First-year Engineering student William Donovan jumped from a second-story window at Chi Phi fraternity during a party early Saturday morning, injuring his nose, cheek and a rib, police said.
Witnesses told police that Donovan climbed onto a windowsill and leaped to the ground below. He reportedly kicked a fan out of the window and then flailed his arms and legs about before jumping, University Police Sgt. Mike Gibson said.
It did not appear as if Donovan was pushed, but alcohol was involved in the incident, Gibson said. A fraternity brother called police around 1:25 a.m. and when officers arrived, they found Donovan "laying on the sidewalk in the fetal position," he said. Donovan was taken to the University Hospital for treatment.
In a phone interview yesterday, Donovan confirmed that he was the student hospitalized, but declined to comment on the incident.
Luke Ryan, Chi Phi member and third-year College student, said he saw Donovan jump.
One of the fraternity members took Donovan upstairs to a bedroom after noticing that he appeared extremely drunk, Ryan said.
"He had gotten wasted," he said, adding that it appeared as if Donovan had been drinking elsewhere earlier in the evening before arriving at Chi Phi.
Donovan may have fallen asleep in the second-floor room, woke up and became disoriented, Ryan said. "He didn't realize where he was" and then he jumped from the window, he added.
Donovan landed feet-first on the ground before falling over onto the walkway in front of the house, he said.
Chi Phi President Matthew Steger said Donovan was not served alcohol in the fraternity house.
Steger said Donovan had a party invite, but was not given a mark at the door indicating that he was 21 and was not permitted to drink at the Chi Phi house.
University Police Sgt. Tom Durrer said the police report does not say whether Donovan received a mark.
Donovan had not intentionally been left alone in the bedroom and a female student had been in the room watching him, Steger said. The woman had momentarily left the room when Donovan woke up and jumped out the window.
The fraternity shut the party down immediately after Donovan jumped from the window, Steger said.
Ryan said Donovan was semi-conscious while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. "He was in and out," Ryan said.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said he will investigate the incident, but it is too early to determine what action, if any, could be taken against the fraternity.
He added he will need to discuss the situation with the fraternity members to gain a full understanding of what occurred.
"Someone who is very intoxicated should not be left alone," Laushway said. "I would hope that... any member of the community... would know the ways in which a student should be cared for" in such a situation.
Inter-Fraternity Council President Justin Saunders said the IFC will investigate the incident.
It is too early to speculate on any possible sanction the fraternity could receive from either the IFC or the University, Saunders said..
"The brothers of Chi Phi did everything in their power" to control the situation, particularly after Donovan had jumped, Saunders said.
Taylor Beery, IFC vice president for judiciary said the IFC maintains "strict party-patrol regulations."
"Nobody is supposed to drink until they are 21 years of age," Beery said.
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