SMU business major Braylon Curry remains hospitalized and in acoma after he was admitted to Presbyterian Hospital of DallasSaturday morning. According to police reports, the junior Alpha PhiAlpha pledge was taken by ambulance from an off-campus apartmentwhere he “had an over consumption of water.” Whentransported to the hospital, Curry was reported to be in a”low sick condition” after he and others “began acompetition of drinking large quantities of water.”
The university indefinitely suspended the fraternity pending apolice investigation.
“We’re withholding judgment until we know the degreeof the incident and until the investigation is complete,”Vice President for Student Affairs Jim Caswell said.
According to the police report, Curry appeared “dazed andincoherent” around 5 a.m.
An ambulance arrived at approximately 8 a.m. and transportedCurry to Presbyterian Hospital. He remained there Monday sufferingfrom pulmonary edema, a condition in which water enters the lungs,and hyponatremia, a sodium imbalance brought on by excess fluidconsumption.
SMU recently reinstated the National Pan-Hellenic fraternityafter a one-year suspension for violating the Texas hazing law in2000. Saturday’s incident is not confirmed to be the resultof hazing, but SMU and Dallas police are working together in theongoing investigation.
Caswell emphasized the university’s strict policyconcerning hazing.
“We meet with the pledges in the fall and spring tooutline the policies, clearly indicating the state statute,”he said. “We will not be deterred by this tragedy.”
“Our primary concern is this young man’s safety andhealth. Our hearts and prayers continue to go to the family,”Caswell said.
Curry is an involved and well-known student on campus.
“Braylon is one of the most honest and real peopleI’ve ever met. It’s so hard to come across somebody soreal,” senior business major Byron Forsythe said.
Forsythe, a close friend and intramural teammate ofCurry’s, visited him at the hospital Sunday afternoon andspent time with family members.
“He couldn’t talk or respond, but they saidhe’s doing better,” Forsythe said. “We’vebeen praying – it’s all we can do.”
