The first Jason Wren Initiative was hosted Friday night in Budig by the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Delta Gamma sorority in honor of Jason Wren, a former member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon who died last year from an alcohol poisoning.

The two groups hosted the program to educate the University community about taking responsibility when the lives of friends may be in danger.

Erica Upshaw, founder of Keep Friendship Alive, was the keynote speaker at Friday night’s event. The Keep Friendship Alive program is designed to equip students to be prepared for situations similar to those that Jason Wren’s friends may have faced.

“After Jason’s death, it hit the KU community pretty hard that there is a cultural drinking problem at KU,” said Matt Abraham, president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a sophomore from Overland Park. “We want to shed light on it and hopefully be able to prevent something like that from happening again.”

More than 200 students attended the event. Upshaw, who told the story of her own brother’s death from the overconsumption of GHB, known as liquid ecstasy and used as a date-rape drug, challenged the students to “party smart.” Her guidelines included knowing when to stop drinking or to call emergency services for help.

“Our campus has come a long way since last spring,” said Tara Truitt, president of Delta Gamma and a junior from Spring Hill. “We still have far to go, but this is a step in the right direction.”