’15 presented statistics from a showing support should not only be an and I told him the same.” recent student survey in which 60 per- intention that remains in the form of Nathan was a graduate of The Hotch- cent of the student body responded.

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