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Student Dies Following WVU Frat Incident

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – The president of West Virginia University has confirmed the student involved with a "catastrophic medical emergency" Thursday has died.

Nolan Burch, 18, was said to be gravely ill after an incident at a fraternity house.

West Virginia University has suspended all social and pledging activities, effective immediately, at its campus-affiliated fraternities and sororities.

According to police, officers were called to the Kappa Sigma Fraternity in the 200-block of Belmar Avenue just before midnight Wednesday night into Thursday morning for a medical emergency.

Kappa Sigma's national fraternity released a statement following Burch's death Friday, saying the school's chapter has been withdrawn:

"We are distraught and saddened by the news about West Virginia University student Nolan Burch. Kappa Sigma is still investigating the circumstances surrounding the event. This proves difficult, as the operations of this chapter have been suspended since mid-October, due to previous, unrelated violations of Kappa Sigma's Code of Conduct. Subsequently, the chapter and school were notified on Monday, November 10, prior to the event in question, that the group's charter had been withdrawn and its operations had been closed."

While it's not officially confirmed, sources on campus say Burch was pledging with Kappa Sigma and may have been drinking heavily.

"A lot of people drink and party at college. It's a shame one bad incident has to end this way. It's tough," said John Morris, a WVU senior.

Investigators say officers found Burch on the floor of the home with no pulse and another person performing CPR.

Police and paramedics then took over, and eventually, Burch was rushed to Ruby Memorial Hospital.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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