Underage drinking led to the hospitalization of a UTM student early Saturday.

According to a Martin Police Department report, the student who was hospitalized is Natalie L. Riggins, 18, of Edwardsville, Ill. Riggins was treated overnight at Volunteer Community Hospital in Martin and released the next morning. She was issued a citation by Martin Police for violation of the drinking age law.

A 911 call was made at 1:47 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, to request an ambulance. The call came from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house and was made by Patrick Ford, risk manager for SAE.

After the 911 call was made, emergency personnel responded and Riggins was transported to the hospital. Specific information about Riggins’ condition could not be released because it is protected by the Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act.

“We found her on the edge of our property,” said SAE President Adam Hooper, adding that when Riggins was found, she was at the corner of the property line between the SAE house and the Kappa Alpha Order house.

Hooper said that Riggins was holding a bottle of vodka and was cold and unresponsive when she was found. He said that Riggins was taken inside the SAE house and then the 911 call was made. Riggins is part of the “little sister” program of SAE, known as the “Ladies of Minerva,” he said.

Hooper also said that his fraternity did not have a party that night. “She was at a fraternity party, but it was not ours,” he said. Hooper told The Pacer that Riggins had come from the KA party next door. However, KA President Erick Callis said their records show Riggins did not attend their party. “Due to KA’s risk management policy, all guests are to sign in at the front table,” Callis said. “According to our party list, Riggins was not present."

MPD Capt. Scott Robbins told The Pacer that police had been called to the KA house that morning in reference to noise complaints called in at 12:20 a.m. and 1 a.m. Robbins said the KA party was shut down at 1:20 a.m.

The 911 call was made nearly 30 minutes after the KA party was shut down. The Pacer has been unable to confirm where Riggins went or how long she lay in the SAE yard before being found. Riggins could not be reached for comment.

In the past academic year, several universities and fraternities have dealt with serious consequences of the overconsumption of alcohol. For example, Samantha Spady, 19, died at Colorado State University’s Sigma Pi fraternity house in September following a heavy night of drinking. Then, fewer than two weeks later, Lynn Gordon Bailey Jr., 18, was found dead at the Chi Psi fraternity house at the University of Colorado following a party with fraternity brothers where wine, whiskey, and beer were consumed. Other deaths that involved alcohol poisoning have occurred at colleges across the country.

“Because it was the end of Greek Week, we assumed that most fraternities were going to have a party,” said Louis Ragsdale, coordinator of Greek Life. “However, with any party, each fraternity is expected to follow all IFC and National Risk Management Policies.” Ragsdale gave no indication that an investigation into the incident would occur, saying that right now it seems no violations of risk management occurred.