NU freshman dies in accidental fall from dorm window after party

Investigation indicates alcohol involvement

By William Knox
Norwich Guidon Managing Editor

A Norwich freshman died after he fell from a fourth-story dorm window at approximately 2 a.m. on Friday, April 18.

Brendan T. MacDonald, a member of the Corps of Cadets' India Company, was pronounced dead at Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Vt., at about 3 a.m. from injuries sustained in the fall.

His death was ruled accidental, and there apparently were no witnesses to the actual fall.

On Friday, April 25, Norwich University President Richard Schneider held a press conference in Kreitzberg Library to address the events of that morning.

"This is a sad day for our university," Schneider said. "Regretfully, I must inform you of a tragic event that happened early this morning on our campus. At approximately 1:45 this morning, Cadet Freshman Brendan T. MacDonald died as a result of injuries he sustained when he fell out of a window of his barracks room on the fourth floor of Alumni Hall."

Both the president and Northfield Police Chief Jeffery Shaw said that Brendan had been drinking in various rooms in two of the campus dormitories prior to the accident.

According to Shaw, MacDonald's roommates were the first to realize that something was wrong.

"One of his roommates heard a thump," Shaw said. "He got up and looked out the window and saw him lying on the ground below."

There were no eyewitnesses to the actual event, Shaw said.

According to Schneider, a Norwich University security officer who was a trained emergency medical technician happened to be on the opposite side of the barracks at the time of the accident and "responded almost immediately."

Clayton Ladd, 19, a sophomore math major from Fort Drum, NY, an original member of MacDonald's company, witnessed the scene shortly after the accident. Ladd said he got within a few feet of MacDonald five minutes after he fell. He said MacDonald was breathing and coughing up blood but not moving. Not being able to help at the scene, Ladd and another sophomore took positions in order to help guide the ambulance in, "making sure they got in there fast."

Norwich security called for the ambulance. Northfield ambulance requested assistance from the Dartmoth/Hitchcock emergency personnel. Dartmouth dispatched their trauma team via helicopter, which arrived on campus approximately 17 minutes later.

Schneider said the trauma team evaluated MacDonald's condition and determined it was best to redirect him to Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin, Vt., via ambulance, so that they could continue treatment while they were en route to the hospital.

MacDonald's heart stopped en route to CVH. He was pronounced dead on arrival at approximately 3 a.m.

Friday, the Northfield Police Department initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding MacDonald's death.

Shaw said that should any criminal charges be made, they would come after the police had concluded their investigation and the information had been presented to the State Attorney's Office.

Shaw said police had interviewed approximately 15 to 20 people who "had been around him during various points in the evening."

Additionally, an autopsy was performed on MacDonald before his body was released.

On Friday, the investigation had so far determined that MacDonald had been drinking at the time of the accident and had been attending a party, which was taking place in a dorm room on campus.

"From everything I can tell, this was not just a lacrosse party," Schneider said Monday. "I think that was one of the misunderstandings out there. MacDonald was a lacrosse player, but Chief Shaw told me that there were many more students besides lacrosse players. Coach Klaiman also verified that with me. This was just a 'friends' party."

Schneider said that in addition to other cadets, there were both commuter students and residential civilian students involved with MacDonald's drinking on campus that night with a "limited number" of lacrosse players involved.

According to Shaw, MacDonald had been sick and had already made several trips to the bathroom before the accident.

Schneider said that university administrators were waiting for the police to conclude their investigation before disciplining anyone under university rules and regulations.

Once the investigation is concluded, Schneider said that a member of the staff would review the police investigation and "decide what other actions are appropriate.

"We have gotten no information yet from the police," Schneider said. "We are awaiting the conclusion of the written reports. Chief Shaw is going to share with us the written report as well as the statements. We're still in the waiting mode. Hopefully, it will only be a day or two before we know more."

Reporters quizzed Schneider about whether anything in the course of events leading up to the accident indicated that either hazing had taken place or that there had been involvement by any of the school's secret societies. Schneider denied that there was any secret society or hazing involvement.

MacDonald was a 19-year-old freshman in the Corps of Cadets India Company and was enrolled in the Army ROTC program. He had not yet declared a major. MacDonald was a 2002 graduate of Norwell High School in Norwell, Mass. He played lacrosse in high school and was a reserve goalie for the Norwich lacrosse team.

Schneider expressed condolences of the entire university to MacDonald's parents, Lou-Ellen and Robert MacDonald, in a 4 a.m. phone call on the morning of the accident.

Schneider joined two busloads of Norwich students as they traveled to MacDonald's hometown of Norwell, Mass, to attend calling hours with Brendan's family and friends on Sunday.

According to Schneider, Marc Klaiman, MacDonald's lacrosse coach at Norwich, presented his parents with a team jersey and stick.

A collage of MacDonald's freshman platoon was provided by Norwich alumnus Kevin Hancock, class of 2001, whom Schneider said had been "really touched by what had happened.

