Early Saturday morning, a freshman pledge at Sigma Alpha Mu died of alcohol poisoning while attending a fraternity event. Emergency crews arrived on scene and found 18-year-old Bret Griffin in cardiac arrest. A short while later, Griffin was pronounced dead at the hospital

The police are investigating the incident and it appears to have just been a routine pledging event (with hazing of course).

"There was a fraternity function going on involving pledges and fraternity brothers and it's estimated there were about 40 people in the house."

“Griffin, the son of a police officer, was a varsity wrestler at South Brunswick High School. Joseph Dougherty, his high school coach, said Griffin was the only wrestler in his 21 years at the school who never missed a practice.””

No word on what the pledges were actually forced to do that would have caused the alcohol poisoning. More details will probably emerge soon as police take statements from the brothers and other pledges. This is the first time the University has had any serious trouble with Sigma Alpha Mu.

OTR’s condolences to the Griffin family.