Following the passing of GS student Uri Florez, extensive support opportunities have been extended to students grieving the loss of their fellow classmate. GSSC President Julian LaRosa announced in an email that student leaders and Columbia MilVets are providing extended office hours as an addition to the typical support resources. The group will be hosting the open meetings at The Hamilton, a bar located near 110th and Amsterdam, between 4 PM and 2 AM over the next week. Members of the Columbia MilVets also offered their contact information to General Studies students to provide support to anyone who needs it.

You can find the entire email sent to General Studies students below including more information about resources available to members of the community.

Hello fellow GSers,

It’s with a heavy heart that I bring you the heartbreaking news that we lost one of our own, Uriel Florez (known as Uri by his friends). As a U.S. Navy veteran, Uri began his studies of Political Science this past Spring. To those who knew him, he was often known for being exceptionally warm and was brimming with energy and positivity like no other.

A memorial service will be held tomorrow on Saturday, September 10 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Nutley, NJ. Details here. For those who wish to attend, Columbia administration has arranged for a charter bus to provide transportation from campus to the memorial service. Please confirm your attendance ASAP on the transportation thread of Columbia MilVets’ Facebook group here or by emailing MilVets Director of Communications, Mark Franklin here.

Uri’s family has also asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Mission 22, a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the roughly 20 daily suicides by America’s veterans and supporting those struggling with PTSD.

Additionally, members of our student body have organized a run this Sunday morning, September 11th in Riverside Park. We will be meeting at 116th & Riverside at 9 A.M. for a 5K run/walk. Further information can be found on the Facebook page.

For anyone who needs somebody to talk to, a number of MilVets and student leaders have volunteered to hold extended office hours at The Hamilton, a bar located just south of 110th & Amsterdam, from 4 P.M. to 2 A.M. for the upcoming week. I can’t stress it enough. If anyone needs somebody to talk to, we’re here as a community to help in any way we can. Several members of MilVets have volunteered their contact information for anyone in need regardless of the time. Whether you’re a veteran or not, please reach out to the following if you need support in any way:

Al Chang, MilVets President (773) 368-5565
Mark Franklin, MilVets Director of Communications (302) 530-2743
Tahlia Burton, Columbia University Family Support Network (917) 225-9802
Mario Romero, MilVets Director of Health & Wellness (609) 364-2003 (Please contact specifically regarding mental health resources such as CPS or peer advising)

Please come out and join us at whichever events you’re able to attend this weekend in support of Uri.

On a final note, please, please, please (I can’t beg enough) reach out to somebody for support. It doesn’t matter how big or small your troubles may seem on the inside. Come to a peer advisor, your dean, a friend, any of those listed above, or myself. Talk to somebody at Columbia Psychological Service (CPS). As a veteran who has struggled, and occasionally still does, with these issues, I assure you that others who have been in the same boat and are there for you and more than happy to help. Though many involved are MilVets, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a veteran or not. We’re here to help anyone in need of support. Each and every one of you are valued members of our community, and it isn’t fair to any of us to be expected to bear our burdens alone.

With love,
Julian