Lawsuit Says Ole Miss ATOs Ignored Fire Safety

Suit Fired Against Fraternity in Ole Miss Fire

By Patrick W. Connelly
Co-Editor, The Frat Boy News

A lawsuit was filed against the national office of Alpha Tau Omega contending the fraternity didn't provide enough safety training to its chapter at the University of Mississippi that may have prevented a 2004 fire that destroyed their house.

According to the lawsuit, the house failed a sprinkler evaluation just 10 days before the fire.

Will Townsend, 19, of Clarksdale, Jordan Williams, 20, of Atlanta and Howard Stone, 19, of Martinsville, Va., died in the Aug. 27, 2004, fire that destroyed the house.

Alpha Tau Omega's CEO Wynn Smiley denied the allegation, a report said. The suit seeks to recover an unspecified amount of damages for the families hurt by the blaze.