Officials at Bowdoin College shut down both the Chi Delta Phi and Alpha Kappa Sigma fraternities after an underage student from the University of Maine was discovered dead outside of their houses in April. Cameron Brett, whose blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal driving limit, fell three stories to his death while trying to climb onto the roof of the fraternity during a party, reported an April 26 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

June 1996

Two fraternities at the University of Pittsburgh are suspended and fall "rush" was canceled in response to several hazing incidents. One first-year pledge for Phi Gamma Delta had to be hospitalized after members forced him to drink shots of whiskey, reported a July 13 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education. A chair of one of the suspended fraternities, Sigma Chi, commented that fraternities should get back to "friendship, justice and learning."

Aug. 30, 1996

Todd Cruikshank, an 18-year-old sophomore at the University of New Hampshire, becomes highly intoxicated at a party and falls to his death from the roof of his fraternity house. Cruikshank's blook alcohol level is found to be 0.18. The fraternity is later indicted for allowing beer to be given to minors, reported an Oct. 9 article in The Union Leader.

Sept. 1996 to Sept. 1997

Time magazine reports that six students die of excess drinking at universities nationwide.

November 9, 1996

Eight students at Frostburg State University are charged with manslaughter in the alcohol poisoning death of 20-year-old John Eric Stinner. The college first-year had consumed at least six beers and 12 shots of vodka in two hours at a party. His blood alcohol level was 0.34, three times the legal limit, said a Feb. 10 article in the Newark Star Ledger.

Feb. 9, 1997

Binaya Oja, a 17-year-old Clarkson first-year, died after a night of binge drinking, reported a Feb. 10 article in the Newark Star-Ledger.

Aug. 26, 1997

Benjamin Wynne, a 20-year-old Louisiana State University student and Sigma Alpha Epsilon plegde, dies of acute alcohol poisoning as a result of a fraternity drinking binge at several parties. Wynne's blood alcohol level was measured at 0.588, six times the legal limit, according to an Aug. 30 article in the Advocate in Baton Rouge.