Courtesy of family of Nathan Valencia
Nathan Valencia and his girlfriend, Lacey Foster, are shown in this undated photo. Valencia, 20, died at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center on Nov. 23, days after participating in a charity boxing match sponsored by a UNLV fraternity.
Tuesday, May 17, 2022 | 2:30 p.m.
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An independent review into the death of a UNLV student in November at a charity boxing event recommends changes to the university’s policies and procedures for student organizations.
The 27-page report was prepared by Washington D.C.-based NASPA Advisory Services after the death of Nathan Valencia.
The 20-year-old collapsed in the ring at a Fraternity Fight Night event Nov. 19 promoted by UNLV’s Kappa Sigma fraternity at the off-campus Sahara Event Center. Valencia was taken to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, where he died three days later.
The report highlights 20 recommendations for how to align UNLV’s policies regarding registered student organizations with “the national best practices in areas related to safety, well-being, and event management,” according to a university statement. Among them:
• Increase required training for student organizations, including fraternity and sorority organizations.
• Ensure a “regular, annual review of all guiding documents” for organizations, including agreements that articulate the partnership between Greek chapters, governing councils and the university.
• Consider a registration or review process for off-campus events comparable to existing models for on-campus events.
• Review staffing models and consider creating new positions to oversee Greek life.
• Clarify faculty and advisor roles regarding student organizations and Greek life.
• Develop a method to regularly communicate the expectations for student organizations with all members of the university community.
“We appreciate the thorough work of NASPA and are committed to a full review of all the recommendations,” UNLV President Keith Whitfiled said in a statement.
He said the university would determine “what measures are best” to ensure student organizations “function safely, effectively and with the best interest of our students at the forefront.” The goal is to never have another tragedy like the one that took Valencia’s life, Whitfield said.
In February, Valenica’s family sued the university, the national and UNLV chapters of Kappa Sigma, an amateur referee who officiated the event, as well as the venue that hosted the fight.
The defendants failed to employ “reasonable and necessary policies and procedures,” leading to Valencia’s wrongful death, according to the lawsuit filed in Clark County District Court.
The Valencias' attorney Benjamin Cloward did not respond to a request for comment.
Metro Police determined the circumstances surrounding Valencia’s death were not criminal and filed no charges.
The Clark County Coroner’s Office ruled Valencia’s death a homicide, with the cause of death being blunt force head trauma.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission in December voted unanimously to adopt an emergency regulation that would govern combat sport competitions hosted by fraternities and other university-affiliated entities as a direct response to Valencia’s death. Gov. Steve Sisolak signed the order, called “Nathan’s Law.”
