Today Duke University administrators attempted to explain why they did not inform the public until last week about the real cause of death of a Duke junior who died last November, maintaining that it was not a conscious effort to cover up the facts surrounding his death.
After a night of heavy drinking, Raheem Bath threw up and then inhaled his own vomit, a process known as aspiration.
A few days later he checked into a hospital, having developed bacterial pneumonia. His Nov. 27 death was attributed originally only to the infection.
Although Duke University President Nannerl O. Keohane knew of the alcohol factor in Bath's death and had mentioned it to Duke's Board of Trustees in December, she did not issue a press release until last week, when another student almost died from the same cause.
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But there was "not a conscious effort" to cover up the story, said Keith Lawrence, assistant director of the Duke News Service.
"We did, in fact, talk about it with people within the university community," said Janet Dickerson, Duke vice president for student affairs. "Many of us had limited knowledge about aspiration."
After the second incident, however, Dickerson said, "We recognized that although it never is easy to balance privacy and confidentiality with the need for the public to be informed, we need to talk about the condition."
Susan Tate, director of the University of Virginia Office of Health Promotion, said administrators often face tough decisions regarding how much information to make public.
"It's a real delicate balance. Administrators try to do what is best for the family," Tate said.
"It's a real tragedy," said Maj. Rob Dean, Duke University Police community affairs and public information manager. "I imagine the dean's office is trying to step up trying to stop [students] from drinking too much - or drinking at all."
Officials from Duke's dean's office, however, said they were unsure about what they have learned from these incidents and what steps they will take to prevent others.
"What does it mean to learn?" Dickerson asked.
"That's certainly the $64,000 question, isn't it?" Lawrence asked, reflecting on what steps could be taken to reduce student alcohol consumption. "If someone wants to drink themselves into oblivion, there's not much we can do."
Tate said she hopes Duke makes efforts to educate the entire student body.
"I would hope that the focus would be on the community," she said. Alcohol abuse is "an ongoing problem."
"I would like to think that in the last couple of years, that dialogue is at the forefront," at the University, she added.
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