Sam Spady died from alcohol poisoning on Sept. 5, 2004.

A Sigma Pi chapter house member found her dead in a guest room while giving his mother a tour.

After the 19-year-old’s death, the chapter closed, and the house was turned into a Christian student gathering place called Lighthouse.

“It opens your eyes how quickly you can lose your chapter like they did,” said Mike McKenna, president of Eastern’s Sigma Pi chapter.

More than 100 people attended Sigma Pi’s philanthropy program on alcohol awareness Monday to view a documentary on Sam Spady, a student at Colorado State University.

McKenna said he thinks many students who consume alcohol drink as an academic relief.

“You bust your ass all week, and students use it as a way to relax,” he said.

According to a survey distributed by the American College Health Association in 2006, 30 percent of students have not consumed alcohol within the past month and 24 percent of students spend less than two to three hours at a time drinking alcohol.

The association distributed surveys to college students concerning substance abuse, tobacco and alcohol consumption called social norms.

Every two years the surveys are distributed to get the message out that students don’t drink as much as people think, said Amber Shaverdi, a graduate student in the College of Student Affairs.

Shaverdi spoke during the program to help educate people of warning signs of alcohol poisoning.

“I’m happy with the turnout from the fraternity community,” she said. “It shows a sense of responsibility and making a priority to help improve the campus.”

Depending on the international headquarters, some chapters have risk management programs.

Chapters on campus sometimes utilize sober monitors who are designated drivers who look out for peers at events.

But alcohol-related accidents still happen.

Mike Forster, a sophomore accounting major, saw his friend hit by a drunken driver in a Chevy S10 in his hometown in February.

It was the driver’s 21st birthday, and he was on his way back to the bar. The driver hit Forster’s friend causing him to fly forward onto the gravel, ripping his shirt.

He fully recovered, but the 20-year-old needed 60 staples in his head.

“These experiences let people know it’s not all fun and games and things like this do happen,” Forster said. “You’re not invincible.”

Eight things done to reduce dangerous high risk drinking situations

-Make plans in advance

-Decide how much you plan to drink before starting

-Have a designated driver or safe ride home

-Alternate alcohol drinks and non-alcoholic drinks

-Keep track of alcohol consumed

-Pace yourself

-Avoid drinking games

-Ensure friends are looking out for each other

Sigma Pi President Mike McKenna, a sophomore corporate communications major, holds up an Ace of “Spades” card that was given out at the Sam Spady Alcohol Awareness program at Buzzard Hall Auditorium Monday evening. The cards are meant to give people a ste

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