Police identify student found dead early Saturday morning

He was the Valedictorian of his High School class at Adrian.

I know an individual who was #4 out of 400 people in his high school class. This guy was the smartest individual when he was in school and the dumbest person around when he started drinking. He would wear depends when he want out for the night in case he pissed his pants. Just because your book smart doesn’t mean you have any common sense.

I think the state news should take the same stance on comments with this death as they did with Ryan Rosman. There are many people who know this guy who would not appreciate the words of immature college students who don’t understand that we all have made mistakes drinking, we are just lucky enough to not have died from those mistakes.

motorcity you should be a bit more sympathetic, because you knew someone who was really book smart and then became a drunken fool does not mean that all smart people are like this.
Agree with motorcity-NOTHING screams stupidity and ignorance as you. Re-read the article he joined teh fraternity in the Fall of 2005, he was a freshman (trust me I KNOW) it is now teh fall of 2009. Last time I did math 2009-2005 equaled 4. Thats right he was a 4th year senior and going to graduate with 2 degrees and a minor in a foreign language. I dont really think you could say he was a slacker of a student!!!!!!!!

Brian was in his 5th year.
2005-06, 06-07, 07-08, 08-09, 09-10. 5 years. He’s got you on that one.

Alumni – Please don’t use the title “Alumni” when posting ever again.

MSU and its greek system is really starting to tarnish MSU’s reputation. Nothing like furthering the “party school” stereotype.

I Honestly do not see the need for you people to be arguing about how many years he was in school for and for others to bash this young man. This is a horrible tragedy and there is no need to make the situation worse. Please if you are reading this at the STATE NEWS, please disable all comments. His family does not need to see the comments of ignorant people and no one should have the right to bash a young man who just passed away. Thank you

I am an ALUMNI of both MSU and the Greek Community.
The thing is ANON I am afforded the right to use Alumni as much as the next ALUMNI, just like you get to spout off anti Greek rhetoric behind your little username. This poor man lost his life, whether it be to a poor decision or something else, either way, don’t use his death as pulpit, for your anti-greek propaganda. It’s really just pathetic.

Our sympathies go out to Brian’s family and friends. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Please remember that no matter what stupid comments people post here that they just don’t matter – they are just a bunch of people with nothing better to do. It’s sad to see that almost a year later that this paper has not disabled this feature on student deaths. Please remember that there are others who understand what you are going through and they are there to support you. Cherish your memories, your family, and your friends – they are the ones that will help you through this. God bless.

I’ve known his whole family since I was little. As well as went to school with him. For those making false accusations, that didn’t even know him, really? Do you need to stoop that low? There will be an explanation of his death. But, that’s not going to be the whole story.

Please, stop and think about what you say before you write it. If this were your brother, would you want people thinking that he was some stupid, immature person who doesn’t know what alcohol is?

I’m tired of reading about how people just assume he’s immature and had no idea the effects of alcohol. He was above the legal age, and I know as well as most people that he was both book smart as well as had common sense.

Stop slandering him. He is no longer with us, and his memory shouldn’t be of one made by people who just read a story and commented on it.

Nobody has any right judging Brian if you did not know him.

Oh and FYI….he studied in Spain for a semester….probably one of the reasons he was here for a fifth year…oh and he was majoring in chemistry AND environmental soil science AND a minor in spanish….don’t judge someone if you don’t know anything about him.

Tom, you’re a cruel sociopath. You may have the right to say whatever you want, but that doesn’t mean it should be expressed in a civil public forum.

Go ‘sperg out online somewhere else.

To “show some respect”,

Now he’s dead.

Life goes on, and we all know that younger people think they are invincible.

Respect is to be earned, and is not automatic.

The only people who we should feel sorry for is the family, who have to bury a son knowing it was completely preventable.

To all the anti-Fraternity people:

What is your big problem? The Greek system at MSU raises hundreds of thousands of dollars for charitable organizations every year, provides a place for students to develop leadership skills, and provides many students a home away from home and a supportive environment that is hard to find elsewhere.

It is tragic that this man died due to drinking too much. However, where were you when another good person died last year after going on a bad trip and stabbing himself in the chest? His death was also foolish, but nobody started blaming Alternative Spring Break and the other groups he was a part of for it, despite him putting as much time into it as many people put into the Greek System.

