Aggrieved father pushes UW for safety changes
SEATTLE -- An aggrieved father wants to use his pain to once again push for change at the University of Washington.
Six years ago, Don Jensen's son fell from a window of his fraternity home at UW and died. Nothing was done to prevent another such tragedy, and the school is now investigating its eleventh serious fall.
University police said at least once a year, they respond to students who fall and break bones or, in the case of one student last month, fall to their death.
Kevin MacDonald fell out of his window at the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity last month. No screens or safety bars have been put in place to make sure it never happens again.
Six years ago, Don Jensen's son Brett, then 19, attended a fraternity party at UW. That same night, he fell 30 feet down from a balcony. Doctors at Harborview Medical Center could not save him.
"And right there and then, our world just fell apart," said Don Jensen.
But Don also knows he's not the only parent suffering.
Since the 1980s, at least six men have died at UW after falling from dorms or fraternities. Five others have broken their backs and necks.
University police say all too often, alcohol is involved, as was the case in MacDonald's death.
But it's only now that school officials are considering a study in safety issues inside fraternity homes.
After Brett died, Don said he asked UW officials several times to address those same safety concerns, but the school never did.
When asked whether he blames UW for his son's death, Don said, "Partly, I guess. I wish they would have taken more of a stance a long time ago."
Knowing what it feels like to lose a child, Don hopes the school will finally take action before tragedy strikes again.
"Gosh, we wish he was around," Don said of his son.
KOMO News made several calls to the University of Washington, but those calls were not returned.
Six years ago, Don Jensen's son fell from a window of his fraternity home at UW and died. Nothing was done to prevent another such tragedy, and the school is now investigating its eleventh serious fall.
University police said at least once a year, they respond to students who fall and break bones or, in the case of one student last month, fall to their death.
Kevin MacDonald fell out of his window at the Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity last month. No screens or safety bars have been put in place to make sure it never happens again.
Six years ago, Don Jensen's son Brett, then 19, attended a fraternity party at UW. That same night, he fell 30 feet down from a balcony. Doctors at Harborview Medical Center could not save him.
"And right there and then, our world just fell apart," said Don Jensen.
But Don also knows he's not the only parent suffering.
Since the 1980s, at least six men have died at UW after falling from dorms or fraternities. Five others have broken their backs and necks.
University police say all too often, alcohol is involved, as was the case in MacDonald's death.
But it's only now that school officials are considering a study in safety issues inside fraternity homes.
After Brett died, Don said he asked UW officials several times to address those same safety concerns, but the school never did.
When asked whether he blames UW for his son's death, Don said, "Partly, I guess. I wish they would have taken more of a stance a long time ago."
Knowing what it feels like to lose a child, Don hopes the school will finally take action before tragedy strikes again.
"Gosh, we wish he was around," Don said of his son.
KOMO News made several calls to the University of Washington, but those calls were not returned.