Courtney White, cousin of Adam Oakes, a Virginia Commonwealth University student who died due to alcohol poisoning during a fraternity hazing incident in 2021, discussed hazing prevention and warned attendees about the consequences of hazing at a Monday evening presentation. The event kicked off the first of the University’s events for National Hazing Prevention Week — a period for universities to raise awareness and increase education about hazing.
White is president of the Love Like Adam Foundation, a non-profit organization established in honor of Adam to support, educate and equip students, families and law enforcement officers with hazing prevention education. White spoke on Adam’s story prior to the hazing incident, including his passion for high school sports, and showed a video explaining the circumstances that led to Adam’s death.
In the video, members of Adam’s family and the Delta Chi fraternity recalled how members of the organization instructed Adam to drink a full bottle of whiskey before putting him to sleep on a nearby couch, where he subsequently died of alcohol poisoning. White noted that Adam’s death was preventable had members of his fraternity been more urgent in calling 911. …