MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia University freshman Nolan Burch died Friday after an alcohol-related incident at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house Wednesday night.
“Words cannot describe the heartache we, as a West Virginia University family, feel at the loss of one of our own—Nolan Michael Burch—who passed away today,” WVU president Gordon Gee said.
Burch, 18, of Buffalo, N.Y., was unresponsive when Morgantown police arrived at the frat house at few minutes before midnight Wednesday. CPR was being performed and the police officer took over. WVU called it a “catastrophic medical emergency.” There’s no indication Burch ever regained consciousness. He died at Ruby Memorial Hospital.
“The outpouring of love and support from his friends and this community has been what you would expect from Mountaineers, and I would ask that you continue to keep the Burch family and many friends in your thoughts and prayers,” Gee said Friday.
Meanwhile, Morgantown police were interviewing dozens of students and sorting through surveillance video Friday from the incident. Police Chief Ed Preston said a number of questions remain.
“That’s all part of the investigation. How he came to be in the condition that he was, who was there, the witnesses, everything going on prior to him being discovered,” said Preston. “We’re looking at possibly more than 50 people to interview, so it’s a lengthy process.”
The Kappa Sigma Fraternity released a statement regarding Burch and the criminal investigation. According to the release, the fraternity had already been reprimanded prior to West Virginia University’s campus-wide moratorium that was placed on all Greek activities Thursday.
“We are distraught and saddened by the news about West Virginia University student Nolan Burch. Kappa Sigma is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the event. … This proves difficult, as the operations of this chapter have been suspended since mid-October, due to previous, unrelated violations of Kappa Sigma’s Code of Conduct. Subsequently, the chapter and school were notified on Monday, November 10, prior to the event in question, that the group’s charter had been withdrawn and its operations had been closed.”
According to Preston, at least one other student was treated for alcohol-related issues the same night Burch was found. Those issues could lead to criminal charges. “Obviously he’s not old enough to buy alcohol, so who gave it to him. Who provided it?” the chief said.
Social media postings are also being used in the evidence gathering process.
Burch had tweeted Wednesday, “It’s about to be a very eventful night to say the least.”
Social media postings Thursday indicated Burch was in grave condition and friends were saying their goodbyes.
Preston told WAJR there is a cultural issue regarding alcohol in Morgantown that will take more than investigators to bring under control.
“Why do you let somebody get so drunk that they can’t stand up. There’s nothing fun about that. It’s dangerous.” He added, “It’s not the alcohol use, it’s the alcohol abuse.”
Morgantown police are working with WVU’s student organizations office to identify members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, who was in pledge classes and any tips that may come into University Police.
WVU put a moratorium on all pledging and social activities of the Greek system Thursday until further notice.