September 29, 2006
Risk Management Retreat Seeks to Prevent Future Tragedies
Clay Warren, a freshman business major, died from injuries he suffered in a car wreck during the fall 2002 semester. A risk management retreat created in his honor aims to prevent future tragedies.
A family seeks to create risk awareness “movement.”
Written by Cory Chandler
LUBBOCK – When a car accident took the life of Texas Tech freshman Clay Warren in 2002, his family made a resolution: Create a movement that would prevent future tragedies without stifling the social activities of Texas Tech’s student groups.
Four years later, their resolution has become reality. On Sept. 17, approximately 140 chapter officers representing more than 30 Texas Tech Greek organizations gathered to talk risk management in a retreat created in Warren’s memory.
“We are dedicated to creating a safe environment for college students who want to be a part of campus communities,” says Mark Warren, father of Clay, who spoke to students during the opening session of the event.
And, through the Clay R. Warren Memorial Risk Management retreat, his family hopes to accomplish just that.
In a series of large and small group sessions – some led by nationally known education consultant Rick Barnes – fraternity and sorority representatives developed chapter-specific action plans, which outline each organization’s risk management policies.
These plans will be reviewed and revised as needed during a follow-up retreat in spring 2007.
Creating a Movement
Clay Warren, a freshman business major, died from injuries he suffered in an automobile wreck while returning home from a fraternity event during the fall 2002 semester. The driver of the vehicle in which he was riding fell asleep behind the wheel.
The retreat created in his honor resulted from the efforts of Clay’s family working with Texas Tech’s Center for Campus Life.
“The Warren family contacted us because they wanted to create a movement within the Greek community that will, hopefully, prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future,” says Elizabeth Massengale, assistant director of the Center for Campus Life.
Mark Warren says he hopes the Sept. 17 event sewed seeds that will expand risk awareness through Texas Tech social communities and even beyond campus.
“Our son was a great young man and he embraced life with his arms wide open,” Warren says. I feel confident that this will not only be a legacy to Clay, but something that will help student organizations gain a better awareness of risk management.”
Organizers say they hope to eventually expand this retreat to encompass all student organizations.
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Story produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing, 806-742-2136.
Photo courtesy of Mark Warren
Web layout by Lisa Low