University Identifies Deceased CC Student

The University announced yesterday that the student found dead in the Pi Kappa Alpha house Wednesday evening was Per Malloch, CC '01. Malloch's is the fifth undergraduate death at Columbia in the year 2000.

Police repeatedly refused to divulge any information on the cause of death; however, University officials said there is no reason to suspect foul play. Further information will be available after an autopsy.

Malloch was a visual arts student from Venice, CA, best known for his radio program on WBAR and the columns he contributed to the Spectator. He had just returned to Columbia after taking a year off of school, during which he lived in Seattle and wrote a book on importing Japanese video games. Dean of Student Affairs Chris Colombo said that Malloch had taken leave for personal reasons, rather than any academic issues, and that he was settling in well after returning to Columbia.

Malloch was not a member of Pi Kappa Alpha, but had been placed into an empty room in the fraternity by University Residence Halls. Malloch had previously been living in an L-Room in Ruggles, in which he had been placed off of the non-guranteed wait list.

Colombo said that there were no plans as yet for a vigil, although the University would help any group of students that wished to organize one.