The story about the death of Michael Philbin

(21) by drowning in the icy Tor River near

Oshkock, WI us very similiar to other deaths

of 7 students since 1997 in Wisconsin after

drinking events and parties who wndered off

intoxicated, fell into neqrby lakes and rivers,

drowning.

The blood alcohol levels of these students

were not automatically made public. The

town meeting attendies in La Cross, WI

following these annual deaths believed the

police should identify or arrest the “serial”

killer responsible for these tragic deaths.

The police knew the cause of death and

recommended the town erect a fence along

the river’s death scenes.

The town refused that recommendation

infavor of the “serial killer” explaination. How

many more deaths must we accept in silence,

rather than publish the needed information

about the effects of alcohol binge drinking

on and near water and outdoor cold?

Education begins with information, the public

announcement of the BAC of those who

drowned must be a legal demand along with

public instruction in college newspapers and

local news reporting. Many parents try to

withhold the basic information to protect a

negative public image of their lost children

as reckless behavior. These children just

didn’t know the side effect of mixing swm-

ming with a high BACs is often death.