Margo Gray

Above the Law and Under the Influence perfectly describes how the fraternity guys at the College of Charleston operated. Let me take you on a brief detour to show just how invincible they felt. This detour brings us to Mountain Weekend 2012. Mountain Weekend was an off-campus, weekend-long party hosted by one of the various fraternities involved in the drug operation, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or SAE.

Above the Law and Under the Influence perfectly describes how the fraternity guys at the College of Charleston operated. Let me take you on a brief detour to show just how invincible they felt. This detour brings us to Mountain Weekend 2012. Mountain Weekend was an off-campus, weekend-long party hosted by one of the various fraternities involved in the drug operation, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, or SAE.

Here's what Max heard about that weekend from his sources.

Here's what Max heard about that weekend from his sources.

Here's what Max heard about that weekend from his sources.

While the fire grew, a park ranger arrived at the scene. But the guys in SAE didn't panic. Instead, they doused a football in chemicals, lit it on fire, and tossed it in the park ranger's direction.

While the fire grew, a park ranger arrived at the scene. But the guys in SAE didn't panic. Instead, they doused a football in chemicals, lit it on fire, and tossed it in the park ranger's direction.

While the fire grew, a park ranger arrived at the scene. But the guys in SAE didn't panic. Instead, they doused a football in chemicals, lit it on fire, and tossed it in the park ranger's direction.

Max dedicates an entire chapter of his book to the story of Mountain Weekend. For one, it's a lens into why fraternity guys felt like they were above the law and why they believed they could pull off a drug operation without facing consequences. But Max thinks it's also a window into why many of them started dealing in the first place.

Max dedicates an entire chapter of his book to the story of Mountain Weekend. For one, it's a lens into why fraternity guys felt like they were above the law and why they believed they could pull off a drug operation without facing consequences. But Max thinks it's also a window into why many of them started dealing in the first place.

Max dedicates an entire chapter of his book to the story of Mountain Weekend. For one, it's a lens into why fraternity guys felt like they were above the law and why they believed they could pull off a drug operation without facing consequences. But Max thinks it's also a window into why many of them started dealing in the first place.

Because of a culture that not only permits, but rewards being above the law.

Because of a culture that not only permits, but rewards being above the law.

Because of a culture that not only permits, but rewards being above the law.

Max thinks breaking the law became something of a status symbol. It signaled that you had the money, connections, and power to get away with criminal activity.

Max thinks breaking the law became something of a status symbol. It signaled that you had the money, connections, and power to get away with criminal activity.

Max thinks breaking the law became something of a status symbol. It signaled that you had the money, connections, and power to get away with criminal activity.

Once you understand that about Greek life, Max says, it's easier to see why these guys would start dealing drugs. There was no quicker way to gain clout or boost status than dealing. And the profits didn't hurt either.

Once you understand that about Greek life, Max says, it's easier to see why these guys would start dealing drugs. There was no quicker way to gain clout or boost status than dealing. And the profits didn't hurt either.

Once you understand that about Greek life, Max says, it's easier to see why these guys would start dealing drugs. There was no quicker way to gain clout or boost status than dealing. And the profits didn't hurt either.