Freshman student dead after fraternity party

Correction appended 10:16 a.m., Dec. 3, 2008.

A Cal Poly freshman died Tuesday morning after being found unresponsive in a local home. He had spent the night at the residency after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity party there Monday night, according to a Cal Poly press release.

After discovering him unresponsive at approximately 6 a.m., residents attempted to perform CPR before calling 911.

The student, Carson Starkey, was an 18-year-old architectural engineering freshmen and pledge of the fraternity. Cal Poly has since suspended SAE’s charter.

“When a tragedy like this happens, the normal practice with our university is to suspend the organization pending further results of investigation,” said Ken Barclay, Cal Poly’s director of Student Life and Leadership.

He added that that national organization of SAE also suspended the chapter.

The cause of death is currently unknown. An autopsy will be performed Thursday as well as a toxicology report to see if drugs or alcohol was a factor in Starkey’s death, according to San Luis Obispo Police Captain Dan Blanke.

Blanke added that the police were investigating whether the party he attended was part of a fraternity pledge event.

“We’re taking this one step at a time,” said Anton Deleon, incoming president of Cal Poly’s Interfraternity Council and a business administration senior. “It’s definitely a tragic situation; action will be taken.”

The president of Cal Poly Sigma Alpha Epsilon declined to comment and calls to SAE nationals were unanswered at press time.

The Mustang Daily originally reported that University Police Chief Bill Watton confirmed the death, autopsy and investigation. The correct authority was San Luis Obipso Police Chief Dan Blanke. We apologize for the error.