Cornell Junior Dies of Swine Flu, Administration Blames Beer Pong > beer pong, Cornell, fraternities, frats, swine flu, warren schor

Cornell Junior Dies of Swine Flu, Administration Blames Beer Pong

by Adam Clark Estes | September 11, 2009 at 9:32 pm

A student at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been the first to die of complications of swine flu in the recent outbreak on Cornell’s campus. Warren Schor ’11 of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity passed away at the Cayuga Medical Center. He was 20 years old.

Although approximately 450 students have presented flu-like symptoms, a representative of the Cornell Flu Line stated in a phone interview yesterday that so far only two students had been conclusively diagnosed with H1N1. Vice President of Communications Tommy Bruce now reports that number at 520. Neighboring Ithaca College has reported at least 18 students are symptomatic.

The Cornell Sun reports that, at the behest of Gannett Health Services, the Inter-Fraternity Council had instated a weeklong moratorium on social events to help prevent the spread of the disease. But, due to a flood of flu-related visits, Gannett also has stopped scheduling routine appointments, so they may just be canceling frat parties to avoid the standard Sunday morning rush for Plan B.

After the jump, the administration’s response: a lesson in hygiene.

UPDATE: Some have questioned whether it’s appropriate to have jokes in the same post that acknowledges a death. No element of this post mocks the deceased or those grieving—in fact, any humor is directed at the administration and their lack of response that precluded the student’s death. However, since we wrote most the post before the death, then updated it afterwards, the tone may now be off. It’s our policy never to take down posts, but as a concession we’ve added a more somber picture and adjusted some language.

Among the University officials in attendance at the IFC’s meeting was Christine Stallman, Cornell’s director of environmental and health safety. She offered the students this advice:

Really the best way to prevent the flu is your own personal hygiene. Make sure your houses have soap.”

Stallmann’s right—you should never take it for granted that a frat house will have soap. In an e-mail excerpted in the Sun, Associate Dean Travis Apgar reached out to the Greek community last Friday, demonstrating his profound knowledge of those crazy kids today with their drinking games:

…keep in mind that some of the more popular ways in which to enjoy a beverage, including games like pong, should be avoided…”

Get well soon, Cornell.

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Disappointed

IvyGate’s “_________” Mother Dies Of Diabetes, Nursing Home Blames Ice Cream Day.
Put your own mother’s name in there and then decide how you would feel if you came across this article. The post could have used many other articles on swine flu and the administrative reactions without selecting one that mentions the death of Warren Schor. Show the same respect you want for you and your family as well as the respect you showed Annie Le.
Disappointed

IvyGate’s “_________” Mother Dies Of Diabetes, Nursing Home Blames Ice Cream Day.
Put your own mother’s name in there and then decide how you would feel if you came across this article. The post could have used many other articles on swine flu and the administrative reactions without selecting one that mentions the death of Warren Schor. Show the same respect you want for you and your family as well as the respect you showed Annie Le.
hmph

The administration’s lack of response? Are you fucking kidding me? You’re just a little piece of shit.
hmph

The administration’s lack of response? Are you fucking kidding me? You’re just a little piece of shit.
j Murphy

Ok joking about the swine flu seems to be the “in” thing. Having a student at Cayuga Community College(Cornell) who was inflicted with H1N1 I found your post distasteful . Having you child rushed to the hospital with a 104 temperature and being 500 miles away is a little scary. That said the Administration Comments actually make a lot of sense.
j Murphy

Ok joking about the swine flu seems to be the “in” thing. Having a student at Cayuga Community College(Cornell) who was inflicted with H1N1 I found your post distasteful . Having you child rushed to the hospital with a 104 temperature and being 500 miles away is a little scary. That said the Administration Comments actually make a lot of sense.
Meredith

Take this down. There is a time and a place for principle–in blogging or elsewhere–and than there is simple respect. As a journalist, I understand principle, but you seem to fail to understand the principle of respect for a life–whether that life be of a frat brother or nobel laureate professor–lost.
Meredith

Take this down. There is a time and a place for principle–in blogging or elsewhere–and than there is simple respect. As a journalist, I understand principle, but you seem to fail to understand the principle of respect for a life–whether that life be of a frat brother or nobel laureate professor–lost.
livid

