Mustang Daily Staff Report
news@mustangdaily.net
A student was pronounced dead at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center early Sunday morning, after university police responded to a medical aid call in Poly Canyon Village at 11:56 p.m. on Saturday.
According to a Cal Poly press release, police responded to the call and attempted to perform CPR on biological sciences sophomore Brandon Huang, but he remained unresponsive. Huang was then transferred to the medical center where he was pronounced dead.
Police are currently investigating the nature of Huang’s death, but no cause is being released yet, according to University Police Department (UPD) Associate Director Cindy Campbell.
“We are not prepared to release that information at this time,” Campbell said.
Campbell said there was nothing on the medical aid phone call to suggest the nature of the emergency.
Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Humphrey urged students to be there for each other in their time of need in an email to the campus.
“It is appropriate to recall what The Mustang Way asks of us — to embrace one another because ‘we are one community,’” they wrote. “We care about each member of our Cal Poly community, and our thoughts are with Brandon’s family and loved ones.”
The email added that police have found no evidence of foul play, and Humphrey told Mustang Daily that Student Affairs staff does not know how Huang died.
“I wish we knew more and I know a lot of people want to know,” Humphrey said, “but I suggest instead we put that effort into supporting the friends and community.”
Humphrey, who is still in his first official week as Cal Poly’s vice president of student affairs, said losing a student is “absolutely the hardest thing to deal with.”
“All of us are here because we want to see students be healthy, safe and successful,” he said. “When things like this happen, it’s the hardest thing to deal with.”
Humphrey said university counselors have been at Poly Canyon Village during the day talking with affected students, including those closest to Huang. Students who need to talk about Huang’s death can call the 24/7 counseling line, and will have priority at the on-campus counseling center today.
Sean McMinn contributed to this report.