WVU freshman dies after incident at fraternity

A West Virginia University freshman has died after what the university called a "catastrophic medical emergency" at a fraternity house.

The university suspended all Greek activities after Nolan Burch, 18, was hospitalized Thursday due to incident at the Kappa Sigma house, said WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris.

The suspension of fraternity and sorority activities could last until the end of the semester, Farris said.

Morgantown Police Department officers found Burch at the fraternity "without any pulse or respiration" when they arrived, according to a police release. Someone was performing CPR on Burch when the police arrived, the release said.

The university and police department have not provided details of whether the incident was related to hazing.

"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," said WVU President E. Gordon Gee in a statement .

Last week, WVU suspended the Sigma Chi fraternity after 19 pledges were arrested or cited for underage possession of alcohol, reports NBC News.

After the university's decision to suspend all Greek activity, Farris said, "We're just taking a step back. ... Let's take a look at where we're going, and is this the right direction, the right reputation we want to have."

In September, Clemson University suspended fraternity and sorority activity after a student drowned in a nearby lake.