"The calling hours were wonderful," Schneider said. "The family was so appreciative of everyone coming down. The corps was in their dress blues. The freshmen were in grey on grey. MacDonald was buried in his uniform. It was obvious that Norwich was a huge part of his life."

Schneider said he met alumni of Norwich's lacrosse team on Sunday along with parents of other freshmen who lived in the area and had met MacDonald's parents at the freshmen send off.

"It was a wonderful Norwich showing," Schneider said. "I think it really was a great testimony to Norwich's family spirit, of closing ranks during tough times."

Kyle Weis, 19, a freshman from Chester, NJ, was one of MacDonald's roommates.

"I think the Norwich presence there was a good thing to have," Weis said. "It definitely brought some light to the parents."

Brendan's company commander in the corps of cadets, Cadet Captain Dana Dexter, presented MacDonald's family with a Norwich flag during the funeral.

Many of those who attended stayed through the following day to attend Brendan's funeral Monday morning. Several of Brendan's classmates served as pallbearers, and a cadet honor guard was maintained throughout the morning services.

Most noteworthy to those in attendance was the tremendous turnout by town residents for MacDonald's funeral.

"It was the biggest funeral I've ever been to in my life," according to Cadet Sergeant First Class James Hubbard, 21, a junior criminal justice major from Rochester Hills, Mich., who was Brendan's platoon sergeant in India company. "It had to be the whole town."

"I think I heard someone saying that there were over 1,000 people there," Weis said. "I don't know if they could all fit in that church, but there were people standing up in the back."

At the funeral, MacDonald's father read aloud the last letter he had received from Brendan while at Norwich. The moment proved highly emotional for the cadets in attendance.

"When he finished the letter, all the Norwich cadets were crying," Weis said. "It was rough, but it was a really great ceremony."

Schneider described the mood of the whole student body following the accident as "very somber.

"I think they are still trying to deal with it," Schneider said. "We all are, I think. I suspect we will be dealing until they go home," Schneider said. "They are feeling shock, disbelief, disappointment; the normal reaction of losing a friend, which is very tight here."

Schneider could not yet say when Echo Taps would be played. He said that it is hoped MacDonald's parents will be able to attend on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Counseling services have been made available to students, faculty, and staff during "this difficult time," Schneider said.

Those who knew MacDonald have similar memories of the light humored freshman.

"He just brought light to the room," Weis said, remembering his rook brother. "Everywhere he went, he just had his goofy looking smile. It just made everyone laugh."

"He's the comic relief of the platoon," Hubbard said. "Always the smiling, goofy, 'I want to fool around' type of guy. He was always motivated no matter what, and that just rubbed off on everybody else."

While his platoon sergeant remembers having trouble getting MacDonald to maintain his military bearing in the beginning, he nonetheless remembers him for the growth he displayed as an individual by year's end.

"This is a kid who, seriously, did not have it in him to lock it up," Hubbard said. "But he came a long way, and he matured a lot. He learned when to lock it on and when he could cut loose, but he was just always that goofy guy."

Perhaps most importantly, MacDonald's platoon sergeant said he believes that he had learned how to be a part of a unit.

"He was one of the good ones," Hubbard said. "Because he really understood what it was to be a cadet, be in a unit, and stand by my brothers."

MacDonald's lacrosse coach, Marc Klaiman, remembers the progress Brendan made through the year as a goalie.

"Lacrosse goalies are different dudes," Klaiman said. "A lacrosse goalie goes out there with a cup, a helmet, gloves, chest protector, throat protector, and you whip a ball at him at 100 mph. No one else in this room is getting in that net. That's a different cat."

Common attributes of lacrosse goalies, according to Klaiman, are fearlessness and a lack of regard for their own comfort.

"He's going to take one where you shouldn't be hit on a regular basis," Klaiman said. "I warm up the goalies. I put it in their face. I hit them in the throat. A goalie will brush it and basically say, 'give me the next one.'"

According to Klaiman, MacDonald was not a goalie when he first joined the team.

"He wasn't different when I first got to know him," Klaiman said. "He seemed like a regular kid. But when I got to know him, in a good way, he was different. Without question a team player. He always had a smile on his face. Always cracking jokes."

Brendan played for the Norwich team against Castleton, Johnson, and Maine Maritime.

One of the coach's most memorable moments with Brendan came during a routine warm up session.

"We play this little game, me and the goalies," Klaiman said. "I had my way with Brendan for a little bit. I talked trash, trying to get into his head a little bit, get after him a little bit mentally. The last time we played this little game was Wednesday afternoon in practice, and he shut me out."

Klaiman said he believes MacDonald had finally learned what it took to be a college-level, varsity lacrosse goalie.

In his final conversation with MacDonald, Klaiman had discussed his prospects for the coming year.

"He'd asked me about another goalie that might be coming back into the program," Klaiman said. "I said, 'Hey, don't you worry about that kid. You worry about yourself; you play this summer, and you take care of business, and you're going to be fine.'"

As for the rest of the team, Klaiman said they have all been deeply affected by the loss of their teammate.

