PHOTOS: Vigil for Adam Oakes
People remember Adam Oakes, a VCU student who died last weekend, during a vigil in Monroe Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Madeleine Arble, a senior at VCU, laid flowers in remembrance of Adam Oakes in Monroe Park, where the memorial started to grow Wednesday afternoon.
Sofia Nicchitta (left) holds Lila Schandler's hand during a vigil remembering fellow VCU student Adam Oakes, who died last weekend. The vigil was held in Monroe Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
People remember Adam Oakes, a VCU student who died last weekend, during a vigil in Monroe Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
People remember Adam Oakes, a VCU student who died last weekend, during a vigil in Monroe Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Pictures of Adam Oakes, a VCU student who died after a Delta Chi fraternity party, were displayed at a March 2021 vigil in Monroe Park.
A visitor to a vigil for VCU freshman Adam Oakes in March painted his image and posted it in Monroe Park. Former VCU student Andrew White, one of 11 men charged in Oakes’ death, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors — hazing and serving alcohol to a minor.
People remember Adam Oakes, a VCU student who died last weekend, during a vigil in Monroe Park on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Adam Oakes died in 2021 at a "big-little" initiation party with the Delta Chi fraternity.
At 2 a.m., fraternity students at VCU began to discuss which pledge was the drunkest. The conversation turned to Adam Oakes, who was left lying on the dining room floor.
VCU has changed when and how student groups can serve alcohol. But it declined suggestions to ban alcohol at events and prohibit what experts say is the dangerous "big-little night."
The agreement includes a number of commitments from VCU to reform its approach to overseeing fraternities and sororities.
Authorities originally charged 11 former students with hazing. Six have accepted responsibility for their role in Oakes' death.
“I’ve never met someone like Adam, and I don’t think I ever will again,” said his friend, Max Turner.
On Monday, Adam Oakes was buried in a northern Virginia cemetery. His family called for changes to fraternity and sorority culture.