To Adam Clark Estes,
I am a good friend of Warren Schor and I lived in the same house as him in the weeks before his death. You are a disgusting individual and you should be ashamed of yourself.For us, Warren was not a statistic, he was a great person, something so rare in this world. Maybe if there were more people like him, and fewer scum-sucking douchebags like you, Adam, the world wouldn’t be such a fucked up place. I’m wondering, was it your education at Harvard that made you such an insensitive prick, or were you just born that way? Ariana Huffington should be ashamed that you associate yourself with her site, and IvyGate should be ashamed for allowing Warren’s name to appear in the same article as words that came from your sick, twisted mind. As for your half-hearted, bullshit apology where you claim this article was poking fun at Cornell’s administration, you ought to know that they have in fact been very helpful, while ignorant morons like yourself are really what make dealing with this situation difficult. I can’t think of any artful way to say this so let me blunt: “Go fuck yourself.”
livid

To Adam Clark Estes,
I am a good friend of Warren Schor and I lived in the same house as him in the weeks before his death. You are a disgusting individual and you should be ashamed of yourself.For us, Warren was not a statistic, he was a great person, something so rare in this world. Maybe if there were more people like him, and fewer scum-sucking douchebags like you, Adam, the world wouldn’t be such a fucked up place. I’m wondering, was it your education at Harvard that made you such an insensitive prick, or were you just born that way? Ariana Huffington should be ashamed that you associate yourself with her site, and IvyGate should be ashamed for allowing Warren’s name to appear in the same article as words that came from your sick, twisted mind. As for your half-hearted, bullshit apology where you claim this article was poking fun at Cornell’s administration, you ought to know that they have in fact been very helpful, while ignorant morons like yourself are really what make dealing with this situation difficult. I can’t think of any artful way to say this so let me blunt: “Go fuck yourself.”
Sunnie

http://cornellsun.com/section/opinion/content/2009/09/17/no-one’s-laughing
Sunnie

http://cornellsun.com/section/opinion/content/2009/09/17/no-one’s-laughing
Kobukson

If Mr. Estes and the Ivy Gate editors believe that’s appropriate to joke about Cornell Administration’s handling of H1N1, then why is it that I do not see an article by Mr. Estes poking fun at Yale Administration’s handling of the recent murder? Why aren’t there headlines proclaiming Miss Le’s death, coupled with a joke about how New Haven is a shady town?

Mr. Estes, though you may capitalize on this article in the short term, know that you have tarnished your reputation in the eyes of myself and I’m sure the majority of Cornellians as well. I hope it’s worth it for you.
Kobukson

If Mr. Estes and the Ivy Gate editors believe that’s appropriate to joke about Cornell Administration’s handling of H1N1, then why is it that I do not see an article by Mr. Estes poking fun at Yale Administration’s handling of the recent murder? Why aren’t there headlines proclaiming Miss Le’s death, coupled with a joke about how New Haven is a shady town?

Mr. Estes, though you may capitalize on this article in the short term, know that you have tarnished your reputation in the eyes of myself and I’m sure the majority of Cornellians as well. I hope it’s worth it for you.
c’09

This would never have happened under O’Connor.
c’09

This would never have happened under O’Connor.
EL

WHY IS THIS STILL UP? This reflects poorly not only on IvyGate (not like you care) but on the advertisers on this page.

And as for your pitiful note at the top…

“It’s our policy never to take down posts, but as a concession we’ve added a more somber picture and adjusted some language.”

Stupid shit. Take this article down and apologize.
EL

WHY IS THIS STILL UP? This reflects poorly not only on IvyGate (not like you care) but on the advertisers on this page.

And as for your pitiful note at the top…

“It’s our policy never to take down posts, but as a concession we’ve added a more somber picture and adjusted some language.”

Stupid shit. Take this article down and apologize.
treesus

You people make me sick! Get over yourselves and your and anybody elses “feelings”. Nothing in this article (I admit, I didn’t see the original and I wish they had left it up) makes jest of Warren’s death. It is sad when somebody so young dies, but when they have pre-existing conditions and are allergic to some of the most common remedies and time-buyers that allow a diagnostician to do their job … lets just say that your over-reaction is offensive. Far more offensive than anything I’m going to say below.

Cornell IS handling this EXTREMELY poorly and the reaction around campus is, for the most part, disgusting. The moratorium should have been lifted and new rules and regulations (registering 1:1 events was stupid enough! registering formals…seriously?) should not have been instituted. Gannet is LYING to people that come in and saying that 98% of the people with flu-like symptoms have or had swine flu. [Do not accuse me of making this up, one of my good friends went yesterday with symptoms.] They do NOT have this data yet and the data they do have is NOWHERE CLOSE to this figure. They just want to exert their control and hysteria on the population (oh, wait…just like Obama!) and you pansies are letting them do it. I know MANY of you are too far gone…so I won’t continue to rant on how ridiculous you are. Call me a young kid who has no concept of a parent’s loss or whatever the hell you want. Your worldviews appeal to the worst, most terrified and childish parts of people. History will invalidate you and liberty will prevail.