"The team is unbelievably shaken," Klaiman said. "I can't even tell you."

Klaiman canceled an alumni game which had been scheduled for the weekend because of Macdonald's death.

"I've talked with a bunch of the alumni. They had the same feelings of family member loss," Klaiman said. "This has hurt the whole lacrosse family."

The president has also received support from presidents at other universities.

"I got a lot of great e-mail from other college presidents who know exactly what we're going through and what I'm going through," Schneider said. "It's nice that they know and that they're supporting us, telling us we've certainly approached this problem with dignity, class and humanity."

For Schneider, the issue of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities, while a first on the Norwich campus, is one that he has faced before in his administrative career in higher education.

"This is my first death on campus at Norwich," Schneider said. "But not my first death on campus since I've been in higher education."

During Schneider's time at Drexel University, a student died on campus in an alcohol-related incident.

"This is a constant issue for every college president," Schneider said during the press conference last Friday, "dealing with this age group population, as it is for every high school in the nation."

"The reasons are very complicated in some ways and simple in others," Schneider said. "Things like this happen because students want to drink. I'll bet you dollars to doughnuts that even after the tragedy with Cadet MacDonald, I'm sure we had a number of students drinking underage and consuming far more alcohol than is reasonable or safe."

Schneider said he believed that a possible solution to the problem of drinking among teens would be for there to be no drinking age in the United States.

"We have a failed public policy," Schneider said. "The Europeans are not losing their young people on the highways and in other ways because of alcohol like we are."

Schneider said he believes the issue is one of people wanting what they cannot have.

"I think prohibition proved to us that that is a failed public policy," Schneider said. "We basically have prohibition for those under 21 years old. If you're old enough to vote, and you're old enough to die protecting your rights, I think it's a failed public policy to not allow 18 year olds and older to drink."

Schneider said he personally favors the policy that exists in many European countries of no drinking age.

"Parents teach responsible drinking from very early ages," Schneider said. "Now, I'm sure I'm going to get every SADD and MADD group mad at me, but that's just one man's opinion, having looked at this for a long time."

Schneider said alcohol is too easily acquired by those for whom it is prohibited for current laws to realistically be enforced.

"I believe education is the solution to all social problems, unless there is a fundamental character flaw in a person," Schneider said. "Even that, I think we can work on through education. Education is needed in this matter. Everybody knows that you're not supposed to be drinking on campus, and yet we still had it happen."

For the president, the "more fundamental question" is why students want to drink illegally and to excess.

"Why must they over-consume or consume at all, when they know it's not legal?" Schneider said.

The president said that he is often asked by students who are underage why they can't drink on campus.

"I tell them to sit down, because they can't drink anyway," Schneider said. "Why are they asking me, when they know it's against the law? I can't change the federal law."

Schneider did place the responsibility for the current state of alcohol prohibitions on the federal lawmakers.

"The fact of the matter is this is a federal issue," Schneider said. "Even though it's a state law that says you won't, the federal government won't provide any road money if we have a drinking age under 21. They think they're on the right path. I say, 'look at the data; it's not working.'"

Schneider admitted to having no official expertise in this area nor to having done any research in the area.

"This is purely anecdotal." Schneider said. "I see kids in Montpelier and Northfield getting wasted on the road, either by drunk drivers or by themselves. Everyone is a lot safer in Europe, where the laws are a lot stricter if you get caught drinking and driving."

Schneider admitted to a feeling of frustration over the issue of student drinking problems.

"I feel like my students aren't getting a fair chance," Schneider said. "One of our guiding rules I'm trying to teach them is respect for the law. I am dutifully trying to teach them and hold them accountable as the law requires, even though I might not agree with the law."

Schneider did caution that the issue is not one that could ever go completely away, since new students arrive at college every year.

"Every year, there's another crop of new students who have alcohol issues that are coming up from high school," Schneider said. "We hope this is a teaching moment, but two years from now, we could be back in the same place."

As for the present policies concerning alcohol use at Norwich, Schneider said he believed the policies are sufficient. "Things have certainly gotten much better. The changes in our policy started early on when Colonel Carbone was here, well before my presidency. The school has been improving ever since, and I just built on that good work."

Schneider added that he believed the Norwich policies regarding alcohol were as good, if not better, than most other colleges.

"When I look at Norwich's policies compared to other campuses, we're very strict," Schneider said. "We are out there in front of the students talking about their responsibility for their safety and to each other."

Schneider cited the two-strikes-you're-out policy for violations of the alcohol policy as an improvement, despite the policy's critics.

"The fact of the matter is, alcohol has no place on our campus unless it's authorized," Schneider said. "At those settings, we're trying to teach responsible drinking."

Schneider said that MacDonald's tragic death should serve as a lesson to those who drink irresponsibly.

"What other teaching moment could I provide you as a campus of how serious this is?" Schneider asked. "If we don't get it now, when will we ever get it? Yes, I am frustrated! And I'm saddened, and I'm scared to death for you guys."

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