Notre Dame To Be Fined For Student's Horrific Death

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Notre Dame president says the university will study a state report that says the school committed six safety violations in the October death of a 20-year-old student.

Declan Sullivan was killed when the hydraulic lift he was on toppled over in high winds while he was filming football practice.

The Indiana Department of Labor says it is fining the university $77,500 for a series of safety violations.

The Rev. John Jenkins said Tuesday that Notre Dame will take any necessary steps to protect students and staff. He also repeated as he did in November that the university failed to keep Sullivan safe. Jenkins says the school remains "profoundly sorry."

Executive vice president John Affleck-Graves says the school is completing its investigation into Sullivan's death.

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Comments

[boardreader]

09:15 PM on 03/16/2011

I'll just comment with a well substantiated "rumor" that I heard from a highly connected Notre Dame alumni. Word is that the Sullivan family received a large 8 figure settlement months ago from Notre Dame. While I can certainly understand the motivations behind this, people reading statements from the Sullivan's do not have the same knowledge that the Sullivan's do. Had Notre Dame not made such an offer as early in the process, there would be more of a show of public outrage. While I feel for the Sullivan family and this is in no way an inditement of them, and I know representatives of the school feel terrible, the settlement could be construed to be "hush money" by many. It doesn't make it right, but you can never make it right now. But, understand that money has gone to the Sullivan's and then understand the perceived lack of their public outrage. I say the two facts go hand in hand. It was an accident, but clearly the football program is at blame/negligent. My source said we will never hear about the settlement from the school or the family, and thus far he has been correct. It explains a lot here.

[GuiltyOne]

04:07 PM on 03/16/2011

The Coach should be fired
The Coach should spend 1year in jail
The football program suspended for 1 year
Of course they also lose all TV revenues under the contract

You are responsible for the people that work for you.. plain and simple ...
Take your lumps and deal with it

Oh .. and settle the lawsuit about to be filed by the parents

ND you suck

[connorin]

11:00 AM on 03/16/2011

For information sake alone

http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-a-statement-from-the-sullivan-family-concerning-the-iosha-findings--20110315,0,2019018.story

[KyDude]

10:33 AM on 03/16/2011

Sure, fine the school, then the tuition payers can pick up the tab. When are the adults in charge going to be held responsible for anything. We constantly read stories of this corporation or that group doing ugly things, and fines being assessed. Who are these PEOPLE. Who is the PERSON responsible. PEOPLE do these things, not legal shells. Is justice in this country only for street crime?

[Gigantopithicus]

08:58 AM on 03/16/2011

Ok, that's taken care of... now let's build a bon fire that's ten stories high!

[holyghostie]

07:25 AM on 03/16/2011

It really is a shame that the adults in charge at Notre Dame failed Declan. They put filming a practice ahead of safety.

Much like when they slow walk allegations of sexual assualt involving football players, their priorites seem to be deluded and not in keeping with Christs teachings but thats my opinion.

[cliffhammond]

07:21 AM on 03/16/2011

I suppose he was too young to know from experience that you don't go up on a lift in those conditions. I just hate the blame game we get into, thinking that money is reward, punishment and the almighty dollar of righteousness.

[Davest]

07:10 AM on 03/16/2011

That sure helps the parents of this kid.

Never should have sent a kid up in a freakin scissor list.

[Bobrobert]

06:53 AM on 03/16/2011

A complete lack of common sense allowed this to happen.

[Anarchy4hire]

11:17 AM on 03/16/2011

exactly, they shouldn't have had him up there, but he should have known better

[1differentdrummer]

06:44 AM on 03/16/2011

Our Lady of Football.

[Kittenesque]

04:04 AM on 03/16/2011

Hope they also pay the parents back for the tuition they changed to keep the security.

[taylorfive]

05:27 AM on 03/16/2011

Absolutely. The parents need to sue for damages. If nothing else it will help them feel somewhat vindicated. After all, as another poster stated he tweeted just before he died that he feared for his safety due to the high winds. I truly hope his parents can find some sort of peace after all of this.

[connorin]

09:37 AM on 03/16/2011

While I am sure that compensatory amounts will be paid to the family. I want to note that the family has stated publicly on many occasions that they are satisfied with the handling of the sitaution by the university. Please also note that DS's sister is a fellow ND student.

[Eidolas]

02:07 AM on 03/16/2011

That fine should clear the way for the lawsuit the family is likely preparing.

[Fencik45]

01:07 AM on 03/16/2011

After the state apologized to Norte Dame for issuing the $70,000 'fine'...NBC rewarded ND w/ $500 million TV contract to make up for their monetary loss.

[taylorfive]

05:23 AM on 03/16/2011

sickening.

[Smithee]

05:26 AM on 03/16/2011

Of course, what you're forgetting to mention is that ND actually has academic standards unlike Pete Carroll -- who gets no guff from huffpo for having a graduation rate drastically lower than ND. USC makes it on dough (and ovbviously recruits illegally with it) on TV, too,

This aagregation site apparently has an agenda against ND football. Ariana obviously knows business, but ND is one of the cleanest programs in existence. And to attack it reeks of religious bias.

[considerthis]

08:55 AM on 03/16/2011

That's in the running for the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard

[capn moose]

12:08 AM on 03/16/2011

As a graduate of Notre Dame and a personal friend of many athletes at that time, I cannot be any happier than to see the University blamed and fined over this fatality. No powerful institution should be allowed a free pass, and the philosophy so many of knew there was of personal responsibility and no excuses. I hope the school continues to admit its fault, and continues to be sure that it cannot happen again. No sport, no championship is worth this price.

[A R Kearney]

12:41 AM on 03/16/2011

They need to name names and fire the individual(s) responsible. Anything else is a cover-up.

[alexii]

10:08 AM on 03/16/2011

Fat chance of that happening. Remember how they handled the Lizzy Seeberg rape case? Prince Shembo's not only didn't get kicked out of school...He's still on the football team. Go Irish!

[OlskoolDem]

02:19 AM on 03/16/2011

we work in baskets lifted by fork lifts all the time, wind is an issue.
I feel sad for the young man's family and friends.

[scott456]

12:05 AM on 03/16/2011

Horrific? I wouldn't have used that word.

[Cori527]

01:54 AM on 03/16/2011

Yea, a piece of machinery fell over. Tragic, yes, but horrific is something I would reserve for things like what is happening in Japan.

Huffpos headline writers leave MUCH to be desired.

[aresponse2dotcom]

11:44 AM on 03/16/2011

How unusual that Huffies would sensationalize to make their point

[Sunnyhorse]

02:24 AM on 03/16/2011

He tweeted before the accident to say that he was terrified up in the lift because of the strong winds. I'd say that's horrific. :(