Bradley Bunte is unofficially dead.  He walked into a moving automobile while crossing University Avenue at its intersection with McCullough Street in Urbana a block east of Carle Hospital and its Regional Trauma Center.  It was the evening of Unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day.  Bunte was crossing against the traffic light.  Knocked to the pavement a second automobile ran him over.   His blood alcohol level was 0.27 – profoundly intoxicated.  He was wearing the official green Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day tee shirt.  He was a registered organ donor and was maintained on life support until his useful organs could be harvested to save others’ lives.  He was 21 years old.

Five years ago Caroline Yoon climbed on a motorcycle behind the driver, Samuel Park.  It was the evening of Unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day. She was not wearing a helmet.  Making the turn from Wright to Healey Street Park lost control of his motorcycle.  The 22 year old U of I alumna was thrown from the bike and suffered massive head injuries.  According to the Coroner Ms. Yoon was wearing the official green Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day tee shirt.  Park was arrested and charged with DUI.  Caroline Yoon is also unofficially dead.

“Unofficial” was inaugurated in 1996.  It was the brain child of bar owner Scott Cochrane who holds multiple liquor licenses in Champaign.   He conceived the idea to replace the profits he would lose when St. Patrick’s Day binge drinking occurred during the U of I’s spring break.   For him and for other campus license holders the idea has really paid off.   This year it is claimed that on an unofficial Unofficial Facebook page some 23,000 kids said that they would be present for the promotion.

Cochrane rakes in the profits.  The friends and families of Bunte and Yoon pay a lifetime of the cost.