(STANFORD, CALIF.) – In a recent Santa Clara County legal filing, Stanford University rejected claims from the family of Eitan Weiner that the school bore any responsibility for the student’s January 2020 overdose death that occurred while he resided on campus. In their response to the Weiner family, Stanford University explicitly and exclusively blamed Eitan Weiner, his parents, and his drug dealer, Matthew Ming Carpenter, for Eitan’s prolonged use of illicit substances that ultimately led to his fentanyl-induced death.

The university does not allege in its filing that Theta Delta Chi, Weiner’s fraternity, or any of its members maintain any culpability whatsoever for his tragic passing. This is in direct contradiction to the school’s unprecedented decision to ban the fraternity from campus for six years and to confiscate its historical home. Last month, #SaveStanfordTDX, a movement of Stanford Theta Delta Chi members, alumni and supporters, filed a lawsuit against the university for its “draconian” and “heavy-handed punishment” that they say violated individuals’ and the fraternity’s due process rights, unjustly tarnishing the reputation of its members and alumni.

“In its filing, Stanford University makes clear that Theta Delta Chi was not responsible for Eitan Weiner’s untimely death,” #SaveStanfordTDX attorney Mark Hathaway said. “It makes no sense , that Stanford administrators continue to impose a totally unreasonable and unfair sentence upon an organization that had nothing to do with Mr. Weiner procuring, consuming or overdosing from illegal drugs.”

Stanford University explains in its response to the Weiner family lawsuit that Eitan Weiner’s death was the result of a long-term drug addiction that they insist his family knew about but failed to adequately address. The school also asserts that Weiner’s personal safety was his responsibility alone, arguing, “Eitan Weiner had a duty to use due care with respect to his own safety” but he still consumed drugs “voluntarily and with knowledge of the nature and magnitude of the danger inherent in using illegal drugs purchased on the dark web.” 

“Stanford administrators know the truth. In a thinly-veiled attempt to dodge responsibility for their failure to prevent Eitan’s death, they impulsively and unfairly punished Theta Delta Chi members and alumni. They also used his passing as an opportunity to deliberately weaken Greek life on campus in the process,” Hathaway said. “Their filing proves just how disingenuous their efforts have been from the start. We demand that the university immediately restore Theta Delta Chi’s rightful standing on campus, begin the process of returning its historical home, and publicly apologize to fraternity members and alumni for the cruel and unjustified smears against their organization.”