MIT TO PAY FAMILY FOR BOOZE DEATH

BOSTON (Reuters) -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology made public
yesterday an agreement to pay $4.75 million (U.S.) to the family of a
freshman who drank himself to death at a fraternity party in 1997.

Under a deal that resolves all legal issues between MIT and the family of
Scott Krueger, the university also apologized and agreed to contribute $1.25
million for scholarships to be established by the 18-year-old's parents.

Krueger, a freshman from a town near Buffalo, died Sept. 29, 1997, of acute
alcohol poisoning after a party at Phi Gamma Delta house in Boston.

His death, during his fifth week at the university, drew attention to binge
drinking at colleges and led MIT to make major changes in the way it
supervises freshmen.

Police said Krueger had a blood alcohol level more than five times the legal
driving limit after a night of intense drinking. He was found amid empty
liquor bottles and vomit.