BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU-TV) Police are continuing to investigate the death of a Bloomsburg University student. VCU President Michael Rao said he wants to make certain none of his students ever again dies from hazing. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Publish the Full Obituary . "There is an ongoing investigation at this point. Complete obituary to be published later. Who Where Receive obituaries Jack Gary Couch February 23, 2023 (86 years old) View obituary Mary M. Boudman February 14, 2023 (72 years old) View obituary Without university recognition, these groups lose access to university resources and the various benefits reserved for recognized student groups, he told RealClearEducation. Kings family sued the fraternity and sorority allegedly involved, claiming that the accused students negligently and/or recklessly coerced, encouraged or otherwise caused unauthorized Bloomsburg University pledges, including freshman Justin King, to consume life-threatening amounts of alcohol.. <> A week and a half later, Nicholas Medveckus, 18, of Pennsburg, was found dead in his dorm; he died of an unexpected illness, according to his obituary. Anna William. Here is Kathy Oldroyd's obituary. In late January 2021, four Greek life organizations, Sigma Iota Omega (), Chi . Diane I. Keefer, 79, of Bloomsburg passed away on Sunday evening, Feb. 19, 2023, at the Bloomsburg Care and Rehabilitation Center, where she had. "I'm not against these hazing laws any more than I'm against speed limits. Shapiros New Budget Proposes New Teacher Incentives. Bloomsburg University terminates Greek life following a student death over the weekend, though it says the two aren't linked Susan Snyder, The Philadelphia Inquirer 5/13/2021 He was a member of Glad Tidings Assembly of God Church, Bloomsburg. 100% of your contribution to NorthcentralPa.com goes directly to helping us cover news and events in the region. Anytime that occurs per university protocol for the death of a student. 0. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Because it held up a pair of pants! Linda M. Musselman, 74, of Millville passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at The Gardens at Millville, where she had Muslim men who were praying together in their housing unit at a Missouri prison were doused with pepper spray, Irene Curio, 94, of Bloomsburg passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital. The Voice | November 13, 2021. The evening before he died, he was matched with a "big brother" at Delta Chi. To be clear, none of these student deaths are. Bloomsburg University said Thursday it is immediately terminating its fraternity and sorority program and severing ties with all national and local Greek life organizations affiliated with the school. Roger Van Loan is the police chief of town police not BUPD (university). 627 shares By PennLive staff reports After months of keeping the Greek system on probation, Bloomsburg University officials. He was born Dec. 30, 1946, in Roaring Spring, Pa., son of . University officials say Sean Lenahan, 22, was found dead in his . Chapters that dont comply will be suspended until they do, he said. King was recruited to join the fraternity through a flier distributed in freshman dorms. By M.J. Mahon - Press Enterprise Writer. In response to the January letter, Zach Greenberg of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) claimed that Hannas warning threatened students First Amendment rights. Bloomsburg police are investigating the September death of a college student from the Philadelphia area who died hours after he left his dormitory to attend a fraternity party. * Actor Catherine O'Hara Long-missing woman found Nov 24, 2021. The suit alleges that King became disoriented from the drinking, was unable to find his way back to his dorm room, and fell to his death. All Greek life at Bloomsburg is halted permanently following the tragic death of two students and a string of recent transgressions. endobj http://www.perealestate.com, Police: Bloomsburg woman woke to a stranger in home, Fired Memphis EMT says police impeded Tyre Nichols' care, Doctor: Lesion removed from Biden's chest was cancerous, Murdaughs fall from grace ends in life sentence for murder, Cops: Assault charges filed for spitting on ex, Joni Mitchell honored with Gershwin Prize, Serbias LGBTQ groups rally after attacks on gays, Lawsuit: Muslims praying in prison pepper-sprayed, Sister just cant connect with siblings widow, Area Catholics can eat meat on St. Patricks Day, Bishop Ronald Gainer says, Defense in Idaho killings wants gag order kept, Young, Stroud defend against criticisms at combine, Kitayama handles a windy Bay Hill for lead, Daisy Jones cast found rhythm as fictional band. A college student eager to make new friends and find a community decides to pledge a fraternity. And if not, will the deaths ever stop? The university was not a subject of the litigation and implemented a zero-tolerance policy for misbehavior in Greek organizations in December 2019. Tuesday, students and faculty alike are mourning the death of Sean. The lawsuit contends that the defendants violated the anti-hazing law enacted after the 2017 death of Tim Piazza, a Pennsylvania State University student who died after attending a booze-fueled fraternity party where he fell down stairs. His mother said he pledged because he was searching for belonging. May 14, 2021 Updated May 14, 2021 Bloomsburg, Pa. - Police released details today surrounding the death investigation of Bloomsburg University nursing student Leah Burke on May 8, stating her death may have been attributed to an undiagnosed medical condition. Christmas Classic R/C Raceway. He was a criminal justice major and was a three-time member of the Dean's List. x\mo8 ERHvmw8_Rca]Hp! * Gay rights activist Chaz Bono, 54. If Bloomsburg truly wants to better its Greek life system, it may want to consider punishing the students and groups that have actually broken university rules, Greenberg wrote. At the time, a Bloomsburg University spokesperson said the school needs "to do a better job of educating our students about the dangers of alcohol and their responsibilities.". In 2019, a freshman named Justin King was found