Aware Awake Alive

12/02/2024

DEAR CARSON,

Today we tell your story, so we never forget...

Carson Starkey was born on April 17, 1990, in Austin, TX and passed away on December 2, 2008 in San Luis Obispo, CA.

The loving son of Julia and Scott Starkey, Carson was a scholar athlete and Architectural Engineering major at Cal Poly.

He lived his life with urgency and always gave more than he received. He looked at the world around him and saw limitless possibilities.

Today we honor his life, the legacy his parents created through Aware Awake Alive and the WITH US Center for Bystander Intervention. We send love into the universe for his family and friends, and retell his story in hopes that no other family has to endure such a loss.

We look to college communities to join our efforts to help prevent campus tragedies.

11/07/2024

Some important anti-hazing legislation is making its way through Congress! Support change for safer college communities.

Federal anti-hazing legislation passed the House of Representatives on Tuesday and is on its way to the Senate, which needs to approve it before it can become law.

12/22/2023

As we close out the year, we want to thank all those who contributed to the Aware Awake Alive campaign in 2023. From the headquarters in California to states across the nation, students, staff and supporters spread ani-hazing and alcohol overdose prevention messages to drive change in their communities. We are so grateful. You've honored Carson Starkey's life and saved others.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year!

12/02/2023

Carson Starkey was born on April 17, 1990, in Austin, TX. He was a loving son, loyal brother, and dedicated student. He was also an adventurous person. He biked in competitive race, enjoyed skiing and traveling. Carson was a three-sport athlete for Austin High, playing tennis, lacrosse and running cross country. His interest in architecture brought him to Cal Poly, as an Architectural Engineering major. Carson lived his life with urgency and always gave more than he received. He looked at the world around him and saw limitless possibilities.

What happened?

In his freshman year, Carson pledged a fraternity. On December 2, 2008, Carson and 16 other pledges were being initiated. Alcoholic beverages were placed in front of each of the pledges and they were told to drink an excessive amount in 90 minutes. Carson passed out and became unresponsive. Members put Carson in a vehicle to take him to the hospital, but they turned back after deciding they didn’t want to risk getting in trouble. They returned Carson to the house and placed him on a mattress, but he never woke up. Carson died from alcohol poisoning with a BAC of 0.40. He was unresponsive, unmonitored, and abandoned.

Aware Awake Alive

Carson’s hazing incident resulted in the Starkey family creating Aware Awake Alive in order to prevent lives from being lost to alcohol poisoning and binge drinking. The mission is to provide the community with resources that give students the confidence to speak up and do something before it’s too late. Aware Awake Alive has expanded to become WITH US: The Center for Bystander Intervention, a research organization housed at Cal Poly. It's focused on learning about hazing and other harmful social issues in college communities and inspiring proactive bystanders to help.

05/07/2022

Be the one Gordie needed.

Gordie attended the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business. He was a gifted athlete and promising student who brought joy to all who knew him. In his first 3 weeks on campus, he was named to the lacrosse team and decided to join a fraternity.

On September 16, 2004, Gordie and 26 other pledges were subjected to a night of hazing that included forced alcohol consumption of 90-proof whiskey and wine within a short timeframe. By 11 pm, Gordie passed out and was put on the couch to "sleep it off." Instead of checking if he needed help, his bystanders wrote on his body with permanent marker. The next morning, Gordie was found dead on the floor from an alcohol overdose. His BAC was 0.328. Gordie was only 18 years old.

Swipe to learn about Gordie's story and our partners at the Gordie Center who tirelessly work to end hazing and substance misuse among college and high school students nationwide.

Follow their Instagram for great information.

 

05/06/2022

Be the one Tim needed.

Tim grew up loving a variety of sports. He played football and was part of his high school track team. Tim had a big heart and wanted to make a positive impact on the world. It was his dream to design artificial limbs for children with disabilities after earning his degree in engineering.

During his sophomore year at Penn State University, Tim died from traumatic injuries to his head and body from numerous falls after being subjected to a night of alcohol-fueled hazing. The fraternity he hoped to join coerced him to drink mass quantities of alcohol on an empty stomach and left him severely intoxicated and unsupervised. He fell repeatedly throughout the night suffering life threatening injuries while bystanders slapped him and poured beer on him to see if he would wake up. One member strapped a backpack on him to keep him from rolling onto his back. Another shook him at one point, got no response, and walked away. Tim ultimately died from his injuries on February 4, 2017. His estimated BAC was 0.40.

