DeKalb County authorities have charged five leaders of a Northern Illinois University fraternity with felony hazing in connection with the death of a student who died of heart complications caused by excessive drinking last month, authorities said today.
Seventeen others face misdemeanor charges.
David Bogenberger, 19, was found dead in a bed at the Pi Kappa Alpha house on Nov. 2 and his death was ruled accidental, according to police. He graduated from Palatine High School in June.
Subsequent tests found his blood-alcohol content was approximately five times the legal limit of .08 at the time of his death, authorities said.
On the night before his body was found, Bogenberger had taken part in a fraternity even known as “Parents Night,” where senior members of the fraternity and associated sororities acts as “parents” for the pledges, according to a written statement from DuPage police and the DeKalb County state’s attorney.
“The event that night involved the pledges rotating between several rooms in the fraternity house, being asked a series of questions, and then being provided cups of vodka and other liquor to drink,” police and prosecutors said in the joint statement.
“This resulted in the pledges drinking a large quantity of alcohol in about a two-hour time period. In addition to Bogenberger’s death, several other pledges reported getting sick and/or passing out due to excessive alcohol consumption.”
Charged with felony hazing are the fraternity’s president, Alexander M. Jandick, 21, of Naperville; vice president James P. Harvey, 21, of DeKalb; pledge advisor Omar Salameh, 21, of DeKalb; secretary Patrick W. Merrill, 19, of DeKalb; and event planner Steven A. Libert, 20, of Naperville, according to the news release.
“We are trying to understand the reality of our David’s death,” Bogenberger’s family said in a written statement issued through the DeKalb Police Department.
“It is almost impossible for us to accept that David is gone at the age of 19; that our future does not include his excitement at learning and growing; becoming a man; marrying and having children; that these events will never happen.
“We have no desire for revenge. Rather, we hope that some significant change will come from David’s death. Alcohol poisoning claims far too many young, healthy lives. We must realize that young people can and do die in hazing rituals. Alcohol-involved hazing and initiation must end.”
Police and prosecutors said the “Parent’s Night” event was not registered with either NIU officials or the fraternity’s national chapter, and school officials quickly moved to temporarily suspend the Pi Kappa Alpha’s status as a recognized student organization.
The university is “moving forward with organizational sanctions which may impact their permanent status as a recognized student organization,” according to a written statement from NIU spokesman Paul Palian.
In addition, the school found 31 members of the fraternity violated the university’s code of conduct and may face discipline up to expulsion, Palian said.
NIU also announced Monday disciplinary charges against 31 fraternity members and the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. The charges stem from violations of the student code of conduct regarding hazing and alcohol consumption.
The students were notified of the charges Dec. 7 and will have the opportunity for a disciplinary hearing. Penalties include expulsion from school.
"There is evidence of violating the student code of conduct," said NIU spokesman Paul Palian.
"The fraternity was found to be involved in hazing. We have a zero tolerance for hazing."
Palian said he hopes students realize the consequences of hazing and binge drinking.
"I am sure certainly for the university’s student organizations, this is a situation that hits home and hopefully it will be a wake up call . This is a problem that is a national problem," he said.
mwalberg@tribune.com
jscohen@tribune.com
22 face charges in NIU student's fraternity hazing death
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