Cal Poly computer science student dies as tragedy hits sorority again

A third-year Cal Poly student died on Sunday, the university confirmed, as sudden tragedy hit the same local sorority in less than a year.

According to an email sent to students and faculty, Christina DeChalk passed away on Sunday. The university did not release details regarding the manner of her death.

DeChalk was a third-year student at Cal Poly majoring in computer science and a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

She was the second member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority to die within the past year. Sofia Padoan, who was the president of Kappa Kappa Gamma, died of a brain aneurysm on Feb. 23.

The Tribune visited the KKG house on California Boulevard on Tuesday evening, but a woman outside said the sorority was not going to comment at this time.

She was carrying candles into the house, in tears.

“The university is in touch with Christina’s family and is extending its full support to them and her friends,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong said in the email. “Our thoughts are with them as they grieve their loss.”

According to Cal Poly’s In Memoriam website, DeChalk is the fifth student to die within the past year.

Freshman Nico Goon and first-year architecture transfer student James Soulie-Washburn both died in December. Third-year student Kenneth Taylor died in a climbing accident while in Big Sur in April.

The university encouraged students to connect with their social circles and communities for support. Counseling and psychological services, including the crisis line, are available at 805-756-2511. Students can also email counseling@calpoly.edu.

The Dean of Students Office also has services, the university said. It can be reached at 805-756-0327 or email deanofstudents@calpoly.edu.

Campus employees are encouraged to contact their employee assistance program, which provides counseling services to all Cal Poly employees and their families. A 24-hour hotline can be reached at 800-367-7474. More information is available at afd.calpoly.edu/hr/worklife.asp.

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