Aaron Tinker, a GS student and US Army veteran, passed away on August 16th in his hometown of Effingham, Illinois. Aaron was a recipient of the Purple Heart and a father of three. A memorial is taking place in the town of Effingham tomorrow, and Tinker will be buried with full military honors this fall at Arlington National Cemetery. There will also be an on-campus memorial service in September, the details of which will be sent out soon. You can find the text of the email sent out to GS students here. Our hearts go out to Aaron, and his friends and family, during this difficult time.

We would like to remind you that Columbia has many resources to help students cope with loss. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, and never underestimate the power and compassion of those close to you. We’ve listed some of those resources below:

Counseling and Psychological Services is open Monday-Friday from 9-5 and can be reached at 212-854-2878

The Office of the University Chaplain can be reached at 212-854-1493

The GS Office of the Dean of Students can be reached at 212-854-2881