California fraternity suspended following new member’s death

A fraternity at the University of California, Irvine, has been suspended after an 18-year-old member was found dead on Saturday morning.

University officials announced the suspension of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity after police found Noah Domingo dead at his home near campus shortly before 10 a.m., the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

The Orange County coroner’s office said Domingo died six hours earlier. The cause of death is under investigation.

{mosads}The Los Angeles Times reported that the first-year biological science major was attending a party at a house off-campus the night before his death.

“As a family, we’re hurting, but we’re also concerned — could it have been prevented? Is there something we, as a family, can do to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again?” Dale Domingo, the student’s father, told the Times.

UC Irvine suspended the fraternity as it investigates the incident.

Edgar Dormitorio, interim vice chancellor for student affairs, wrote in an email to students that the university would “closely examine the larger context in which this tragedy occurred and will be working with the Greek community to help ensure that they are engaging in behaviors and practices that are in alignment with university policies and their own values.”

The Times reported that the fraternity last week hosted winter rush activities that Domingo likely attended, having joined the fraternity during the previous semester.