Ryan Chartrand

Approximately 300 students and community members attended a candlelight vigil last night in honor of the life of Carson Starkey, the architectural engineering freshman who died Tuesday morning after attending a Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) party the previous night.

The event was organized by the brothers of SAE. Starkey’s family from Texas was in attendance.

Before the start of the vigil, crowds of people, many wearing greek letters, gathered in the University Union. They huddled in small groups, talking amongst themselves, some quietly wiping away tears.

Some wrote notes to Starkey and his family on a memorial panel set up nearby that will be given to his parents.

Interfraternity council interim advisor Stephen Lamb began the vigil by asking for a moment of silence after which several students took to the podium to share their statements about Starkey.

He was called “brilliant” and an “outgoing and fun kid.”

“He had this glow about him that I can only describe as Texas charm,” said one friend. “I wish I’d gotten to know him longer.”

His resident adviser in his Yosemite hall dormitory, history junior Katie Chludzinski, said he was a “shining star,” and someone “who’s going to be very missed.”

“There’s definitely going to be a change in our community,” a tearful Chludzinski said.

Jana Scofield, Mt. Carmel Lutheran church pastor and Cal Poly Interfaith council co-chair, reminded students of the support network they have.

“Tragedies like this. really shake us,” she said. “Some ‘why’ questions may never be fully answered,” she said. “But something we don’t have to wonder. is you are not alone.”

Scofield encouraged all in attendance to use Starkey’s death to better their own lives. “I hope that when you think of Carson in the coming years you make decisions that honor his life,” she said. “Live your life in a way that does matter, that does honor Carson.”

Starkey died at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center at 6:24 a.m. Tuesday morning after being found unresponsive in a local home. He had spent the night at the off-campus home after attending an SAE party there Monday night. Residents of the home found him unresponsive at approximately 6.am. and attempted to perform CPR before calling 911.

Local police are still investigating whether the party he attended was part of a pledging event.

The results of yesterday’s autopsy have not been released and the results of a toxicology to see if the death was drug or alcohol related are not expected for several weeks, according to San Luis Obispo police captain Dan Blanke.

Cal Poly has suspended the fraternity’s charter, and the national organization of SAE has also suspended the Cal Poly chapter’s activities until further notice.

“It’s unfair to paint the whole greek system as problematic,” said Cornel Morton, vice president for Student Affairs. “Many involved are responsible in regards to alcohol and student life.”

“But, I tell them, ‘you will find yourself under the spotlight. if only one of you gets in trouble, because the perception of greeks in college and university life is that they’re party animals.’”

He urged fraternities and sororities to take responsibility for their actions and abide by their risk management programs. “They have to ensure no one in any activity sponsored by them comes to any emotional or physical harm,” he said.

- Managing editor Giana Magnoli contributed to this report.