dead after consuming large amounts of alcohol in an alleged hazing incident. He was diligent, dependable, experimental, innovative. <> Access to independent, local news is important, do you agree? Burke was a sophomore nursing student and member of the Student Nurses Association. Post a nas See more 109,030 people like this 108,940 people follow this 166,260 people checked in here The Bloomsburg Police Department immediately opened an investigation. In his email he said, With great sadness, I share news of the untimely passing of one of our students, Leah Burke, who passed away Saturday evening., His email goes on to say, Her clinical faculty, Dr. Kristy Sands, Ashlie Fritz and Robin Kline said: Leah was a quiet, conscientious student. This is the fifth student death at the university this academic year. Bloomsburgs decision also disappointed representatives of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), a trade association of 58 national and international fraternities affiliated with two Bloomsburg fraternities. (Students interested in joining a Greek organization typically attend events as part of the rush process.) Not Available Online. The official cause of death has not been released at this time. People with disabilities can contact Kevin Herr at 570-286-5838 for help accessing the WKOK Online Public File. On Oct. 4, student Curtis L. Melville III, 19, of Limerick, died in a motor vehicle accident. when does virgil leave dante. King was an avid baseball player and graduate of Boyertown High School. He left the dorm about 10:30 that night, said the parent, who requested anonymity to protect the identity of her child. That was a toll on the campus, for sure.. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert "Bob" Harpster. Having this many deaths is very unusual, but I think we are finding more and more that we arent protected from life out there, says Janet Rarig, Executive Director of Health & Wellness. DANVILLE, PA ~ Carol Elizabeth Buck, 77, of Danville, PA, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. 0. This article is part of a series of investigative reports by RealClearEducation: Inside theCollege Greek Life Report Card:A Survey of Greek-Letter Organizations Assessing Freedom of Association and Speech at U.S. The defendants negligently and/or recklessly coerced, encouraged or otherwise caused unauthorized Bloomsburg University pledges to consume life-threatening amounts of alcohol," the suit states. We believe students are best served and held accountable through collaboration between host institutions, inter/national fraternities and advisors, the group said. R/C RACEWAY FACEBOOK GROUP. Bloomsburg is currently conducting an investigation into her death. Peggy Lee 2/26/2021. Bloomsburg University permanently eliminated its entire Greek life program after fraternities and sororities were placed on several months of probation and some continued to violate conduct codes and an antihazing policy. And Michael Somerville, 21, of Bloomsburg, died by suicide on Oct. 29. Islamic Center of Cleveland serves the largest Muslim community in Northeast Ohio. Web Design : https://iccleveland.org/wp-content/themes/icc/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg. Bloomsburg Police are aware of rumors and . Without hazing, how would they decide who is a real man?" A complete obituary will be BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) -- Serbia's beleaguered LGBTQ activists on Friday rallied to demand state action following a Former school custodian enjoyed carnivals. Peggy Lee 5/14/2021 . November 1, 2021 (53 years old) View obituary. The . On Oct. 4, student Curtis L. Melville III, 19, of Limerick, died in a motor vehicle accident. Results have not been obtained at this time. Kathleen Susan Reed, 38, has shown no significant improvement toward regaining competency needed to stand trial in the violent killing of Walter Ditzler Jr., 83, in his home along Bloom . After his death, both the school and the fraternity offered their condolences. 173. Subscribers can download this month's Real Estate Plus here: BU Student Dies Over Weekend by BUnow | May 10, 2021 | Bloomsburg News, Featured Bloomsburg University President Bashar Hanna informed BU faculty members this morning about the death of Leah Burke. Feb 27, 2021. Robert Griffin's passing has been publicly announced by Allen Funeral Home Inc in Bloomsburg, PA. . Police have not filed charges in the case, and Columbia County Coroner Jeremy Reese had ruled Kings death accidental. Leah Burke Bloomsburg Car Accident - Death : Leah Burke Has Died. This site is not a forum. She resided in Northumberland since 1995 and previously lived in Pine Grove. A spokesman told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the university's decision was unrelated to Burke's death, . His parents donated his organs "so that others may have a second chance at life.". Published: May. Freshman Ashley Wheeler believes this will make potential students choose other universities. So we're lucky to be having a decent weekend. As the campus continues to go through the motions, Sean is remembered as a remarkable student. He is survived by : his mother Doris Tomashefski (Small) of Bloomsburg; his children, Lee . Burkes roommates started a GoFundMe to help her family with expenses. Nov 7, 2021. BLOOMSBURG, Pa. (AP) Bloomsburg University is doing away with Greek life, effective immediately. The sorority was suspended for four years. Friday, February 26, 2021 . Family of college student found dead at off-campus party speaks out, hole in my heart that will never be sealed, died in what his familys attorney alleged was an off-campus hazing incident involving alcohol, virtual anti-Greek movements swept universities across the country. Its a very unfortunate event that happened, being that hes the fifth student that passed away at Bloomsburg, says Erica Harned. The announcement came days after sophomore Leah Burke reportedly died after an incident outside a fraternity house. Oakes, 19, was a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. He had so much ahead of him. Condolences to her loved ones and the community. The Lititz native was just months away from graduating with a degree in Mass Communications.