Amon Carter IV branded, burned by fraternity chums

[douglas9]

FORT WORTH — One of the most prominent families in Fort Worth wants answers about what happened to their son.

Amon Carter IV came home from a trip with his buddies branded and seriously burned.

Fraternity branding is a growing phenomenon, but this incident goes far beyond that. The family of the great, great grandson of Amon Carter is asking how could it happen — with no one held accountable and no one raising an alarm?

Everyone seems to agree it was a stupid decision by several TCU students, the result of a night of drinking — perhaps a dare.

http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Amon-Carter-IV-branded-burned-by-fraternity-chums-82758112.html#

[cali]

1. idiots. I have little sympathy for the moron victim

off playing with fellow privileged brats in Breckenridge, drunk out of their minds. He consented to this. He got more than he bargained for.

[Chulanowa]

2. The general consensus is that a drunk person can't give legal consent

Oh, wait. it was a he? Oh! Well then that changes everything. Let's all point and laugh.

[cali]

3. this has nothing to do with rape

I'm not denying that he was drunk and thus legally incapable of giving consent, but forgive me if I don't have much sympathy for the hijinks of a bunch of over privileged brats. And how do YOU know that he was drunk when he gave his consent? Maybe he gave it and then got drunk.

[Bucky]

4. Being burned and branded isn't "hijinx". It's criminal battery.

The wealth of the victim does not soften the severity of the crime.

[cali]

5. and he gave his consent

this is evidently common fraternity behavior that started out as hijinks and ended up as a criminal offense.

[Bonobo]

7. Cali no offense, but you are beaten. You should withdraw. nt

[cali]

9. Sorry, I still have no sympathy for Amon Carter the whatever

Not saying this wasn't criminal, but I doubt the drunken yahoos had any intent to inflict serious bodily harm, and we don't know whether Carter gave his consent when he was drunk or sober. That doesn't mean I think these asswipes shouldn't be prosecuted. I do, because this is a stupid and dangerous practice- like so much fraternity crap.

it was still hijinks gone wrong.

[MercutioATC]

14. I have to agree with Cali on this one.

This kid agreed to a fraternity initiation. That initiation may have turned into a chargeable criminal offense, but I still have no sympathy for the kid.

[Chulanowa]

10. Didn't read the article or watch the video, I take it?

it happened post-drinking. His "buddies" apparently had a different idea of what was going to happen, and he ended up trying to fight them off. He's now going to need multiple surgeries to fix it. The kid apparently readily admits it was an extremely dumb idea but this doesn't change the fact that, according to the wounds he has and the alcohol involved, this wasn't actually "consensual"

You obviously think it's pretty funny. You also evidently don't think a drunk person being held down so a bunch of drunk people can jam a branding iron into him should be compared to a drunk person being held down so a bunch of other drunk people can jam a penis into him. Regardless, from what I can tell, this kid was victimized. Stupid ideas don't justify abuse. Sorry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Amen

[cali]

19. I don't think it's at all funny and I said nothing that would lead you to

draw that conclusion. I think it's disgusting.

[Chulanowa]

21. Sorry, I got that impression by your frequent statements of not giving a damn

and your repeated use of the term "hijinks"

high jinks
 
–noun Informal.
boisterous celebration or merrymaking; unrestrained fun: The city is full of conventioneers indulging in their usual high jinks.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hijinks

I'm sorry if I got the wrong impression after you tried so hard to give it to me

[cali]

23. I don't give a damn about this kid.

but i don't think it's funny. and yes, in all likelihood they were having boisterous fun at their rented house at a swanky ski resort untii it turned ugly.

[Bonobo]

6. That was beautiful, +1,000 nt

[saltpoint]

8. Might have, might not have, but in any case a

victim's wealth does not justify violence against his person.

Maybe in Old Man Warner's court, but not in Jefferson's and Madison's.

[liberal N proud]

11. Not all fraternities are full of privileged brats

Many are hard working students from middle class families who have joined together for philanthropic purpose. The stuff of Animal House that one time was commonplace is rare.

There is much social networking skills learned from Fraternities.

Branding this kid as privileged brat because he is in a fraternity is profiling

[ret5hd]

13. Obviously you ain't from foat wuth.

[MercutioATC]

15. The "privileged" claim has nothing to do with joining a fraternity.

It comes from the article:

He was a member of "one of the most prominent families in Fort Worth".

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. I was a scholarship kid at a private school full of kids from very wealthy families

And I thank you for your insightful post. :)

[cali]

20. hardly. He's from a wealthy and powerful TX family

that is not profiling.

[AlecBGreen]

28. thank you

I am an alumnus of Viginia Tech and a lifelong member of a fraternity. While we did raise a little hell every now and then, we are nothing like animal house and dont fit the stereotypes that moden American loves to pin on fraternities. With our 100+ brothers we did thousands and thousands of hours of community service every year and raised a heap of money for charity. Im proud of joining, proud of the service we gave, and proud of my brothers.

[elocs]

12. Other than service organizations, when I was in college we called frats

"rent-a-friends".

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Texas 'CHRISTIAN' University?

Who would Jesus brand?

[Rebubula]

22. Q Dogs

Look at many of the professional athletes (big example - Michael Jordon)with the big Q scar on their torso. This is very common for members of Omega Psi Phi frat. MANY frats engage in Tattooing and branding\scarring.

I am not saying that this young man was not abused, but I would bet that this is more like the young woman in Europe that wanted a couple of stars tattooed on her face and ended up with dozens. She claimed that she was drugged and forced to get the tattoos out of fear of family anger. She recanted and apologized.

Anyone name Amon Carter IV is likely from a haughty family that has many patriarchs\matriarchs that would frown on such shenanigans. This is a drunken regret story that young Amon Carter IV (Everytime I say this name - I use Thurston Howell III voice .....LOVIE) has to maintain a coverup story. Lots of inheritance money on the line....

[TexasObserver]

24. When keepin' it real goes wrong, Frat style.

All fraternities who engage in these activities should be banned.

[hatrack]

25. Gosh, I sure wish I had paid above and beyond tuition and expenses for fun like this!

Just think of the networking! And the great times I wouldn't be able to remember!

:eyes:

[Berry Cool]

26. I think it's quite similar to rape.

And if TCU has rules prohibiting fraternity branding (as it likely does--performed on or off campus), there's going to be hell to pay.

[spinbaby]

27. This has been going on since I was in college

Almost 40 years ago, I remember a fraternity at WVU in trouble because they accidentally set someone on fire. Fraternities have always done stupid shit. Doesn't make it right, just makes it not new.