There are plenty of non-Greeks who drink excessively as well, and plenty of non-Greeks who die from stupid drunken choices. This isn’t something to blame on fraternities. The Greek system is such a small percentage of MSU students, that I guarantee that more non-Greeks have died due to overconsumption of alcohol or stupid decisions than Greeks have.

I agree that comments should be removed. State News, you remove the comments from one students death because of the sensitive nature, what is the difference with this one… Are you biased, or is it just lack of common sense the state news lacks?

@agree with motorcity,
Brian was in his 5th year. He was as smart a person as I ever knew, and he had a very full academic schedule. How dare you slander him like that.

I also feel comments should be blocked. I realize some of you may not posses the ability to turn the stupid valve off in your own head, but please, shut your computer off.

Also, @Tom, it seems obvious that no one loved/loves you very much. Please, for the love of God, stop taking out your anger on this dead person! Resist the urge to comment on here, for you are only embarrassing yourself.

Rest in Peace, Brian, and my condolences go to the McMillen family.

Goodbye Brian. I won’t forget the lively talks we had throughout high school. You will be missed.

You know, everyone’s jumping to the conclusion (thanks, in part, to comments by one police officer) that drinking was THE cause. I suppose that’s easy to do when it happened on a college campus. However, on TV news reports his father has indicated he’d been saying he wasn’t feeling well … and toxicology tests must be done … so before so many of you automatically assume this young man was being stupid, you might want to wait until final tests/reports are in. Condolences to the members of Tau chapter AGR. In college, I knew many fine AGRs from the Tau chapter … peace to all of you.

There is nothing anyone can say that will help at this time, I lost my son 10 months ago at MSU, this whole year is just a blur, we have to be kind to one another. This family has a long road ahead of them, this is only the beginning. God Bless you and your son Brian.

Must be nice to be the State News and delete comments that show how biased they are…too bad families can’t delete the comments people place on here that are rude. Once again I will state the comments section should be removed….I give this 20 minutes before the SN deletes this comment.

I’m shocked there are so many people saying such terrible things. Who the heck raised you people? Darth Vader? Have a little sympathy. I can’t imagine you’d be such pricks if you weren’t hiding behind your keyboards.

We all make mistakes that could be potentially fatal. Ever run through a the tailend of a yellow light? What about jaywalk? How about try to hang Christmas lights on your house? Guess what, all of those things could result in your death.

You self-righteous pricks sicken me.

Going forward, the State News really needs to monitor all comments for these types of stories before they’re posted. There are a lot of great things about the Internet; the anonymity it provides sociopaths and idiots is not one of them.

My thoughts and sympathies are with the family. Brian-you will be missed. You were so kind, caring, and compassionate. Your hometown friends are mourning your loss. So sad it had to end this way…

I am just saying, dont start blaming the greek community over this. There are students that die in alcohol related incidents all the time. A lot of the time the deaths are people not in the greek community.

Sounds like a shame, a real waste of talent and life.

What a tragic loss. Thoughts and prayers from the Spartans to this family during this upcoming holiday season. It is unfortunate that so many people feel compelled to submit wildly insensitive posts. This young man was apparently very talented academically yet suffered as many, many do with a problem with alcohol. This has nothing to do with the Greeks. The most dangerous activity that I ever witnessed at MSU was in the Residence Halls and it was not fraternity related. How Brian McMillen chose to socialize is largely irrelevant. Somehow, he made some bad decisions and paid way too high a price. Many, if not most, of us have done something incredibly foolish too, but were lucky get away with it. Someday when some of the posters here are forced to grow up, they may face a tragedy amongst their friends, or within their own family. They will look back and think about what they wrote here in a public forum. They could have taken the time to post a thoughtful and understanding message, or they may have to look back and realize that instead of compassion, they offered venom. Unless they are truly sociopathic, they will wish they could take those horrible comments back. But, it will be too late and they will have to live with that. It will take some time before they realize it, but they will likely cringe with disgust at themselves in the future.
To the McMillen family, I did not know your son, but I am truly sorry for your loss. None of us will ever really comprehend your pain. I hope that you will find time this Thanksgiving to remember the wonderful things about Brian. The True Spartans out here are thinking of you.