Statement of Jacqueline Nickerson regarding her son, Nathan Erickson, on behalf of the family. Released 11/10/2009
It is our sincere hope that the extensive media coverage of the alcohol poisoning that nearly killed Nate this past weekend will help raise awareness of how dangerous alcohol can be and help prevent similar situations from occurring on college campuses.
We want to make sure no student dies with a blood-alcohol level of .500 — the same level that Nate had. It’s frightening to think that at that level, 50 percent of his blood consisted of alcohol. Death often occurs at blood-alcohol levels less than that.
If we can prevent even one case of alcohol poisoning, then it will be worth all of this pain and struggle to see some good come out of this situation.
Nate believed his fraternity brothers when they assured him that they wouldn’t let him get hurt. He trusted their judgment. They trusted their own judgment. But there was no judgment to be trusted. They all believed in their own minds that they could control the situation, but they didn’t understand the strength of the alcohol. Alcohol is its own monster.
We believe the other young men had no malicious intent. They just made bad choices. Nate acknowledges that he also made bad choices. That doesn’t mean they’re bad people.
Apparently no one realized that Nate was on his way out until it was almost too late. He didn’t appear nearly as intoxicated as he was. He was talking and sending text messages to his friends without any recall of those activities now.
We want to thank whoever finally realized Nate was in trouble and called 911 for an ambulance in time to save his life. Without that person’s action, it would have been an entirely different outcome, God forbid.
We would like to thank everyone for their concern and support. Nate is recovering well and plans to return to his classes at Drake later this week. With the ongoing investigation, he is keeping his contacts with the fraternity to a minimum.
We hope this tragedy can raise the awareness of the role of alcohol in fraternity initiations. We want Nate’s experience to provide a catalyst that allows students to become more educated about the power and destructiveness of alcohol.
Related Story: Two students charged with hazing
Related Story: Student hospitalized for alcohol poisoning [updated]
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November 10th, 2009 at 6:34 PM
.500 means that his blood was one half of one percent alcohol–not 50 percent. He’d most certainly have expired if that were the case!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:05 PM
Factual error on her part: a BAC of .500 does NOT mean that 50% of his bloodstream was alcohol. It means that .5% of his bloodstream was alcohol (i.e. a half of 1 percent).
November 10th, 2009 at 8:51 PM
Emanual….doubt it.
I don’t think your comment is tasteful.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:45 PM
“.500 means that his blood was one half of one percent alcohol–not 50 percent. He’d most certainly have expired if that were the case!”
As an aside, he probably should have expired even at one half of one percent. Good thing he was able to get treatment.
“It’s frightening to think that at that level, 50 percent of his blood consisted of alcohol.”
Oh come on.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:47 PM
Wow, I didn’t realize that bit about 50% was from a statement from the mother…Now I feel like an insensitive jerk. I don’t know how I missed that one given the headline.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:55 PM
Just because she made that mistake does not take away from the seriousness of the situation. Her son almost died.
November 11th, 2009 at 2:01 PM
It’s about time that Drake begins the discussion of eliminating the Greek system.
Let’s hope that this is the nail in the coffin of the Greek system at Drake. With any luck the entire Greek system will be asked to leave campus.
GDI!!!
November 11th, 2009 at 6:13 PM
Right on, Joe F! Let’s hope the Greek system leaves Drake. That way you can be insignificant based on your merit, instead of your lack of association.
November 12th, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Joe
You cannot blame the whole Greek system for the actions of a few individuals of one fraternity. Men and women in houses generally have higher GPAs than non-members, and they contribute to philanthropic efforts. Not to mention being a good majority of campus leaders. To say that this one incident reflects the whole Greek system here at Drake is a gross error.