Death of Kelly Nester

It was with extreme sadness and dismay when I read the Boston Globe's account of the senseless death of Plymouth student Kelly Nester. I was an undergrad in 1970-1972 @ PSC. I pledged Tau Kappa Epsilon in the spring semester of my freshman year. The "brothers" blindfolded two friends of mine (Rich Ross and Reggie Marquis from Berlin NH) and I in February 1971 @ 2am and took us off-campus to someplace in Holderness, then dropped us off on an icy dirt road. We were told to find our way back to campus and if we faked an injury or called for help, we'd really "get busted" at the TKE house the next day. No sooner had we been told not to fake an injury when the inebriated "brother" who was driving got back into the SS396 Chevy and laid heavily on the gas. My friends and I were standing behind the car, with blindfolds removed. Inexplicably, I was knocked unconscious by a flying projectile from the wheels which hit me in the orbit of my right eye and my friends, who were just admonished not to fake an injury, thought I was joking around. Needless to say I wasn't - we found our way back to campus through the generosity of one of the residents in the area, who very bravely decided to speak to 3 college age men @ 3am of a pitch-black star-dotted morning. I had sustained severe eye damage, so much so that I was blind for 6 months in my right eye. After a couple surgical procedures my corrected vision is 20-40 presently, and I thank the Lord for my good fortune in regaining my vision.

I write to the Clock to ask how much the College administration has learned from this senseless, degrading, and in some cases barbaric hazing? How many more students will be injured or maimed for life in the name of pseudo-fellowship? I thought I was joining a brotherhood - very strange, but not one of the "brothers", nor any of my "pledge brothers" came to see me when I was in the hospital for 10 days in Rochester. Not one of them even sent get-well wishes. When they found out that I was filing a lawsuit against TKE because of my injuries I became "persona non grata" on campus. I transferred to the Durham campus for my junior and senior years, despite having a successful sophomore year academically and playing on the PSC baseball team. I believe that frats detract from the College experience of every person who joins a fraternity or sorority. Instead of being encouraged to contribute to the College community, the Greek system encourages members to remain aloof, form your own clique, and resist the greater campus. They also discourage independence, free-thinking, and self-esteem. As an individual would you rather be known a dynamic free spirit or a member of a boorish multitude?

Lastly, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the family and dear friends of Kelly Nester, whose premature passing is a great loss to her family and the College community.

Jon WileyUNH '74