Today’s teenagers are being forced to do things that endanger their lives by peer pressure and a desire to fit in. And, while there may be no bad in joining sororities and fraternities at times, too many young people rush into them without weighing the consequences. In fact, they can provide a valuable sense of connection for students enrolled in college.
It’s also not a secret that their customs can become excessive on occasion. And that’s what happened to 19-year-old Adam Oakes. Now, his grieving father, Eric, is prepared to discuss his son’s tragic death.
Adam Oakes, a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University, was like any other college student in that he craved companionship. Unfortunately, while attending an off-campus party one night, Adam’s search for social interaction ended with his untimely death. His parents indicated that Adam had been eager to learn the identity of his fraternity big brother; however, the circumstances sadly resulted in tragedy rather than enlightening information.
The Richmond Police Department is investigating the tragic incident, and many of the suspects are linked to the Delta Chi fraternity. The chapter has been suspended as a result.
The family is relieved that more information about what occurred the night before is surfacing. They are, however, hoping to find out exactly what happened. His father stated in an interview with Today, “We want some answers, you know. We deserve answers. Adam deserves answers.”
According to the family, Adam was instructed to down a large container of Jack Daniel’s whiskey. He was given an hour to drink the entire thing, which is well-known to be hazardous to one’s health.
Courtney White, Adam’s cousin stated, “We think it’s part of the hazing process, and we think it went too far. They checked in on him at midnight, he was breathing and OK and on his side, but then when they woke up, they found him face down on the couch. And then they rolled him over. Half his face was purple, half was not.”
Courtney also thinks that Adam was probably blindfolded during the initiation. Courtney feels that his cousin tripped and fell into a tree before passing out as a result of his intoxication and lack of vision.
The neighbors who live near the house where the party took place cooperated with law enforcement, sharing what they witnessed and heard that night. That specific house has been designated as a secondary location for Delta Chi activities. One neighbor also claims to have seen a body being carried out of the home at some point during the evening.
The institution has taken a cautious approach in addressing this matter. Senior Vice Provost Charles Klink stated, “In light of Adam’s death and our commitment to a safe and healthy campus, this review will make recommendations about how Greek organizations meet the high expectations we have for them… Simply put, this cannot happen again.”
According to his parents, Adam had a tremendous desire to join a fraternity. Adam wanted to be in an organization where he felt at home. Eric said, “He had already tried to get into other fraternities and had been turned down, but he saw the comradery. He’d see the brotherhood and just loved the actual acceptance.”
“At 9 p.m., he texts his dad and just said, ‘I’m going in. Love you.’ and he went in,” his cousin said. That was the last communication that his family had with him. “Adam had a huge, huge heart, which is what drew him to that fraternity,” Courtney added. “He wanted that sense of belonging.”
The fraternity also issued a statement: “The health and safety of our chapter communities is always a top priority for The Delta Chi Fraternity, which suspended the VCU chapter after learning of the incident late Saturday afternoon.”
Most people agree that Adam’s death could have been prevented, like most accidents within fraternities and sororities. It’s possible he was too scared to speak up or he blindly trusted his brothers not to hurt him.
