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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November 10, prior to the event in question, that the group’s charter had been withdrawn and its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.

By 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 and Best Humorist, second place.

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

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