West Virginia University Suspends Fraternities

West Virginia University last week suspended activities at its fraternities and sororities after a freshman suffered a “catastrophic medical emergency” at a frat house.

Nolan Burch, 18, from Buffalo, New York, was found unresponsive and without a pulse on the floor of the Kappa Sigma house on Nov. 12, according to a Morgantown Police statement. An individual was performing CPR when police arrived just before midnight. Burch was taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, where WVU is based, and remains in intensive care.

“Our hearts, prayers and support go out to the student who is gravely ill and his family,” Dean of Students Corey Farris said in a joint statement late yesterday with the presidents of the Inter-Fraternity and Panhellenic Councils.

Colleges across the country are cracking down on fraternity behavior in the wake of accidents and emergencies at Greek organizations. Clemson University in South Carolina suspended activities at its 24 Greek houses in September after a freshman died in a fall from a bridge. The same month, Penn State Altoona barred a fraternity for six years amid probes into a student suicide in March that may be hazing-related.

Cornell University banned pledging following the drinking death of a 19-year-old sophomore in 2011. More than 60 people have died in fraternity-related events since 2005 many involving alcohol abuse and hazing, according to Bloomberg data.

Burch is a graduate of Canisius High School, a Jesuit prep school in Buffalo. Canisius is holding a mass for him today, Buffalo radio station WBEN reported.