MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Big changes are coming to the campus of West Virginia University, and it's all because of the tragic loss of a student from West Virginia University.
Nolan Burch of Williamsville attended WVU last fall. He was pledging a fraternity when he died during a ceremony.
Following his death, the University hired a new vice president of student life, and that person was given the specific task to address the drinking culture on campus.
"I think it had a huge impact," Dr. William Schafer said of Nolan's death.
Dr. Schafer agreed to sit down with 2 On Your Side for an exclusive interview to explain how the University is turning the tragedy into an opportunity for change.
"It is a big challenge," he said. "But that's why we go to these new positions when there's a great challenge."
Dr. Schafer laid out some of the changes that are in effect or will happen come the fall semester:
- Adding more alcohol awareness education to "Welcome Weekend" activities and new student orientation
- The Greek Life Office will report directly to the Dean of Students
- "Rush Week" for fraternities and sororities will move to 6 weeks into the fall semester to alleviate some of the pledging pressure from new students
- WVU will host a Greek alumni roundtable discussion plus a Greek leadership retreat early in the semester
- Changes to the student conduct policies to increase the reach of the University to off campus activities, including Greek life
- Instituting a medical amnesty program to allow students to alert authorities to problems without the worry of facing disciplinary action
"We are trying to change the story in how we talk to students on day one and create some new and enhanced programs that will hopefully help them see those opportunities that they have," Dr. Schafer said.
That's all great, says Buffalo Attorney Terry Connors, but it's not enough, and it should have happened sooner.
"You can't send your child away to college an then get that phone call advising that because of hazing, because of fraternity rush weeks, they're dead," Connors said. "That's got to stop."
Connors represents the Burch family. He says he will file a lawsuit against WVU and others within the next 30 days.
"The litigation is going to be commenced... because from the first moment I met this wonderful family, their primary concern was to do whatever they could do to try to stop this from ever happening again," he said.
Connors said the University needs to create stricter rules and then monitor and enforce those rules. He said there must be consequences for violations.
While WVU has a particularly bad reputation as a party school, Schafer and Connors agreed that this problem is not isolated to that one school. That's why the non-profit started by Nolan's parents -- the NMB Foundation -- plans to go into local high schools to educate students, no matter where they will attend college.
You can learn more about the foundation on its website, where you can also purchase NMB clothing, hats and bracelets, with proceeds going directly to the non-profit.
Related: NMB Foundation website
