Evan Gordon, called Gordo by his close friends, never had a negative word for anyone and always had a smile on his face, Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity members said.

Gordon, 21, was found dead in the bedroom of his East Nittany Avenue apartment by his roommates Sunday evening, State College police said. He had last been seen early Sunday morning by a friend when they returned to his apartment from a local fraternity house, police said.

The cause of death has not been determined, but an autopsy performed yesterday showed no signs of trauma and the death does not appear suspicious, police said.

"The university administration is saddened to hear of another student death. It always comes as a shock," Penn State spokesman Bill Mahon said.

Members in Gordon's fraternity, who preferred to remain unnamed and instead share their sentiment as a joint statement from Alpha Epsilon Pi, said he meant a lot to everyone in the house.

Gordan

In Gordon's four years in the fraternity, he was always in the base of the pledge class' human pyramid, his friends in Alpha Epsilon Pi said.

The supportive role he played in the human pyramid applied to his social life as well, fraternity members said. He was there whenever anyone needed him, they said.

Gordon never had a conflict with anyone in his fraternity, a major feat for a group with over 50 members, members of Alpha Epsilon Pi said. He was well-known by those in his pledge class and by those in the classes following his, even within this year's new membership, they said.

Gordon was a man of few words, they said. He would only get overtly excited when he watched his favorite Philadephia sports teams compete, they said.

Members of Gordon's fraternity described him as someone they all felt comfortable talking to. They would go to Gordon when they needed someone to listen or if they needed advice, they said.

Other times, they would just go to Gordon's room to hang out and get away from things, they said.

Members of Alpha Epsilon Pi said Gordon was someone they had imagined being friends with for the rest of their lives.

The fraternity members are planning on creating a scholarship in memory of Gordon. Plans for the fund are not yet definite. Anyone with information relating to Gordon's death is asked to contact the State College Police Department at (814) 234-7150.