CSU, Chico News

Early in the morning of October 7, 2000, an 18 year-old California State University, Chico student was pronounced dead at the scene at a fraternity located at 811 Rio Chico Way in Chico.

The apparent cause of death, according to the Chico Police Department (CPD) news release early Saturday morning, is an alcohol overdose. Sergeant Dave Barrow, Investigative unit , CPD, said this morning that a full investigation is now underway.

Fraternity members report that the victim was a pledge of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and had attended a brotherhood event earlier in the evening. According to the fraternity members he had fallen asleep in a downstairs bedroom. When friends checked on him at approximately 1:00 a.m. in the morning, they found that he was not breathing and called 911.

Chico Police and fire and medical personnel responded. A Chico Police Department chaplain also responded to the scene. Counselors from the university went to both the fraternity house and the university-housing complex where the student lived.

John Lauer, associate director, University Housing, and Connie Huyck, program coordinator of Greek Affairs, have been working with the family and the involved students since the incident.

Lauer said, “Our attention has been focused first on the family and secondarily on the friends, housing neighbors and fraternity members who lived with and knew the victim. It is hard to imagine the depth of the tragedy to the parents. We are in touch with the family and making ourselves available to them in whatever way we can.”

Vice President for University Advancement and Student Affairs Paul Moore, said, “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the student. University counselors and student affairs staff are involved at every level to assist in whatever way we can.”

Just five days ago, on October 5, University Housing and Food Service, sent out a letter to both housing residents and parents and guardians of residents about Halloween weekend. In the letter residents and parents were advised that a “no guest” policy has been instituted over that weekend. It also asked residents to be aware of the choices made around alcohol and drug use during that celebration weekend.

This tragedy also follows on the heels of a recent CSU, Chico release of plans for a marketing campaign this year to combat student alcohol abuse, based on recent survey results about drinking levels on campus.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, October 7th, 2000 at 12:14 pm and is filed under 2000 Fall.