Tragic news tonight: according to an email from Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Shollenberger, “a first year SEAS student passed away earlier today in Hartley Hall.”

“Efforts are underway to contact the family, as well as offer support and condolences.  I am sure you understand that we are not releasing the name of the student or more information until the family has been officially notified…Please contact the RA on-call in your building if you need additional support this evening.  There are on-call staff available tonight, and throughout the weekend, from both Residential Programs and Counseling and Psychological Services. ”

Bwog will bring updates on the situation as they come in, but, most importantly, our thoughts — as we’re sure many of yours are too — are with the student’s family.  Full email after the jump.

UPDATE (11:23 AM): Bwog can now confirm that the death was a suicide. Dean Shollenberger told Bwog, “We are working to support the family now.  I will have something to release publicly hopefully in the next hour.”

UPDATE (1:45 PM): In light of a number of comments made in the thread, we’ve had to suspend commenting until further notice.


Dear Students,

It is with much regret and sadness that I share with you that a first year SEAS student passed away earlier today in Hartley Hall. Efforts are underway to contact the family, as well as offer support and condolences.  I am sure you understand that we are not releasing the name of the student or more information until the family has been officially notified.

Members of Residential Programs have been available to suite members and friends to provide support.  Please contact the RA on-call in your building if you need additional support this evening.  There are on-call staff available tonight, and throughout the weekend, from both Residential Programs and Counseling and Psychological Services.  Tomorrow, members of the Counseling and Psychological Services staff will be available from 2 pm to 6 pm in Alfred Lerner Hall 8th floor, 212-854-2878

I will be in contact with you shortly with additional information and join you in the sadness we all feel at the loss of a precious member of the community.

Sincerely

Kevin G. Shollenberger

Dean of Student Affairs

Columbia College/Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science

Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Student Life

Arts and Sciences

Columbia University

Alfred Lerner Hall, Room 405

2920 Broadway, MC 2607

New York, NY 10027

212-854-2961

212-854-2906 (fax)

ks693@columbia.edu