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The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

WEB UPDATE: Tau Kappa Epsilon member who apparently fell from building may face SJS sanctions

Posted Tuesday, May 10, 2:01 a.m.
Updated Friday, May 13, 1 a.m.

Student Judicial Services may punish Tau Kappa Epsilon pending an investigation into the actions of one of its members, who apparently fell from the fraternity’s house.

Tracy Schario, GW’s director of media relations, wrote in an e-mail Wednesday that SJS is investigating the incident that occurred early Tuesday morning. SJS has been in contact with GW’s Office of Greek Life and the Tau Kappa Epsilon national organization.

“In this instance, after the conclusion of an investigation, SJS may issue sanctions on the organization, on the individual/s involved, or both,” Schario wrote.

Sophomore Ben Golden was transported to the GW Hospital around 1 a.m. Tuesday after his apparent fall. Hospital officials would not comment about his condition this week.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Tau Kappa Epsilon member said the sophomore was “doing fine.”

“He is out of the operating room and may have sustained some broken bones in his legs, but he is conscious and responding,” sophomore Mike Heenan said after visiting the student in the hospital.

Metropolitan and University police officials remained in front of the Tau Kappa Epsilon residence on 22nd Street for about an hour early Tuesday morning. Students gathered near the house were overheard saying that Golden either jumped or fell from a part of the building.

UPD and MPD officials on scene refused to comment. They were seen pointing to the top of the three-story building, located at 621 22nd St.

A handful of fraternity members who were waiting in the lobby of the GW Hospital emergency room early Tuesday morning said they were there to “support their brother.” They did not disclose any specifics about the incident. Fraternity members would also not discuss the apparent fall Wednesday and Thursday, even though they said they would be releasing a statement following a Tuesday night meeting.

Heenan said it was too early to assume that the victim had fallen from the roof of the fraternity house and added that doctors at the hospital said if he had fallen from the roof, his injuries would have been worse.

The Tau Kappa Epsilon house has a front landing and numerous windows around the building.

All the fraternity members waiting in the hospital lobby early Tuesday morning said they were not present when Golden was injured and that no one had seen what happened.

“Someone spotted him and called 911,” Heenan said Tuesday afternoon. “The lack of witnesses to the event is making it difficult for us to piece together exactly what happened.”

-Brandon Butler and Katie Rooney contributed to this report.

Check back at www.GWHATCHET.com for updates on this developing story.

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