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The scent of roses, gerbera daisies, irises and other flowers filled the air as eight mourners tied red ribbons and signs to the candlelit chain-link fence surrounding the Chi Tau house Friday.
It was about 10:30 p.m., three years after Matthew Carrington walked into the fraternity house alive. Carrington, a 21-year-old Chico State student, died Feb. 2, 2005 of water intoxication while pledging Chi Tau. He had been doing calisthenics in the fraternity's basement and drinking from a five-gallon water jug, police said.
Carrington's mother, Debbie Smith, crouched on the ground sobbing as a friend knelt with her arms around Smith. After crying and laughing Smith got back on her feet and commented on the drunken students walking by the house on Fourth and Chestnut streets.
"If one stops and takes a look, it's all worth it," Smith said.
Carrington's mom, who lives in Pleasant Hill, came to Chico because she thinks she has to be here on the anniversary, she said.
She hopes her son's death will help people be more careful and think before they act, she said.
"We didn't know. We know now," Smith said. "We're trying to teach others through Matt's death."
Since Carrington's death his family helped pass Matt's Law, which defines hazing and makes it a felony when hazing results in death or great bodily or psychological damage.
Three members of Beta Theta Pi face misdemeanor charges for allegedly hazing pledges in spring 2007.
Chico State students Chris Bizot and Mike Murphy, who is also The Orion's opinion editor, and Butte College student Matthew Krupp are scheduled to return to court Monday.
"I don't know them," Smith said shaking her head. "They're probably good boys, but they knew better."
Smith said her efforts are worthwhile because without Matt's Law, the men may not have been prosecuted.
"I really believe it will make a difference," Smith said.
Students and partiers passed by in droves, some stopping to say, "That's so sad," or "What happened?"
No one complained about the students yelling and stumbling down the street, but the air was tense, and some of Carrington's friends were shaking their heads.
Seniors Paul Lowe and Tom Hull were two sober students to stop at the house.
Lowe said he couldn't understand what kind of person would haze another.
Although the community may not have changed much, President Paul Zingg has been strict about hazing since Carrington's death, Hull said.
"I think the school has buckled-down way more," he said.
Smith thinks the university is doing a good job, although Zingg was unable to attend, she said.
"… It's important to remember how Matt's death significantly raised awareness in this community and beyond about the responsibilities and respect we should have for another," Zingg said in an e-mail.
Molly Priest, Carrington's roommate at the time of his death, said Carrington put a face on hazing.
"I hope it's harder for people to do what they did," Priest said.
Katy Sweeny can be reached at ksweeny@theorion.com
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