According to the West Virginia student newspaper, WVU Kappa Sigma (Gamma Phi Chapter) pledge may have been participating in Big-Little Night, a benign event usually unless there is a traditional expectation that there will be a bottle exchange or “challenge to drink” with the expectation that the pledge will get wildly intoxicated. In that case, the line into a situation of criminal or perhaps non-criminal (depending on state statute) hazing has been crossed. Almost always, if a death occur, authorities will investigate the chapter treasurer and president, as well as the big brother, to see who furnished alcohol to an under-aged prospective member. At this stage, information is to scant to call this a hazing death.
Author: Hank Nuwer
Journalist Hank Nuwer tracks hazing deaths in fraternities and schools. Nuwer is the Alaska author of Hazing: Destroying Young Lives; Broken Pledges: The Deadly Rite of Hazing, High School Hazing, Wrongs of Passage and The Hazing Reader. In April of 2024 and April 2025 , the Alaska Press Club awarded him first place in the Best Columnist division.
He has written articles or columns on hazing for the Sunday Times of India, Toronto Globe & Mail, Harper's Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, The Chronicle of Higher Education and the New York Times Sunday Magazine. His current book is Hazing: Destroying Young Lives from Indiana University Press. He is married to Malgorzata Wroblewska Nuwer of Fairbanks, Alaska. Nuwer is a former columnist for the Greenville (Ohio)Early Bird and former managing editor of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska.
Nuwer was named the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists columnist of the year in 2021 for his “After Darke” column in the Early Bird. He also won third place for the column in 2022 from the Indiana chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He and his wife Gosia, recently of Union City, Ind., have owned 20 acres in Alaska for many years. “The move is a sort-of coming home for us,” said Nuwer. As a journalist, he’s written about the Alaskan Iditarod sled-dog race and other Alaska topics. Read his musings in his blog at Real Alaska Daily--http://realalaskadaily.com
Here is a brief report from the Boston Globe.
Excerpt:
An application for criminal charges against the students was filed Thursday, said Police Chief Steven Wojnar. Police acted after an investigation into an alleged off-campus hazing incident at the school in Dudley on Nov. 7, according to Wojnar and a statement from the school.
Less than one year ago, the Gamma Phi Chapter of WVU Kappa Sigma mourned the death of founding father Steven Telo. He was one of the young men who helped this chapter get back on campus 2007-2008. The chapter wrote in its tribute: “He played a pivotal role in instilling these values into young pledges and turning them into the gentlemen they aspired to become. Telo had the most contagious laugh and smile, and is truly loved and missed by all of us. He is forever in our honor and memories. We find comfort knowing he is now truly in the Light of God.”
However, news accounts report the arrest of a Steven Telo in 2011 and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell.
Moderator MY condolences to the family of Nolan Burch and to his friends. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/death-west-virginia-university-student-frat-house-stuns-campus-n249001
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Last Tweet of Pledge Nolan Burch
Moderator: Thanks to Chris for forwarding these two items: Pledge Nolan Burch’s last tweet on Twitter and the Kappa Sigma statement.
Mr. Burch’s last Tweet: “It’s about to be a very eventful night to say the least.”
https://twitter.com/nolanburch9
OFFICIAL STATEMENT REGARDING WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY STUDENT
NOLAN BURCH
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 we investigate, the Fraternity is focused on working with the university to ensure that the proper
support and counseling is available to the individual members of our former chapter.
Kappa Sigma will not be able to have any further comment on this matter until all investigations are
completed. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Burch family, the West Virginia University
community and the young men of our former chapter as they cope with this tragedy.