The University’s fraternity system considered only one disciplinary case in 2011 — an exceptional drop from the year before, prompting the system’s judiciary board to change the rules.

Saturday, members of UNC’s chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity dedicated the Courtland Benjamin Smith Playground at Phoenix Place in honor of their former fraternity president.

When Tucker Piner was elected president of the Interfraternity Council in 2009, the Greek system was in a dark place. In his year of leadership, Piner presided over an enhanced effort to improve the Greek system’s image.

One year removed from Smith’s death — and the University examination of the Greek system that followed — the fraternity launched a campaign to improve its image. Members said they think about him each day and have honored his memory with a closer examination of their own organization and role within the community.

Conflicting stories have emerged about what communication an administrator had with Delta Kappa Epsilon president Courtland Smith the night he died.

In the first story — recorded in documents Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternity and Sorority Life Jenny Levering authored shortly after the junior’s death — the two spoke a few hours before Smith was shot to death by police.

Conflicting stories have emerged about what communication an administrator had with Delta Kappa Epsilon president Courtland Smith the night he died.

In the first story — recorded in documents Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternity and Sorority Life Jenny Levering authored shortly after the junior’s death — the two spoke a few hours before Smith was shot to death by police.

For the members of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and their families, Sunday was a day to begin rebuilding lives and laying a new foundation for leadership and a needy family.

A Randolph County judge ruled Friday that the dashboard camera video showing Courtland Smith's interaction with police in the minutes before he was shot and killed should be permanently sealed.

This article was published in the 2009 Year in Review issue of The Daily Tar Heel.

The death of junior Courtland Smith in August resulted in more than three months of questions about what led to police shooting him 40 minutes from Chapel Hill.

A report released Friday by Randolph County District Attorney Garland Yates provides many details into Smith’s interaction with the two Archdale police officers. In the release, Yates also said he found officer Jeremy Paul Flinchum was justified in shooting Smith because Flinchum believed his and another officer’s life to be endangered.

The Archdale police officer who shot and killed junior Courtland Smith was justified in his action because he believed his and another officer’s life to be endangered, Randolph County District Attorney Garland Yates said Friday in a statement.

The Archdale police officer who shot and killed junior Courtland Smith was justified in his action because he believed his and another officer's life to be endangered, Randolph County District Attorney Garland Yates said today in a statement.

After nearly three months, the State Bureau of Investigation has completed its inquiry into the officer who killed junior Courtland Smith on Aug. 23.

The state investigation, completed Nov. 16, was turned over to the Randolph County district attorney, who is responsible for determining if any legal action will be taken against Archdale Police Officer Jeremy Paul Flinchum.

References to a history of suicidal thoughts and alcoholism have been removed from the autopsy report for junior Courtland Smith.

The redaction of some details — which are crossed out in the new report but still readable — has appeased Smith’s family and friends, who voiced concerns about the accuracy of some medical information presented in the report.

It is still unclear why the medical information was originally included.

Details concerning a history of suicidal thoughts and alcoholism have been removed from the medical examiner's report of investigation into the death of junior Courtland Smith, who was shot dead by an Archdale police officer, after concerns were raised over the accuracy of some information.

A portion of the narrative summary that said Smith had commented to friends on the day of his death and before about "possible suicidal ideas" has been crossed out, along with mentions of alcoholism and depression in the medical history section.

Junior Courtland Smith died of four gunshot wounds to the abdomen, thigh, upper back and arm, according to an autopsy released today. 

Smith, 21, was shot by Archdale police on Aug. 23 after he made a “suggestive move to his pocket which the police interpreted as a move to get a gun,” according to the report of investigation by the N.C. medical examiner. The report does not say whether Smith was actually armed with a weapon.

Video that shows junior Courtland Smith’s interaction with police officers just before he was shot to death will not be released to the public, a Randolph County judge declared Tuesday.

After reviewing the tape, Superior Court Judge Brad Long ruled that the video is not a public record because it was compiled by the State Board of Investigation as it reviews the incident.

UNC administrators say they have left it to the Greeks’ system of self-governance to make an initial determination on whether a party at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house violated UNC and Greek policies.

While alcohol-related fraternity violations are not uncommon — and the University usually leaves it up to the Greek system to investigate incidents and determine punishment — the Aug. 22 party has received an unusual emphasis because of the circumstances around it.

Chancellor Holden Thorp said last week he wants the University to explore the stresses of being in college in the wake of a student’s death.

Since junior Courtland Smith told a 911 operator that he had been drinking and trying to kill himself Aug. 23, one particular focus has been on the issue of alcohol and suicide.

While Smith did not commit suicide, his death has drawn attention to possible links between alcohol use and thoughts of suicide.

The examination of the University’s relationship with the Greek community, spurred by the death of a fraternity president last week, is bringing to light a long-standing tension between the two groups.

Administrators and fraternity members said the fundamental nature of the Greek system — part of the University yet distinctly separate — occasionally puts the two groups at odds.

The Greek organizations are inherently tied to the University as registered campus groups, but they are also independent as private off-campus residences.

University administrators are taking a closer look at Greek life after the death of junior Courtland Smith, who was president of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

The investigation will include an examination of the party held the night of Aug. 22 at the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity house hours before Smith was shot dead by police.

The University will be working with Delta Kappa Epsilon to set up a substance abuse prevention program and review how UNC interacts with the Greek system.