Death prompts close look at alcohol policies

Several probes continue into possible violations of alcohol policies by penn's FIJI chapter. With the official police investigation into Sunday's death of a 26-year-old Penn alumnus outside the Phi Gamma Delta house all but closed, the focus of the inquiry is shifting toward the fraternity. Meanwhile, an autopsy on FIJI brother Michael Tobin, who graduated from Penn in 1994, revealed that his blood alcohol level when he died was more than twice the legal driving limit, according to news reports. Tobin died from multiple internal injuries and a fractured skull resulting from a fall down a cement staircase behind the FIJI house at 3619 Locust Walk, police said. He was in town for an annual FIJI alumni dinner and friends told police that he had been drinking since Saturday afternoon. Although the Philadelphia Police has ruled Tobin's death an accident, the investigation remains open. Results from a toxicology test revealing his precise blood alcohol level and whether there were any other drugs in his system will take up to two weeks to complete, police said. The FIJI fraternity remains under investigation for possible violations of the University's alcohol policies and fire and occupational codes. The national chapter is also investigating possible violations of FIJI's charter. In a statement made last night, FIJI President Martin Park said, "The brothers of Phi Gamma Delta are profoundly saddened by the horrible accident that has taken one of our brothers. We will continue to cooperate fully with any authorities investigating this matter." Park, a Wharton junior, refused to comment further other than to express the brothers' "deepest sympathy" for Tobin's family and friends. University officials relocated FIJI brothers who live in the house to empty dorm rooms and a hotel on Sunday after sealing and blocking off the house as a crime scene. University Police Chief Maureen Rush said occupancy issues will not be addressed until all investigations of FIJI are completed. Police allowed FIJI brothers to remove more of their possessions from the house yesterday under police supervision. The Office of Student Conduct, University Police and the Vice Provost for University Life are conducting a joint investigation of possible violations by FIJI of the University's alcohol policies on the night of Tobin's death. Rush would not comment on what specific violations were being investigated. "The first officer who arrived on the scene started that investigation [of alcohol policy violations]," Rush said. According to Penn's alcohol policy, "the intentional and knowing furnishing of alcoholic beverages? to persons obviously inebriated on property owned or controlled by the University" is prohibited. Police said they found large amounts of empty and half-filled containers of alcohol when they examined the first floor of the house shortly after Tobin's body was discovered at about 6:30 a.m Sunday morning. FIJI Fraternity Executive Director Bill Martin toured the FIJI house yesterday to gather information for FIJI's disciplinary board at the fraternity's national headquarters in Kentucky. "[Martin] just went through the building and didn't say anything" about his findings, Rush said. The inspector of Fire and Occupational Safety also continued the department's ongoing investigation of the FIJI house's violations of fire and safety codes, which were originally discovered when police were examining the house as a crime scene. "They're in there to do a complete safety check," Rush explained, adding that the inspector is reviewing wiring and receptacle issues and also possible sprinkler head issues. Once the fire and safety inspection is completed, the inspector will recommend solutions to the problems found and a contractor will make the necessary repairs, said Rush, who would not speculate on how long any of the investigations would take. Services for Tobin, who was co-captain of the men's lacrosse team his senior year and named to the All-Ivy squad as a junior, will be held this weekend in Cape Cod, Mass., according to a family friend. Two wakes will be held on Friday and the funeral will be Saturday at 11 a.m., also on Cape Cod. The InterFraternity Council is sponsoring a vigil Friday night on College Green. And FIJI is holding its own memorial mass Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Agatha-St. James Church at 38th and Chestnut streets.