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Mediation pond.
Mediation pond.

Frat Fried Koi: In Memoriam

Field review by the editors.

Santa Cruz, California

They snatched her from a peaceful pool of water, beat her to death with a big beer bottle, then fried her in a skillet and ate her.

It was May, 2003 when Delta Omega Chi brothers used a rake to pull a rare, Hikari Ogon Japanese Koi from a UC Santa Cruz meditation pond. The fraternity was being videotaped as part of MTV's "Fraternity Life" reality series. The TV network claimed it wasn't their idea, and the heinous murder and dining outtakes never aired -- except in court.

"Goldie," also known as "Midas," was considered to be a gentle 20 lb. fish, a favorite of children among the pond's 16 koi on the Porter College campus. After the tragedy, students gathered in solidarity at the pond to conduct a koi vigil and create an ad hoc memorial.

Memorial plaque.
Memorial plaque.

Two frat members were charged, with five other brothers complicit. Their purchase of a replacement Goldie didn't help. The fraternity was kicked off campus.

The pond is still inhabited by live koi. There's a bronze memorial fish just below the waterline and a bronze lilypad. A plaque on the fountain pool wall reads: "In Memorium (sic) 'Midas' - Jennifer Ann Connolly Porter College 2005."

Frat Fried Koi: In Memoriam

UC Santa Cruz, Porter College

Address:
Porter-Kresge Rd, Santa Cruz, CA
Directions:
Take Heller Dr. to Porter College, park at Porter-Kresge Rd. D-Building courtyard near Sesnon Gallery
Save to My Sights

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