Marie Lourdes Andre is suing Cornell University’s Sigma Alpha Epislon chapter for $25 million after her son, George Desdunes died from alcohol poisoning. Earlier this year, the 19 year-old sophomore was pledging to be a member of the national fraternity. According to his mother, the fraternity members “allegedly kidnapped her son, blindfolded him, bound his hands and feet, and forced him to drink so much alcohol that he passed out and died”:
George Desdunes, the son of a Haitian immigrant, was pronounced dead on Feb. 25 from alcohol poisoning at Cayuga Medical Center. Desdunes’ blood alcohol level was .409 – more than five times the legal limit, according to the family’s lawsuit.
[He] was captured by freshmen “pledges” of the fraternity who allegedly devised a horrific set of tasks and punishments for Desdunes and one other frat member. [George was then] grabbed by the freshmen pledges who tied him up with zip ties and duct tape.
The pledges are alleged to have asked him trivia questions about the fraternity. If he answered incorrectly he reportedly had to do exercises such as sit-ups, or consume various foods and drinks including sugar, flavored syrups and vodka.
Desdunes reportedly passed out, but instead of being brought to a hospital he was allegedly taken to the fraternity house while still bound, and left on a couch in the library. [Source]
George Desdunes was a Biology major with aspirations of one day becoming a medical doctor. Such a sad story…
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