Two weeks ago, a 20-year-old former University student participated in the Sigma Chi fraternity's annual Fight Night. Five days later he was dead.
Ramanand "Nandi" Cavallaro developed a severe sore throat which was not seen by doctors before he was put in the ring, said his father, James Cavallaro. When his son was hit in the nose during a fight, doctors told James Cavallaro that the blow opened a blood line, allowing the bacteria from the infection in Cavallaro's throat to travel to the spine, causing spinal meningitis, coma and eventually death.
"Forty-eight hours after the fight he was in a coma," Cavallaro said.
Fight Night raises money for the Austin Children's Hospital and has been sponsored by Sigma Chi for the past 29 years. It is an organized fraternity event where fraternity members fight in boxing matches. It is sanctioned by the USA Boxing organization, which also supplies the referees. Students must first register with USA Boxing if they want to participate.
Luke Priour, a member of Sigma Chi who organized the event, said several safety precautions are taken before the fights to ensure the safety of those involved.
"There are doctors and EMS employees at the event to make sure no one gets hurt," Priour said. "It's all in good fun. The only thing that concerns us is the well-being of the fighters."
Priour said participants train for three months, and before they enter the ring, they must fill out a medical questionnaire and undergo a check-up.
"I like it, it's a lot of fun, and we raise a lot of money," David Pierson, a senior English major and member of Sigma Chi said. "This is our big spring event."
But Cavallaro's death has prompted questions about the safety of players in the event.
"There were no examinations before the fight," James Cavallaro said. "They only started inspecting the fighters after so many mismatches took place."
Cavallaro said most of the fights were unfairly matched. He wanted to withdraw his son when he saw the 25-year-old opponent he was scheduled to box, but left him to make the decision, he said.
But Priour and Pierson maintain the fights were evenly matched and there was no cause for concern.
Priour, a friend of Cavallaro, said he was unaware of the throat infection and does not believe the fight caused his friend's death.
"In no way did the fight cause his death," Priour said. "We do the best we can to match fighters up fairly. The sad thing is, if he did have an infection, and we would've known, we wouldn't have let him fight."
Pierson said all the matches and fighters are arranged by USA Boxing.
"I fought in a match, and I didn't feel as a whole that it was uneven on either side," Pierson said. "Those guys are professionals, and they have an informed opinion on who they match up."
Priour said he is not sure if Sigma Chi will have Fight Night next year, but if they do, all proceeds will benefit the Meningitis Research Foundation. Sigma Chi is also currently planning a fund-raiser to raise awareness of meningitis in the fall.
Cavallaro's father said he does not currently plan to press any charges to the parties involved with Fight Night.
"I'm upset at the way this event was handled," Cavallaro said. "There needs to be awareness. I want to make sure something like this doesn't happen again to any young students."
Chris Daniel, director of Public Relations for the University's Interfraternity Council, said the future of Sigma Chi's Fight Night will be discussed at today's meeting.
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