Moderator: do not delete this post, please. If you choose to, please send me an email and explain what I need to take out because you deem it ‘irrelevant’ to the issue. If you are censoring me for your own sake, at least let me know. The drivel on these comments is too one-sided and absurd. Feel free to delete this message when you post it, though!
treesus

You people make me sick! Get over yourselves and your and anybody elses “feelings”. Nothing in this article (I admit, I didn’t see the original and I wish they had left it up) makes jest of Warren’s death. It is sad when somebody so young dies, but when they have pre-existing conditions and are allergic to some of the most common remedies and time-buyers that allow a diagnostician to do their job … lets just say that your over-reaction is offensive. Far more offensive than anything I’m going to say below.

Cornell IS handling this EXTREMELY poorly and the reaction around campus is, for the most part, disgusting. The moratorium should have been lifted and new rules and regulations (registering 1:1 events was stupid enough! registering formals…seriously?) should not have been instituted. Gannet is LYING to people that come in and saying that 98% of the people with flu-like symptoms have or had swine flu. [Do not accuse me of making this up, one of my good friends went yesterday with symptoms.] They do NOT have this data yet and the data they do have is NOWHERE CLOSE to this figure. They just want to exert their control and hysteria on the population (oh, wait…just like Obama!) and you pansies are letting them do it. I know MANY of you are too far gone…so I won’t continue to rant on how ridiculous you are. Call me a young kid who has no concept of a parent’s loss or whatever the hell you want. Your worldviews appeal to the worst, most terrified and childish parts of people. History will invalidate you and liberty will prevail.

Moderator: do not delete this post, please. If you choose to, please send me an email and explain what I need to take out because you deem it ‘irrelevant’ to the issue. If you are censoring me for your own sake, at least let me know. The drivel on these comments is too one-sided and absurd. Feel free to delete this message when you post it, though!
CornellStudent

As a Cornell student, I agree with the majority of the comments that this original post was grossly insensitive and inappropriate. Shame on you, IvyGate.

The “update” and revised post are woefully inadequate as well. Why not admit your mistake and take the post down? The fact that you say “policy” prevents the removal of the post — as if you were some sort publication that adheres to a code journalistic or ethical values — is laughable.

Even if the point of the post was to mock the administration’s response to the death and not the death itself, I still find it irresponsible. Contrary to your assertions, for which you provide no evidence, the Cornell administration has acted appropriately and admirably to the flu situation on campus. I’m no cheerleader for Cornell’s massive bureaucracy, but I have been impressed with how proactively they’ve dealt with a difficult situation. Also, the University is not “blaming beer pong” for the death; the governing body of most fraternities is a student-run group. They responsibly (and independently) voted to cut back on large parties to prevent further spread of the illness.

PS- You mean to say in the update that the administrators’ lack of response “preceded” the death (not “precluded” the death).
CornellStudent

As a Cornell student, I agree with the majority of the comments that this original post was grossly insensitive and inappropriate. Shame on you, IvyGate.

The “update” and revised post are woefully inadequate as well. Why not admit your mistake and take the post down? The fact that you say “policy” prevents the removal of the post — as if you were some sort publication that adheres to a code journalistic or ethical values — is laughable.

Even if the point of the post was to mock the administration’s response to the death and not the death itself, I still find it irresponsible. Contrary to your assertions, for which you provide no evidence, the Cornell administration has acted appropriately and admirably to the flu situation on campus. I’m no cheerleader for Cornell’s massive bureaucracy, but I have been impressed with how proactively they’ve dealt with a difficult situation. Also, the University is not “blaming beer pong” for the death; the governing body of most fraternities is a student-run group. They responsibly (and independently) voted to cut back on large parties to prevent further spread of the illness.

PS- You mean to say in the update that the administrators’ lack of response “preceded” the death (not “precluded” the death).
jagoff

First, H1N1 is not a “disease”..it is a virus. Second, on your website’s heading it lists the Ivy Colleges: Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, etc…any first grader could tell you that, alphabetically, Columbia comes before Cornell; I assume proper alphabetic order was what you wish to achieve there? Third, humor directed, in any form and to whomever, only belittles the true suffering of the deceased and his family. You Ivy League brats and your pretentiousness make me sick.
jagoff

First, H1N1 is not a “disease”..it is a virus. Second, on your website’s heading it lists the Ivy Colleges: Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia, etc…any first grader could tell you that, alphabetically, Columbia comes before Cornell; I assume proper alphabetic order was what you wish to achieve there? Third, humor directed, in any form and to whomever, only belittles the true suffering of the deceased and his family. You Ivy League brats and your pretentiousness make me sick.
jagoff

Correction: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, etc., etc. and so on….That is all.
jagoff

Correction: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, etc., etc. and so on….That is all.
@LLW

I’ll be the one to jump in and mention LLW’s comment… this is a definite case of over generalization and douchery to the infinite degree–which a few other posts here are guilty of as well. Not all Ivy Leaguers are pretentious… (though D’07 is… are you kidding me with that Lascaux bullshit?)

now that that’s done… it’s insensitive to joke about such a tragedy, swine flu is in no way as big of a deal on cornell campus as everyone seems to think it is, and you guys REALLY need a more balanced writing staff.

