SAN DIEGO — The president of San Diego State University sent a campus-wide message on Monday confirming the death of a 19-year-old student who was hospitalized last week prompting several fraternities to be suspended pending investigation.
Dylan Hernandez was taken to the hospital last Thursday, Nov. 7 after reportedly attending a fraternity event the night before. Following his hospitalization the school's president Adela de la Torre announced Friday that all 14 Interfraternity Council-affiliated fraternities were suspended.
According to SDSU, university police launched an investigation after they received a 911 call Thursday morning reporting a student in need of medical attention at a residence hall.
The student was later identified as 19-year-old Dylan Hernandez - a freshman at SDSU. According to a San Diego Union-Tribune report, Hernandez fell off his bed after attending a fraternity event Wednesday.
Hernandez was given aid and transported to a San Diego area hospital.
The university has not given a cause for his hospitalization or death. University officials have also launched a webpage regarding the incident, sdsu.edu/investigation, which will be updated with information as it becomes available.
The suspension impacts more than 1,400 members of 14 council fraternities, but does not affect the National Pan-Hellenic Council, the College Panhellenic Association or the United Sorority and Fraternity Council or the chapters affiliated with those organizations.
The IFC consists of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Epsilon, Kappa Alpha Order, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Theta Chi and Zeta Beta Tau, according to the school's website.
University president de la Torre confirmed Monday that Hernandez died and wrote that his family gave their last goodbyes Sunday night. The San Diego Medical Examiner's website listed the date of Hernandez's death as Friday, Nov. 8 which the office explained was due to lack of brain activity on that day.
The letter de la Torre sent appears below.
"It is with a heavy heart that I am writing to say that Dylan Hernandez, the student who was hospitalized last week, has passed away. His family gave their goodbyes late Sunday night. The family has given the university permission today to share this information, and we are working to support them during this incredibly difficult time.
As a mother, nothing can replace the profound loss of a child, and the devastating heartbreak the family and their loved ones are experiencing. All of us in the Aztec family are sending our prayers, and are here to support the family.
Friends of the Hernandez family have established a GoFundMe page, which is accepting donations.
So many within our campus community knew, studied with and cared for Dylan Hernandez. Members of Student Life & Leadership and therapists with Counseling & Psychological Services have been offering support to those directly and indirectly affected over the last several days. We will continue supporting our students, and also have support resources available for faculty and staff.
The university has introduced a webpage, which will be updated as frequently as possible with additional information, including details about support services.
As we have shared in earlier messages and statements, we ask that all respect the privacy of the student’s family at this time."
The North American Interfraternity Conference offered the following statement following Hernandez's death:
"We are heartbroken to learn of the death of the student at San Diego State University and offer our condolences to his family and friends. The NIC has been in contact with university officials, and we are offering support and resources to the community and monitoring the investigation."