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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

A TCU student reaches for a Celsius from a vending machine- a refreshing boost amidst a hectic day of lectures and exams. (Kelsey Finley/Staff Writer)
The caffeine buzz is a college student's drug
By Kelsey Finley, Staff Writer
Published Apr 18, 2024
College students seem to have a reliance on caffeine to get them through lectures and late night study sessions, but there are healthier alternatives to power through the day.

IFC investigates fraternities’ involvement in bid-night fight

The Interfraternity Council will meet Sunday to discuss disciplinary actions concerning four fraternities associated with a fight that took place on bid night in Worth Hills, the IFC president said. IFC President Matt DiLeo said IFC would deal with the situation using its judicial board. He said the four fraternities, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Kappa Sigma, would bring in representatives to present a case to the judicial board.

TCU Police Sgt. Kelly Ham said 75 to 100 men were fighting in clusters of five or six outside one of the fraternity houses Aug. 29. He said alcohol was “readily visible” on the ground.

Phi Delta Theta members Robert Brunner and Hunter McLaughlin, and Sigma Alpha Epsilon member Blaine Burke were arrested in connection with the incident, according to police reports.

According to a Fort Worth police report, the three men were arrested for public intoxication. Brunner, a sophomore business major, was also arrested for interfering with police duties, Ham said.

James Parker, assistant dean of campus life, said the university is giving IFC a chance to deal with the situation internally.

There will also be a chance for eyewitnesses to give their testimonies during the hearing, DiLeo said. The Chief Justice, Dane Pearson, will then make a formal decision.

“We realized that the people need to be held accountable for their actions,” DiLeo said. He said Wednesday night the meeting time has not been set.

TCU Police were dispatched to stop the fight at 2:39 a.m., according to a police report. After trying to pull men off of each other and receiving resistance, Ham said, TCU Police called the Fort Worth police for backup.

“It was three against a hundred, student upon student,” Ham said.

Sgt. Cathy Moody called Fort Worth police, Ham said, and once they arrived they sprayed Mace on some of the men and arrested three.

“Our main goal was to take the combatants out of the area,” Ham said.

Brunner said he was arrested unfairly because he was out trying to stop the fight, not taking part in it.

“My friend was Maced,” Brunner said. “I was just helping him out. But, I guess I did ignore the cops telling me to leave.”

Brunner, who said he was not drinking, was at the Phi Delta Theta house when the fight occurred.

He said McLaughlin was sprayed with Mace but McLaughlin, a sophomore business major, said he did nothing wrong.

“I wasn’t in a fight,” McLaughlin said. “I was coming back from the GrandMarc when I saw it and went in to stop it.”

McLaughlin said the fight was not serious.

“Everyone was punching each other, talking trash and pushing each other around,” McLaughlin said.

Many fraternity members feel that police involvement was unnecessary.

“No one got hurt and it wasn’t as if people were killing each other,” McLaughlin said.

The three suspects were released from about 9 a.m. on Aug. 29, Brunner said.

Burke could not be reached for comment.

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