PS- gannett has always been absolutely absurd.

PPS–just play beer pong with all water cups and drink your own beer kiddies. play safe, now
@LLW

I’ll be the one to jump in and mention LLW’s comment… this is a definite case of over generalization and douchery to the infinite degree–which a few other posts here are guilty of as well. Not all Ivy Leaguers are pretentious… (though D’07 is… are you kidding me with that Lascaux bullshit?)

now that that’s done… it’s insensitive to joke about such a tragedy, swine flu is in no way as big of a deal on cornell campus as everyone seems to think it is, and you guys REALLY need a more balanced writing staff.

PS- gannett has always been absolutely absurd.

PPS–just play beer pong with all water cups and drink your own beer kiddies. play safe, now
fuckyou

I think the fact that you, Adam, are a huge douchebag for making light of Warren’s death has been established in the comments above mine. Still, you have NO idea how Cornell’s administration has been handling this crisis. Gannett has always been a little flaky, but with over 600 cases of swine-flu-like symptoms then yes, it is better to think in the worst case scenario so that we can all take proper precautions. Hand sanitizer dispensers are available everywhere you look on campus, especially the dining halls. E-mails from the president have been sent updating the community on the spread of the virus, and a special H1N1 web page has been created on cornell.edu to help inform everyone. Professors and TAs have dramatically loosened their attendance policies; basically, if you have a fever and other symptoms, DON’T go to class. Make-up pre-lims, quizzes, etc. are really easy to get if you’ve been sick.

And Treesus, Cayuga Medical Center has never confirmed the rumors that Warren had a pre-existing condition or allergy that complicated his illness. People are just assuming that had to have been the case. So shut the fuck up and stop acting like you know anything. And I’m sorry we “offended” you by defending our late friend. Kindly go jump off the Collegetown bridge, you pathetic waste of life.

I write this all while bedridden with swine flu myself…
fuckyou

I think the fact that you, Adam, are a huge douchebag for making light of Warren’s death has been established in the comments above mine. Still, you have NO idea how Cornell’s administration has been handling this crisis. Gannett has always been a little flaky, but with over 600 cases of swine-flu-like symptoms then yes, it is better to think in the worst case scenario so that we can all take proper precautions. Hand sanitizer dispensers are available everywhere you look on campus, especially the dining halls. E-mails from the president have been sent updating the community on the spread of the virus, and a special H1N1 web page has been created on cornell.edu to help inform everyone. Professors and TAs have dramatically loosened their attendance policies; basically, if you have a fever and other symptoms, DON’T go to class. Make-up pre-lims, quizzes, etc. are really easy to get if you’ve been sick.

And Treesus, Cayuga Medical Center has never confirmed the rumors that Warren had a pre-existing condition or allergy that complicated his illness. People are just assuming that had to have been the case. So shut the fuck up and stop acting like you know anything. And I’m sorry we “offended” you by defending our late friend. Kindly go jump off the Collegetown bridge, you pathetic waste of life.

I write this all while bedridden with swine flu myself…
livid

“Kindly go jump off the Collegetown bridge, you pathetic waste of life.”
seconded
livid

“Kindly go jump off the Collegetown bridge, you pathetic waste of life.”
seconded
http://www.flu-h1n1pandemic.com/ Flu,H1N1,Swine,Swine Flu,Flu P

Excellent post, finally a post thats worth reading
http://www.flu-h1n1pandemic.com Flu,H1N1,Swine,Swine Flu,Flu Pandemic,

Excellent post, finally a post thats worth reading
Murder yourself

Hey way to fucking go. I guess it’s not only your policy not to rescind an article but to sound like a self-righteous fuckface when you try to defend mocking a student’s death. Bang up fucking job shitdicks. You’ll have a bright future in politics.
Murder yourself

Hey way to fucking go. I guess it’s not only your policy not to rescind an article but to sound like a self-righteous fuckface when you try to defend mocking a student’s death. Bang up fucking job shitdicks. You’ll have a bright future in politics.

Cornell Junior Dies of Swine Flu, Administration Blames Beer Pong

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