WVU suspends fraternity, sorority activities

A West Virginia University student remained hospitalized in critical condition on Thursday in the second serious incident in a week that prompted the school to place a moratorium on fraternity and sorority activities.

Morgantown police were called to the Kappa Sigma fraternity house for an unknown medical emergency at 11:52 p.m. Wednesday and found someone performing CPR on Nolan Michael Burch, 18, of Williamsville, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo, police Chief Ed Preston said.

Police performed CPR on Burch until emergency medical personnel arrived and continued resuscitation efforts as they took him to the intensive care unit of Ruby Memorial Hospital. A nursing supervisor said Burch was in critical condition, and police said his family is with him.

Burch, a freshman business major, lived on campus and is a pledge of the fraternity, Dean of Students Corey Farris said.

“The only thing we know is 911 received a call about a medical emergency. We don't know if he was by himself or if it was a fraternity-related event. We just don't have the details,” Farris said.

The Sigma Chi fraternity was suspended because 19 members were arrested on alcohol-related charges Nov. 6 when police responded to reports of a large crowd running through the South Park neighborhood, screaming and yelling.

“Following emergency meetings today among West Virginia University officials, the Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, all campus fraternities and sororities have been placed on a moratorium that suspends all chapter and pledging activities until further notice,” according to a school statement.

Students throughout the campus are trying to come to grips with the decision, said Deonna Gandy, 20, of Penn Hills, president of the school's Resident Hall Association and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

“I am very shocked, very concerned,” Gandy said. “I was actually talking to a friend and helping her prepare for a (Greek Life) formal this weekend. She was very excited about it and then, all of a sudden, everything kinda completely shut down. I believe everyone is saddened by the situation.”

There are 28 fraternities and sororities with more than 1,500 members at the school, according to the WVU Greek Life web site.

Michael Hasch is a staff writer for Trib Total Media.