As we watch the sad events unfold surrounding David Bogenberger’s death, it might be easy to attribute the tragedy to an unusually irresponsible fraternity function or a uniquely out-of-hand activity.

Bogenberger was a 19-year-old freshman at Northern Illinois University who died in November after engaging in a binge-drinking activity at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house, where he was a pledge.

This newspaper reported earlier in the week that to reach a blood-alcohol content of 0.37 percent, nearly Bogenberger’s level the night he died, a 160-pound man would have to consume 15 alcoholic drinks in two hours.