First year student Taylor Wallace passed away this weekend. Wallace was from Brookfield, Missouri, and was a resident of John Jay Hall. A vigil will be held in John Jay Lounge on Monday at 8pm, and counselors from CPS will be in attendance to speak with students. You can find out more information on the Facebook event.

The University has yet to release an official statement on Wallace’s passing.

Update 11/2/2016 at 5:10pm: Dean Kromm and some friends of Wallace’s have issued a statement regarding his passing:

Dear Students,

It is with sadness that I share the following message from friends of Taylor Wallace, a former member of the Columbia College Class of 2020 who passed away last week in Missouri. Members of our community came together to remember Taylor in John Jay on Monday evening.

Please continue to take care of yourselves and each other. Should you need support, do not hesitate to reach out to your advising dean, residential adviser, student group adviser, Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), Office of the University Chaplain, or seek other resources, including friends or family.

Counseling and Psychological Services – (212) 854-2878
Columbia Health – (212) 854-7426
Office of the University Chaplain – (212) 854-1493
Advising Deans – (212) 854-6378
Nightline – (212) 854-7777
Residential Life staff – Look for contact information in your residence hall to connect with your RA or other Res Life staff
My heart goes out to Taylor’s friends and family.

Cristen Kromm
Dean of Undergraduate Student Life
Columbia College and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

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Hello everyone,

As some of you already know, Taylor Wallace, a former Columbia College student who began this academic year with the Class of 2020, passed away last Thursday. Taylor was passionate about his community and was involved with football, track, student council, and scholar bowl at his high school. He was described by his friends as a passionate soul who wasn’t afraid to be himself — someone who could lighten the mood in any room. His family stated, “Taylor was a bright light, one that strived to shine brightly. He loved his family and friends. He was a hard worker, determined to give his very best with every endeavor. He was extremely active and engaged in his community and with activities in school. Taylor was passionate about helping others as his goal was to become a medical doctor. Although this is a devastating time for our family and friends, we know Taylor’s legacy will last forever.”

We are sorry for those impacted by his loss, and we’d like to remind everyone that Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) offers counseling for individuals and groups for a range of issues, including grief, suicide prevention, trauma support, and stress management. Though it may not seem like it at times, taking care of your emotional well-being should be a top priority. Make time for your self-care and don’t hesitate to ask for support from friends and loved ones. Please don’t hesitate to utilize these services and help to open a dialogue to address mental health stigma and to create a caring community that looks out for each other.

A community gathering was held in Taylor’s residence hall on Monday evening. The support from the Columbia community has been overwhelming so far. We know his legacy will live on here, and we will continue to support one another in these hard times. We’re sending thoughts and prayers to Taylor’s family and to everyone impacted by his loss.

With heavy hearts,
Patrick Flanagan CC’18
Vivi Hyacinthe CC’17
Grant Pace CC’20
and other friends of Taylor