On Wednesday, Sept. 24, a DoorDash driver was involved in a fight with a Phi Delta Theta fraternity member at the University of Idaho. What began as a routine delivery turned into something far darker: an argument captured on video, a young man slammed into the ground, punched repeatedly and Life-Flighted to a hospital in Lewiston.
The victim, identified as Austen Dawson, was placed in a medically induced coma for five days. According to a press release from the Moscow Police Department, an investigation has been in progress for almost a week. Yet, no arrests have been made at this time, no names have been released and no charges have been filed.
In a response to a comment under one of UI’s Facebook posts, UI wrote a short statement on the matter after a picture of Dawson in the hospital was posted in the comments on Sept. 25. UI wrote, “Our thoughts are with the delivery driver who was injured during a delivery Wednesday night. We do not condone violence nor behaviors that put others at risk. Moscow Police is conducting an investigation into the incident. University of Idaho has a student code of conduct that all students are expected to follow. Any violations of this code are reviewed and appropriate actions taken within the scope of the university’s capacity.”
Phi Delta Theta found itself in the middle of the incident and acted decisively. The national office removed the student from membership and stated that violence does not reflect their values.
“The Fraternity is working with the [UI] chapter to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and determine next steps,” the Sept. 26 statement said.
MPD confirmed an investigation is ongoing, but nearly every detail beyond that has not been released. There is no official timeline for when the public should expect justice to be served. For a case that has been the talk of the campus and the community, more assurance that MPD is doing something are expected.
In their press release, MPD stated denied many online rumors that were circulating regarding the incident. They reminded the public that they are “the only source of vetted, accurate information.”
While this may be true, being the only source of information comes with the responsibility of providing it. Silence in the face of an outraged community doesn’t reassure anyone. If the MPD wants to stop people from pursuing their own form of justice, then the community needs more information.
This incident mirrors that of three years ago when four UI students were murdered: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle. The police released extremely limited information to the public for more than a month following the homicides, which frustrated many people on campus and in the community.
Once Bryan Kohberger had been arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, significant case information became available and people’s fears about the safety of Moscow began to be appeased. In retrospect, the silence was necessary for proper investigation to be conducted without tipping off the suspect and allowing them to evade authorities for longer. If such methods are being used currently, The Argonaut still requests acknowledgment of this strategy from MPD.
While UI has released a public response to the matter, a reply to a Facebook comment is a far cry from an official statement. No one from the university has spoken to the campus or the public about it. The Dean of Students hasn’t even sent out an email. With that radio silence comes the uncertainty of whether the individual responsible will face any significant consequences.
When a fraternity is moving faster and taking more responsibility than the university and the police, it leaves students and everyone involved confused and wondering what’s next.
We should not celebrate the fraternity for doing what should have been done anyway, but the absence of law enforcement and university response sets a concerning precedent from those who are supposed to serve and protect.
Law enforcement should uphold laws and give consequences to those who break them. The university should uphold its code of conduct and give consequences to those who violate it. When a young man is beaten to the point that he must be put in a medically induced coma, the bare minimum expectation is that all three of the organizations involved demonstrate urgency equal to the crime’s gravity.
In the month leading up to Kohberger’s arrest, many college students were fearful about a potential murderer still being on campus. Once again, there is a fear about the safety of Campus, if students can walk around at night or food delivery drivers are able to do their job without being assaulted. The current track record demonstrates that there will be no resources provided to victims of violent crimes. What the fraternity did is the bare minimum of damage control, not justice, which should rest on law enforcement, not a public relations team.
The MPD and UI must break its silence and show the Moscow community that they are doing more than waiting. When the message is that a fraternity enforces accountability faster than the police, the entire system is broken.
The Editorial Board can be reached at [email protected].
Norma Simmons
I am Austen Dawson’s maternal grandmother. I, along with my entire family, are waiting for a response to this horrible act of violence and the long-term damages caused by it. I want to thank the Argonaut for this article that puts the Moscow community-the police, the fraternity, & the university-at the center of our confusion and bewilderment as to the handling of this violent assault. That’s only the beginning of the damage that has been inflicted on Austen and our family. Has anyone responsible reached out to check on Austin’s current condition or inquired about what will be required for on-going medical care and rehabilitation? I assure you we are facing these issues with no help or input from any of those parties listed above. I am now ashamed to say I graduated from the University of Idaho with my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology many years ago, the very place I was taught about caring for victims and their families. What happened to the Institution I so highly respected? I am appalled and shocked. The community here in Lewiston-Clarkston has reached out and are arranging yard sales, benefits and other forms of support. Thank God for them. Please pray for our family - and also that those 3 entities listed above will step up and bring support and justice to Austen. His life & ours are forever changed. Thank you. Norma Simmons