© 2024 KVPR | Valley Public Radio - White Ash Broadcasting, Inc. :: 89.3 Fresno / 89.1 Bakersfield
89.3 Fresno | 89.1 Bakersfield
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
76 new monthly members to go to reach our March goal! Start a new monthly gift today, or increase your existing monthly donation to help us reach the goal.

Fresno State Student Dead, Frat Suspended After Party, Drinking

Fresno State's Theta Chi fraternity has been suspended following the death of an 18 year old student who spent a night drinking at a fraternity party.  The university says that freshman fraternity pledge Philip Dhanens of Bakersfield died at an area hospital on Sunday. He had accepted an invitation to join the fraternity earlier in the week. The university says it learned of the incident Saturday morning. The Fresno Police Department is investigating the death. The official cause of death is not yet know.  Fresno State President John Welty released the following statement about the incident on Sunday: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Philip at this incredibly sad time. We are heartbroken at the loss of this young man who had just joined our university community and had a life of promise ahead." In addition to Fresno State's suspension of the fraternity, the national Theta Chi organization has also suspended the Fresno chapter.  The university suspension will prohibit Theta Chi from participating in university sanctioned on-campus activities. In 2006, Fresno State suspended the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity for five years after the death of 19 year old former student Danny Daniels.

Joe Moore is the President and General Manager of KVPR / Valley Public Radio. He has led the station through major programming changes, the launch of KVPR Classical and the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership the station was named California Non-Profit of the Year by Senator Melissa Hurtado (2019), and won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for investigative reporting (2022).