Sigma Chi - University of Memphis

The WISE OLD OWL Epsilon Kappa ChaptEr of sigma Chi fratErnity at thE UnivErsity of mEmphis Spring 2023 FEATURES: Proud to Be a Sigma Chi - 2 • Achieving Excellence - 3 • Save the Date - 4 Sigma Chi Is There for Brothers in Times of Need RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE W hen people envision Greek life, they often think of big parties and substance abuse. Studies have shown that almost half of fraternity members have symptoms of alcohol addiction in young adulthood, and 64% identified as binge drinkers. All of us can tell stories of drunken fraternity brothers engaging in outrageous behavior. Sometimes it is harmless fun, but other instances can have serious consequences. The Story of Brian Krebs '96 Brian pledged Sigma Chi at the University of Memphis (then MSU) in the fall of 1991. He was from Michigan and knew no one in our Chapter. He came through formal recruitment, which at the time did not produce many quality potential new members. Brian was the exception. He had good grades, was an accomplished athlete, and was very personable. The Chapter focused on him and offered a bid. I specifically recall several of us sitting in a room in the University Center when Brian walked through the door to accept our bid. We were elated. Many years later, we learned an incredible bit of trivia about Brian. For those of you familiar with the American Pie movies, the rowdiest, craziest character was named Steve Stifler. Brian graduated high school with Adam Herz, who wrote the screenplay for American Pie. People familiar with the script have said that Brian was the real-life inspiration for the Steve Stifler character. See tinyurl.com/briankrebsnews. After Brian accepted the bid, he and I became friends. I was selected to be his Big Brother. During his pledgeship, there were instances of questionable conduct involving alcohol, but they were not considered to be "serious" problems. After his initiation, Brian's antics took a darker turn. Space and decorum do not permit me to elaborate on the many wild stories involving Brian, but any Sig from our Chapter who was active in the early to mid- '90s will no doubt have many. I lost touch with Brian after college. He went into the medical sales field and moved away from Memphis. According to news reports, he had substance abuse and legal problems. Some of those legal issues included allegations of violence. (See tinyurl.com/ briankhistory for specifics.) In April of 2011, Brian got into an argument in a bar in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and stabbed and killed a man. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. In October of 2022, one of our alumni found an article that stated Brian had recently died in prison from complications related to an undisclosed illness. He was 49 years old. Further details were not provided. Brian's death made me reflect on whether substance abuse played a role in his eventual demise. Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help I wrote this article not to speak poorly of Brian, but to educate you about a Sigma Chi program that I think is important. Several years ago, Sigma Chi created a substance abuse prevention program called Choices. In 2016, this program evolved into Sigma Chi Crossroads and is now part of the "Drinking Smart" section of the Values-Based Decision- Making Curriculum. Significant Sig Rob Reifschneider, himself sober for 35 years, was instrumental in providing monetary support for this program. In addition to providing substance abuse training, the program also offers needs-based financial assistance to Sigma Chis who seek addiction and substance abuse treatment at Hazelden Betty Ford centers. More information about this program can be found at tinyurl.com/sxaddictiontreatment. Additionally, Sigma Chi in 2019 created the "Sigma Chi Reach Out" app that can be downloaded on your phone. This free application provides anonymous, 24/7 access to local and national resources for many issues, including substance abuse. Left untreated, substance abuse can have catastrophic results. I cannot say whether Sigma Chi's substance abuse program would have made a difference in Brian's life (had it been available), but I think it is laudable that Sigma Chi is proactively taking steps to address this problem. Programs like this make me proud to be a Sigma Chi. In Hoc, Kirk Caraway '94 President, Memphis Sigma Chi House Group, Inc. kcaraway@allensummers.com

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