West Virginia University Mourns Death of Student Found Unconscious at Fraternity

By Staff Reporter - 15 Nov '14 08:26AM

A West Virginia University student who was found unconscious and not breathing at a fraternity house died Friday, confirmed WVU Healthcare spokeswoman Amy Johns.

The news comes a day after the school halted all Greek activities at its 28 fraternities and sororities, officials said.

Nolan Michael Burch, 18, died two days after he was hospitalized. Police said that he had injured himself at a fraternity house around midnight Wednesday, NBC News reports.

Morgantown Police Chief Ed Preston confirmed that on Friday police had received an alcohol-related call. When officers reached the venue - the Kappa Sigma house in Morgantown - they found someone performing CPR on Burch.

However, Preston did not confirm if the student's death was due to alcohol consumption. No charges have been filed as yet, Fox News reports. Burch was a resident of Williamsville, New York.

"People want to mourn his death and respect who he was. He was a good kid. I spoke to his roommate last night, he was really shaken up," Flickinger added. "It was really tough on him. ... I think it hits home with everyone because (Burch) did have a lot of friends here and that easily could have been one of my friends," said vigil attendee Marc Flickinger, a freshman living in the same residence hall as Burch.

The President of the University, E. Gordon Gee, expressed grief over Burch's death in a press release.

"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," he said.