18 CommentsThis morning, Dean Valentini sent out an email to the Columbia community with regard to the passing of Mounia Abousaid, a Columbia College senior from Rabat, Morocco. In the email, Valentini told students to “please take care of yourself and those around you.”
In order to offer support to Abousaid’s peers and members of the community, CPS will have walk-in hours from 6-9 pm today in Lerner, Carman, Nussbaum, and Broadway. Additionally, the Broadway Hall 14th floor lounge will be reserved as a gathering space from 12-5 pm today. “Mounia was a Comparative Literature and Society major who came to Columbia from the United World College in New Mexico,” said Valentini, “and was previously recognized for campus contributions with a King’s Crown Leadership Award.”
Nightline Peer Listening is always available, as well, for students to call between 10 pm and 3 am every night. You can find support by reaching them at 212-854-7777. In addition, Counseling and Psychological Services is available at 212-854-2878 during their regular hours. The email encourages students to reach out to Berick Center for Student Advising (212-854-6378) if their finals may be affected by these events.
Email sent to students this morning:
Dear Students,
It is with great sadness that I write with some difficult news for our community. Mounia Abousaid, a Columbia College senior from Rabat, Morocco, and a resident of Broadway Hall, has passed away.
Mounia was a Comparative Literature and Society major who came to Columbia from the United World College in New Mexico, and was previously recognized for campus contributions with a King’s Crown Leadership Award. We have been in contact with Mounia’s family to provide support and assistance during this difficult time.
When we lose a member of our community, we are all affected. I encourage you to rely on one another and on University resources for support. The Broadway Residence Hall 14th Floor West Lounge will be open as a gathering space from noon until 5 p.m. today. Staff from offices including Counseling and Psychological Services, Residential Life and the Office of the University Chaplain will be there to support you.
Counseling and Psychological Services (212-854-2878) will have walk-in hours today from 6 to 9 p.m. on the 5th floor of Lerner Hall, 100 Carman Hall, 600 W. 113th St, Room 2BB, and 102 Broadway Hall, in addition to their regular hours in Lerner Hall. You may also seek support from Residential Life staff, as well as the Office of the University Chaplain (212-854-1493).
Your advisers in the Berick Center for Student Advising (212-854-6378) are also available to talk with you about any concerns. Please reach out if you feel that your finals or your academic work is being affected.
As you finish your finals this week, please take care of yourself and those around you. I know that all of you join me in sending our deepest condolences to Mounia’s family and friends, and ask that you keep them in your thoughts in the days ahead.
Sincerely,
James J. Valentini
Dean of Columbia College and
Vice President for Undergraduate Education
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18 Comments
@Abousaid Mohamed Tu me manque tant…
@Abousaid Mohamed Repose en paix ma chère Mounia, Papa
@Jiji Rest in Peace Mounia, everyone will Miss you, I still cant believe it, am still so shocked 😭😭😭😭😭
@Anas chraibi In the name of Columbia alumni in morocco I would like to present my sincere and deep condolences to Mounia’s family and friends .
RIP Mounia.
Anas chraibi. President of the Moroccan Columbia alumni association..
@Jiji In belhaf of the family, Thank you ..
@Chraibi Please let us know details of the funerals as some of us want to attend.
@Jiji Her funeral was Last night in NY, she was buried in Rosemount Memorial Park according to her wish ..
@Jiji There’ll be a gathering for her today at 1Pm in brooklyn contact Rachel Hampton for more details
@Mona Repose en paix Mounia 😙😙😙😙
@Chong-Bun She was the second person I met as an incoming freshman at Columbia. What a unique individual she was. We often argued, but agreed on little, but my memories of her are nothing but fond. She was one of the most sincere, brilliant, and open-hearted people I have ever met. Questions will be left unanswered, but that, in my memory, is how Mounia always liked it.
@chaimae As one of Mounia’s family member, i am extremely saddened by such news. However, I don’t undertsand how such a brilliant person could’ve died at such a young age. Does anyone know what happened?
@Jiji What I heard from mom, someone told uncle she died from a heart attack but I don’t know why I can’t buy this T.T
@SEAS 17 Columbia doesn’t care about student’s well being. At least that’s how I feel. Last semester, due to medical condition, I couldn’t take one final on time, so I went to the health center and got a note that stated my symptoms, wishing to take it later. My advisors told me that’s not enough since the doctor didn’t write I couldn’t not take the final on that note and I was not in ER. Meanwhile, the health center isn’t authorized to write “I can’t take the final” in the note. Catch 22 problem, fine. I ended up go see a doctor in Mount Sinai, who wrote a note saying I couldn’t take it due to the symptoms. Then, my advisors began to judge the necessity of taking it later and the gravity of my symptoms as if she is a medical professional. Very unprofessional and cold-hearted. Even the capitalists on Wall St is more caring than her.
@CC '15 She was truly brilliant and a wonderful, supportive, generous friend. Rest in power <3
@Evelyn i know this is very sensitive to ask, but i knew this girl briefly and she was lovely and brilliant… does anyone know what happened? i feel sick. i’m so sorry, to her, to everyone so saddened by this.
@one of the best hearts & minds i met in college rest in peace Mounia. you will not be forgotten