Sigma Pi Loses Life at UCLA

[LatinaAlumna]

My condolences to the family of this young man, to the brothers of Sigma Pi Fraternity, and to the UCLA community.


http://www.dailybruin.com/news/articles.asp?id=36925

Tragic death on the Hill

RACHAEL REBUJIO/daily bruin

Friends of Julien D’Avanzo held a candle-light vigil that began in front of his fraternity, Sigma Pi, and ended at Rieber Court with hundreds of students in attendance.

By Eric Duncan
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR

Julien D'Avanzo, a third-year history student and a resident assistant for Rieber Hall 3 South, died early Thursday morning after falling from a third-floor balcony of the Saxon Suites in what was apparently an alcohol-related accident.

D'Avanzo, 20, fell at approximately 1 a.m., according to a letter written by Office of Residential Life Director Suzanne Seplow. He was immediately transported to the hospital but did not survive the fall.

During a candle-light vigil held Thursday night in Rieber Court, some of D'Avanzo's friends said D'Avanzo had been drinking the night of the incident.

Julien's father, Gene D'Avanzo, described what happened as "a mistake."

"They were coming back from a party. ... They were messing around and (Julien) made a mistake and fell," he said.

Julien's mother Kathleen D'Avanzo said she hopes the incident will indicate to students the importance of being careful when consuming alcohol.

Director of police community services Nancy Greenstein did not say whether police had determined alcohol was involved in the incident, but said they were interviewing witnesses to discover exactly what happened.

UCPD has not yet determined the exact circumstances and cause of the fall, Greenstein said.

Though several representatives were contacted, officials from the Office of Residential Life and UCLA Housing Services would not comment about the incident.

Greenstein said UCPD received a call at 1:03 a.m. reporting a fall from a third-floor balcony. Officers and emergency medical technicians were immediately dispatched, and Los Angeles Fire and Paramedic services arrived soon after they secured the scene.

According to an e-mail to residents from Saxon J-Building RA Stacy Ishigaki, EMTs responded within two minutes of the emergency call, and Saxon H-Building RA Joe Iniguez stayed with D'Avanzo until he was transported to the medical center.

Erick Magana, a second-year English student and close friend of D'Avanzo, said he heard of the incident around 3 a.m., at which point he went to the hospital. He said there were more than 30 people at the hospital, many of whom stayed for several hours.

"Everyone was just trying to support each other (and) console each other," Magana said.

Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero expressed condolences for D'Avanzo's family and friends.

"Our hearts go out to his family, as well as the residential community. I know he was well-known on the Hill," Montero said.

Seplow also wrote in her letter "we all feel a great loss by his death."

A candle-light vigil in D'Avanzo's honor was held Thursday night, with fraternity and sorority members meeting in front of the Sigma Pi fraternity – of which he was a member – on Landfair Avenue. They walked to Rieber Court, where a gathering of hundreds of students mourned his death.

"I loved him dearly. I will continue to love him," said one speaker during the open-mic portion of the vigil.

A memorial service is planned for Wednesday at 8 p.m., though a location has not been determined.

With reports from Richard Clough and Robert Faturechi, Bruin senior staff.