Collette O’Neal (Whetstone staff writer)

“Death by Alcohol,” the story of Sam Spady, a Colorado State University student who died from alcohol poisoning, started off this year’s Freshmen Year Experience (FYE) lectures.

“The goal is to identify a plan for personal safety and to learn you are responsible for yourself and others, especially when drinking alcohol,” said Carol Preston, the program’s speaker.

Peterson works for Wittenberg University as director of fraternity and sorority life.

When Spady was found dead, her blood alcohol content was .436, five times the legal limit in Colorado. Raised in Beatrice, Neb., Spady was rarely exposed to the social scene.

The sophomore died on Sept. 5, 2004.

Spady and a friend went to a fraternity house on campus to watch a football game on Sept. 4. She drank at least two beers and two shots of tequila, according to Preston.

They then went to another house to watch the rest of the game, where Spady was given a “supersized” cup of beer.

After the game, Spady and her friend went to find an ATM. They got lost and Spady crashed into the center median of the street, flattening both of her driver-side tires.

Two other students picked up Spady and her friend around 11:10 p.m.

She then went to a third party where she drank four to five beers and vodka.

Spady, her friend, and 25 others then went back to the fraternity house where she drank vanilla vodka.

By 4:30 a.m. Spady was too intoxicated to stand up. Two friends helped her to a spare room in the house, and tried to convince her to go back to her dorm. She was unable.
She was left in the room to “sleep it off” and was last seen lying on her stomach, using her hands as a pillow.

At 6:22 p.m. on Sept. 5, a fraternity member who lived off-site was giving a tour of the house to his mother when they found Spady dead in the room.

The 19 students who provided Spady with alcohol that night were charged with alcohol-related offenses but were not charged with her death.

During the presentation she discussed not only the story of Spady, but also the effects of alcohol and steps students can take to protect themselves.

“I hope that students learn if you choose to drink alcohol, learn ways to make yourself safe,” Preston said.

Freshman Tara Mullins said she thought the event was OK.

“It was not very engaging though,” she said.