Swipe to learn more about Tim's story and the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform established in his memory.

Resource spotlight: Looking for mind and heart changing speakers on hazing prevention? Connect with the Anti-Hazing Coalition to bring parents who have lost children to hazing to your high school or college to share their tragic, yet empowering message. Visit: antihazingcoalition.org/booking/

05/05/2022

Be the one Max needed.

Max went to Louisiana State University where he majored in Political Communications and was excited to start pursuing his career in journalism. He's often described as a “gentle giant” who had a passion for sports and writing.

Within his first two weeks on campus, Max died from acute alcohol intoxication after he was coerced to drink copious amounts of alcohol during a fraternity hazing event - his blood alcohol level was 0.495%. He and the other new members endured serious physical and emotional torment from peers they were hoping to become brothers with. They stood by and did nothing while he desperately needed help.

Swipe to learn more about Max's story and the Max Gruver Foundation's mission to educate about the dangers of hazing and excessive alcohol consumption.

Resource spotlight: Visit antihazingeducation.com to learn about the powerful anti-hazing e-course that features Max's story produced by Burton Services.

 

05/04/2022

Be the one Matt needed.

Matthew Carrington was known as a polite, gracious, empathetic, leader, who always stood up for the underdog. He was killed February 2, 2005 in a water torture hazing incident while pledging a fraternity at Cal State University, Chico, California.

Swipe to learn more about Matt's story and the AHA! Movement that was established to prevent injury and death by changing the culture of those organizations who participate in the humiliating, degrading, torturous and potentially deadly acts of hazing.

 

05/03/2022

Be the one Christian needed.

Christian grew up an avid skier, gardener, and fisherman. He was quiet, creative, and had a passion for architecture. He attended Temple University where he majored in Landscape Architecture and planned to pursue a career in the field after graduation.

One evening during his junior year at Temple, Christian returned home heavily intoxicated from a party and was barely able to stand or talk. His roommates thought he was just drunk and could sleep it off so they put him to bed. The next morning, Christian’s roommates found him unresponsive, blue, and cold to the touch. Christian died on January 4, 2015 after being on life support in the hospital for six days. He exhibited all the classic symptoms of alcohol poisoning, but his roommates didn't know the signs.

Swipe to learn about Christian's story and our partners at Don't Stall, Just Call who educate people of all ages about the signs of alcohol poisoning, the importance of medical amnesty policies and not being afraid to call for help.

Resource spotlight: In need of an impactful PSA about binge drinking? Check out Don't Stall, Just Call's YouTube page for videos you can share with parents and students.

05/02/2022

Be the one Carson needed.

Carson was an outdoorsman. Loved hiking, running, and being on his bike. From the young age of 6, he was a competitive runner and cyclist taking part in many state, national, and international races. Carson was good natured and could get along with anybody. His love for architecture brought him to Cal Poly where he majored in architectural engineering.

He left this life on December 2, 2008, following a night of hazing where he was compelled to drink large quantities of alcohol by members of the fraternity he was hoping to join. After becoming unresponsive, members put Carson in a vehicle to take him to the hospital but ultimately abandoned the trip because they were afraid of getting in trouble. They returned to the house and left Carson on a mattress. He never woke up. Carson died—unresponsive, unmonitored, and abandoned. He died from acute alcohol poisoning; his blood alcohol level was 0.40.

Swipe to learn more about Carson's story and Aware Awake Alive, our program with a serious mission of preventing lives lost to alcohol poisoning.

05/01/2022

It’s Aware Awake Alive Week!

Each year we endure devastating harm and loss due to alcohol poisoning and hazing across the country. Many of these tragic events are preventable if bystanders are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to help. Aware Awake Alive Week is about providing students with the education and resources needed to intervene when they witness potentially harmful situations involving alcohol or hazing.

The theme is - a challenge for each of us to be the one that stands up to help when others are standing by. All week we will share stories of those we've lost, each involving bystanders that neglected to stop the situation or call for help when it was needed most.

Join us this week to help us and our partners increase public awareness about the signs of alcohol poisoning, the dangers of binge drinking and hazing, and the role each of us can play in saving lives by simply stepping up to help one another.

04/26/2022

Don't miss out on this Cal Poly tradition. Mustang Mile is one week away. Secure your tickets today!