A Rutgers University sophomore died Sunday morning in a potentially disturbing case. Rutgers University student Caitlyn Kovacs, 19, died after attending a fraternity party at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house near the university's New Brunswick campus, the Associated Press reported. Kovacs was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick early Sunday morning at the request of friends, who said he "became distressed" at the fraternity house. She was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Although the cause of death has not yet been determined, authorities believe alcohol may be involved. However, they won't know for sure until an autopsy is completed.
The Middlesex County prosecutor, along with Rutgers and New Brunswick police, have begun investigating Kovacs' death. A spokesperson for the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office told NJ.com that no charges are expected to be filed in the case at this time.
Details of Kovac's status remain unclear. While the Associated Press and NJ.com reported that Kovac was "in pain" or appeared to be "troubled," Rutgers' student newspaper , The Daily Targum, said Kovac passed out at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house . Given the unusual circumstances of her death, the hospital notified police just 10 minutes after her death.
The Talgum Daily added that police officers were roaming the front lawn of the College Avenue home at Delta Kappa Epsilon on Sunday afternoon.
Rutgers University President Robert Batch released this statement on Sunday:
We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Caitlyn Kovacs, a sophomore animal science major in the College of Environmental and Biological Sciences. Her death over the weekend is a tragic loss for her family, friends and the entire Rutgers community. …This is also a time when we need to reach out to each other and show our love, support and compassion. This is a time to let each other know we care and to share our strength and understanding with those in need so that we can move through this tragedy with a deeper commitment to every member of the Rutgers community.
Members of Rutgers University's Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter declined to comment on Kovacs' death, but the international organization extended its condolences to Kovacs' family and friends. Doug Lanpher, executive director of Delta Kappa Epsilon International, added that the fraternity is "fully cooperating" with authorities.
Delta Kappa Epsilon is one of the oldest fraternities in the United States and one of the most controversial. The fraternity was recently suspended from Yale University for five years for yelling, "No means yes! Yes means anal sex!" The entire campus.
Delta Kappa Epsilon was also banned from Colgate University in 1989 for its dangerous hazing activities. In 2005, Colgate again banned the fraternity from campus.
Photo: slgckgc /Flickr, Caitlyn Kovacs/Facebook
