Family of Adam Oakes reacts to fraternity expulsion, calling for more change
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor Adam Oakes always said hello and goodbye with a hug, played basketball with his little cousins and competed in family-style fantasy football every fall, his family said. Adam Oakes was a freshman at VCU when he pledged the Delta Chi fraternity. He was found dead on Feb. 27 after a Delta […]
VCU expels Delta Chi from campus three months after freshman death
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor VCU permanently removed the Delta Chi fraternity from campus on May 28 for violating university policies in the moments leading up to the death of freshman Adam Oakes, according to VCU spokesperson Michael Porter. The Student Organization Conduct Committee Chairs found Delta Chi responsible for violating university policies dealing with COVID-19, […]
Family of Adam Oakes create nonprofit, scholarship for high school students in his honor
Anna Chen, Contributing Writer Family members of Adam Oakes launched the Love Like Adam nonprofit organization on May 26, the day after his cause of death was determined. Oakes, a freshman at VCU, was found dead on Feb. 27 at a West Clay Street residence after attending an event hosted by a university chapter of […]
VCU freshman death ruled as accidental from alcohol poisoning, chief medical examiner states
Katharine DeRosa, News Editor VCU freshman Adam Oakes died of ethanol toxicity, a type of alcohol poisoning, according to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Spokesperson Arkuie Williams stated in an email that the manner of death was accidental. Oakes was found dead on Feb. 27 at a West Clay Street residence after attending a Delta […]
‘It was an injustice’: VCU students assess mental health impact after student deaths
Sahara Sriraman, Staff Writer The deaths of freshman Adam Oakes on Feb. 26 and junior Cody Woodson on April 5 left an impact on VCU students. Some say these tragedies harmed their mental well-being. Charlie Dil, a computer science sophomore, said they knew Woodson personally. They were teaching assistants for a computer systems class, and […]
Tea Time with Tagwa: VCU hasn’t done enough to prevent hazing
Tagwa Shammet, Opinions Editor Tea timers, it’s been more than a month since freshman Adam Oakes was found dead at a West Clay Street house after attending a Delta Chi rush event. As of Wednesday, 46 days have passed. In VCU’s Greek life organizations, nothing has changed. Immediately following Oakes’ death, hazing in fraternities and […]
Family members of Adam Oakes push for anti-hazing legislation
Anna Chen, Contributing Writer Family members of freshman Adam Oakes and a Virginia senator are backing an adoption of stronger anti-hazing legislation more than a month after Oakes’ death at an off-campus Delta Chi fraternity event. Both Courtney White, Adam Oakes’ cousin, and Eric Oakes, Adam Oakes’ father, are pushing to make hazing a felony. […]
A month after Adam Oakes’ death, VCU grapples with misconduct in Greek life
Sahara Sriraman, Contributing Writer Although sophomore bioinformatics major Disha Trivedi had a positive experience during her first year with Kappa Phi Gamma, a South Asian interest sorority at VCU, she said she knows that’s not common for all Greek life members. Trivedi, who is also the president of Kappa Phi Gamma, said she’s heard of […]
VCU hires consulting firm in Greek life review
Sahara Sriraman, Contributing Writer VCU’s Division of Student Affairs has hired a consulting firm that specializes in fraternities and sororities to conduct a review of the university’s Greek life following the death of freshman Adam Oakes, according to a release sent on Monday. Dyad Strategies serves schools and universities nationwide, offering courses on recruitment, hazing […]
VCU begins Greek life cessation period following Adam Oakes’ death
Sahara Sriraman, Contributing Writer Leaders of Greek life organizations sent an email to all members on Friday detailing a cessation of university fraternities and sororities, as well as the steps those groups are now required to take. The announcement follows recent national outcry over freshman Adam Oakes, who was found dead on Feb. 27 in […]