The Catawba County Sheriff's Office investigation into the off-campus death of a Lenoir-Rhyne University student should be complete by early next week.
Harrison Kowiak, 19, died Tuesday as a result of a severe blow to the head sustained during an off-campus game of capture the flag during fraternity pledge week. The game has been described as a team building exercise in preparation for his initiation to the Theta Chi Fraternity.
Sheriff David Huffman said he thinks Kowiak's injury was accidental and did not involve foul play.
Huffman said he's waiting for the preliminary autopsy results before turning over the case file to District Attorney Jay Gaither.
"We've met with the school administration and personnel, and they're doing everything we've asked," Huffman said. He added that he's also been in contact with the fraternity's national office to determine their initiation procedures and they have cooperated fully with his investigation.
Dale Taylor, executive director of the Theta Chi fraternity's international headquarters in Indianapolis, said he has been in contact with the Hickory chapter and is working to help them through their loss. He is suggesting they take advantage of the grief counseling available at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
"I don't think these kids are bad people and they don't want to be thought of that way," Taylor said. "They are grieving for their friend."
The Greek community has moved beyond hazing and binge drinking, Taylor said, adding "Hazing is prohibited by our fraternity in any form or fashion."
Pre-initiation rituals vary from chapter to chapter but Taylor said this type of game was not unusual. "This was a team building activity building up to a formal initiation ceremony. It was in no way a prerequisite for induction into the fraternity."
Taylor said, "It was intended to demonstrate to the two pledges that, by functioning together, they can accomplish far more than by working alone."
"This just turned out to be a horrible accident — there was no negative intent."
"These are not terrible kids who went out there to do a terrible thing," Taylor said. "Don't judge them unless you know them."
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement