This past Wednesday marked the two-month anniversary of the disappearance of Elon alumnus Kyle Fleischmann. As friends, family and authorities begin their third month of searching and fundraising, efforts to educate the public about Fleischmann’s story has become crucial.

Fleischmann, a 2006 graduate of Elon, was last seen leaving the Buckhead Saloon in uptown Charlotte early Friday, Nov. 9. Authorities have found little evidence of the events that followed. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is overseeing the case.

“At this point we are trying to do what we can to keep Kyle’s story alive and get it back in the media,” said Daniel Scagnelli, a close friend of Fleischmann’s and also a 2006 graduate of Elon. “Students can help by continuing to spread the word, encouraging everyone to make donations, and keeping the hope alive.”

Scagnelli encouraged Elon students to spread Fleischmann’s story by contacting their hometown radio stations and news organizations and by supporting fundraising efforts at Elon. Both Scagnelli and Fleischmann are alumni of the Elon chapter of Kappa Alpha Order, which has been actively fundraising in Moseley Center for the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation and which conducted a massive search in Charlotte in November.

The brothers of Kappa Alpha Order collected donations for the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation, a non-profit organization established to aid in the search efforts. During the search, which covered the area surrounding the Buckhead Saloon and was held in November, the brothers and many Elon students and community volunteers worked with Charlotte volunteers, Public Safety Dogs, Inc., and the Charlotte Fire Department to investigate the area surrounding where Fleischmann was last seen.

Scott Mackenzie, an Elon junior and a member and officer of Kappa Alpha Order who was actively involved in organizing the search, believes that though no clear evidence was discovered from the search, the efforts were beneficial because many possible locations were eliminated. The brothers do not plan to hold another search unless authorities deem it necessary.

Members of the police department are investigating the video footage from the Buckhead Saloon the night of Fleischmann’s disappearance and aim to speak with anyone who saw or had any contact with the alum that evening.

“Ultimately we just hope to find someone who may remember seeing Kyle outside of the Saloon after closing time to indicate which direction he may have walked in,” Richard Fleischmann, Fleischmann’s father, said, according to the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation.

Richard Fleischmann asked that anyone who was at Buckhead Saloon on the evening of his son’s disappearance contact Detective Tuttle at 704-336-3949.

Donations made to the Kyle Fleischmann Foundation can help provide search supplies, hire private investigators and increase the monetary reward for any key information found regarding Fleischmann.

To aid in the search efforts, friends and family have also distributed flyers, created buttons, stamps, Facebook and MySpace groups. The Facebook group has close to 70,000 members.

“Speaking on behalf of KA, the Fleischmann Family and Kyle’s close friends here at Elon, I would like to thank everyone for their continued support throughout this trying situation and remind all that we cannot give up hope,” Mackenzie said.

Reporter: Sarah McGlinchey - 01/16/07