Story Published: Jul 13, 2010 at 8:56 PM PST
Story Updated: Jul 13, 2010 at 8:56 PM PST
Earlier Tuesday morning that student was pronounced dead at Gritman Medical Center after a reported alcohol overdose.
According to police, 21-year-old Benjamin Harris of Burley, a UI senior, was celebrating his 21st birthday Monday night. Tuesday morning officers responded to an emergency call at around 2:42 at the Sigma Nu Fraternity. Upon arrival, they found Harris unconscious on the third floor and immediately began CPR. Harris was then transported to Gritman Medical Center where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
"There should be an educational side of discouragement instead of encouragement for this type of behavior," said David Duke, Assistant Moscow Police Chief. "Binge drinking, we all know the dangers involved with this, but it seems to be something that people strive for and celebrate. Celebrating a birthday shouldn't have a result like this. It should be one of happiness. We lost a student, a friend, a family member over a tragic event where it could have been stopped any time during the evening."
Duke said the preliminary investigation indicated the death resulted from respiratory arrest caused by alcohol poisoning.
He said no foul play is suspected at this time and that the exact cause of death and blood-alcohol level will be determined by the medical examiner after reviewing the results of toxicology reports. Those should take about 6 weeks to complete.
Duke said Harris had around 15 shots of liquor within a two and a half hour period and that police are investigating who purchased the alcohol.
"There is a law against over-serving," he said. "But right now we're trying to check with the clubs and his friends as to who bought the liquor. If his friends were buying the liquor for him at that point, then the clubs would not be responsible. We're also checking the level of his intoxication as he was taking those shots. He probably wasn't showing signs at the beginning because they were taken in such a short time."
UI Dean of Students Bruce Pitman said the university has contacted Harris' family and is extending counseling and support services to them and friends of Harris.
Pitman also said the university will continue to be aggressive in promoting alcohol and substance abuse awareness programs.
Police say the last case of an alcohol overdose death involving a UI student was In April of 2009, when 23-year old Daniel Miller died.
But in January of this year, 27-year-old UI student Shannon Marlowe died from a combination of alcohol and prescription drugs. And earlier that month a former UI student, 21-year-old Stefanie Blackburn, also died from that same deadly combination.
In addition, two UI students were injured in alcohol-related falls at fraternities last year. In August 19-year-old Shane Meyer fell from a third story window at Delta Tau Delta. Less than two weeks later 19-year-old Amanda Andaverde was critically injured in a fall from Sigma Alpha Epsilon.
