Two Ryder University officials charged in drinking death

Saturday, August 04, 2007

(8/04/07 - TRENTON, N.J.) -- Two Rider University officials, including the dean of students, and three students were indicted Friday in the death of a freshman after a drinking binge at a campus fraternity house.

The school dissolved the Phi Kappa Tau chapter Friday, and authorities said the charges should send a message to students and administrators alike.

"The standards of college life, when it relates to alcohol, need to be policed carefully," prosecutor Joseph Bocchini Jr. said.

Gary DeVercelly, of Long Beach, Calif., had a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal limit when he was pronounced dead March 30 at a Trenton hospital, a day after drinking at the Phi Kappa Tau house on the private school's campus in central New Jersey.

Further action related to the officials and students involved is to be decided next week, university spokesman Earle Rommel said.

"This has been a very painful time for the university family and the university," he said. "We recognize that alcohol abuse by college students is a national challenge."

DeVercelly's blood alcohol level at the time of his death was .426, authorities said.

Friends of the freshman said DeVercelly, 18, told them he would be drinking vodka during pledge initiation at the fraternity house, The Times of Trenton has reported.

The five officials and students charged were:

-- Ada Badgley, 31, of Lawrenceville, the university's director of Greek life.

-- Anthony Campbell, 51, of Lawrenceville, the dean of students.

-- Adriano DiDonato, 22, of Princeton, residence director and house master of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house.

-- Dominic Olsen, 21, of Kenilworth, pledge master of Spring 2007 Phi Kappa Tau pledge class.

-- Michael J. Tourney, 21, of Randolph, the chapter president.

If convicted, the officials and fraternity members would face a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Bocchini wouldn't discuss evidence in detail, but he has said previously that the investigation revealed some of the pledges drank entire bottles of hard liquor in under an hour.

Twenty-three other people face charges of providing alcohol to minors or underage drinking related to the event. Three students also face drug charges after a search of the fraternity house, Bocchini said.

A message left at Badgley's university office was not immediately returned and a home number was not listed. Campbell didn't immediately return a call to his house. Phone numbers for the three university students also were not listed and it was unclear if any had attorneys.

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