For immediate release:

Contact: Rob Watt, Producer, (719) 338-4446

Bill Martin, Executive Director, Phi Gamma Delta (859) 255-1848

College Fraternity Wrongful Death Lawsuit Leads to Breakthrough Video

Revolutionary Documentary Receives Emmy Award

(Lexington, KY, March 1, 2004) The year was 1997, and at the end of a night of drinking at a fraternity pledge function on the MIT campus, freshman Scott Krueger, lay dead in a hospital room as a result of alcohol poisoning. The incident, covered by the local, state and national media, resulted in a multi-million dollar lawsuit brought by the Krueger family. Included in the landmark settlement was a condition that further education be done to warn today’s college freshmen about the dangers of alcohol abuse and hazing and the risks of binge drinking. As a result, a special video, called “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know”, was created, featuring people involved with the actual events of Scott Kreuger’s death..

This program, required by the lawsuit, is designed to be shown to college freshmen and high school students across the country, and is being hailed as a breakthrough in communicating the dangers of alcohol abuse because of its frank nature and targeted language.

“Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” chronicles the events of the fraternity party that led to Scott’s tragic death. The loss suffered by the family, the legal recourse that was against other members of the fraternity, and an explanation of the effect alcohol poisoning played in Scott’s death by the treating emergency room physician who tried to save Scott’s life are all presented in a frank manner.

Recipient of a 2003 Emmy Award, “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know” was produced by Rob Watt and Pete Schuermann of Watt Imagination! Video, of Colorado Springs, CO, and commissioned by the International Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta. The settlement conditions specified that a program be produced and shown to any new pledge of Phi Gamma Delta. However, the strong popularity of the program and successful results with students has led to more and more showings among special interest groups, school organizations, and other fraternities.

“We wanted a video that captured the tragedy of the event itself and showed how tragic the consequences can be when poor judgment is mixed with alcohol,” said Bill Martin, Executive Director of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. “Today’s college freshman needs to have a frank discussion about the dangers of alcohol in a manner that is not demeaning or condescending. ‘Tell Me Something I Don’t Know’ does exactly that.”

”The task was, without question, the hardest in my professional career: make a show that will discourage teenagers from getting into trouble with alcohol,” comments Pete Schuermann. “But given the impact the video has had on young people who I’ve witnessed, I can now say that it has certainly become the most rewarding.” Rob Watt, producer and co-director adds, “No other assignment has left me with such an enduring sense of accomplishment and contribution to the well-being of others. Young people seek me out after showings and tell me it was like no other video – amongst the many – they have had to watch. They actually thank me for the information.”

Research into the creation of the show (and recent national tragedies) revealed to the creators that fatal incidents involving alcohol and young people are reaching epidemic levels.

It is their hope that Tell Me Something I Don’t Know will continue to make a difference, but in larger and larger circles. To that end, Phi Gamma Delta has made the program available to the public. Copies can be obtained through the web site: www.wattimagination.com

A nominal, cost-covering fee of $25 is requested, with partial proceeds going back to the Phi Gamma Delta Educational Foundation to fund further alcohol education.

Some recent quotes from leaders in the film-making, college and fraternity worlds hail the video:

“In my position as executive producer, director and writer for many years, including Walt Disney Productions, CBS Television Network, Focus On The Family Films and others......I've viewed and reviewed quite a few "teen message films", produced by others, and produced some award-winning teen pieces myself.  This film (title) is by far the strongest, most contemporary, informative-yet entertaining and grabbing film I've seen about the topic of alcoholism.  Period! Excellent work that should be ’out there’ for all teens and parents of teens!”

Bob Garner
Executive Producer - Forest Rose Productions LLC

Consistently, the room was completely silent as the lights came up after our members watched the presentation.  Comments after were consistent as well.  "I now know it could happen to us." "I always thought we were invincible...but we're really not"  "The reenactment looked like our chapter...It was a shock to see how quickly the party turned tragic."
The combination of straight talk about today's campus drinking environment, the reenactment of Scott's death and the reality of consequences of poor choices by members clearly made an impact.  For an audience who thinks they've heard it all and who comes in skeptical, Tell Me Something I Don't Know cut through the clutter and gave them something to remember.

Wynn Smiley, Chief Executive Officer
Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity

Phi Gamma Delta is a social Fraternity founded in 1848 and has undergraduate and graduate chapters at more than 140 campuses and cities across North America. Founded on the values of friendship, knowledge, service, morality and excellence, the Fraternity has more than 120,000 undergraduate and graduate members.