Cornell Community Reacts To Student Deaths

The Cornell Daily Sun:

The weather in Ithaca -- grey, overcast skies that gave way to rain showers late in the day -- was an apt indicator of the weary mood on campus Saturday. As the Cornell community mourned the death of a third student in less than a month, signs of a gloomy campus atmosphere abounded, from Facebook groups calling for "No More Cornell Suicides," to security personnel patrolling bridges around campus.

Some people, trying to provide disheartened students with a little cheer, posted notes on bridge railings that said "Smile :)" and "Your prelim grade isn't as bad as being mauled by a bear." From dormitories to libraries, conversations across campus revolved around the tragic events that have shocked the Cornell community.

Read the whole story: The Cornell Daily Sun

Comments

[Mark Montgomery]

05:56 PM on 03/16/2010

Weak

[GravitonX]

11:12 AM on 03/16/2010

Never understood suicide. Always struck me as a deep genetic flaw.

[NYNancy]

01:38 PM on 03/15/2010

Cornell consistently ranks in the top 15 of all colleges and universities in the U.S. It is a great school, and very difficult. Because it's surrounded by deep gorges, it has an underserved reputation for a high suicide rate. Until this year, its rate was about 4.3 per 100,000 student years, compared to 19 per 100,000 at MIT. (You can Google the literature). Because of its unfounded rep, the school has taken many, many steps to keep students safe, including free counseling. My daughter is a senior there, and her experience has been wonderful: a caring community, lots of opportunities to meet people and get involved in activities, a strong sense of community. And a first-rate education. Now is not the time to berate Cornell and its community.

[MadMarv]

04:05 PM on 03/15/2010

But how hard would it be to put a covered walkway on the 5 or 6 gorge bridges used most by students? The structure of these walkways could double as a "suicide barrier" and also provide some shelter from the ubiquitous rainy weather.

[noniemous]

10:46 AM on 03/15/2010

I went to school in Rochester for 4 years, and until you live in a place where it is dark, overcast, and gray from October until May, you don't really know anything about this article.

[MadMarv]

04:05 PM on 03/15/2010

Amen!

[BlueZoo]

09:47 AM on 03/15/2010

There are at least three families who must be grieving right now and not one word of compassion for them! I do commend Cornell for their posting of security on these bridges, though. As we have seen time and again, multiple suicides seem to act as an impetus for others to follow suit and that would be equally egregious.

[Josh Seipp]

08:16 AM on 03/15/2010

Wow, I thought this was an urban legend.

[allswellendswell]

07:52 AM on 03/15/2010

I feel I am qualified to comment on this because I have studied, taught, and also worked as a psychological counselor at "elite" colleges. I've seen it all, from all the different angles. Most students who are at risk at college likely come from difficult family backgrounds, or have an underlying mental health issue (bipolar disorder seems to be common among really bright people). They often feel like once they move to college they can start fresh, leave their baggage behind and forge a new life, new identity. The thing is, though, the baggage (by definition) cannot be left behind, plus now, they have new stressors to contend with, academic, social, and emotional pressures that neither they nor their families could have foreseen (especially if the student is the first to attend college in the family), and that only exacerbate the problems they arrive with. It's a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, some colleges understand the profound developmental tasks that students are facing in their four undergraduate years and provide the necessary supports. One college I worked at provided free weekly therapy for all four years of the students' college careers. I would advise college-bound high school students to choose their colleges wisely, particularly if you are coming from a difficult family situation. If you feel that going to college is going to solve your problems, it's almost a given that things are only going to get worse, especially if you choose a big, big-name school.

[NightEditor]

06:06 AM on 03/15/2010

In the real world ... this has been a long gray winter.
There are many long, gray winters.
College teachers and profs are human and may not pamper students.
Most colleges have large textbooks to tote around.

Take more naps. Eat well. Cultivate your friendships.
Nobody said life was fair or easy.

[Senseid]

04:18 AM on 03/15/2010

I have to agree with the sentiment that Cornell is a school that is rarely a "first choice" for many students and that it is full of above average students who couldn't get into Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Princeton, etc. These are students who want to be in the elitist crowd, but couldn't get into the upper echelon of our university system and settled for the next best thing.

I think when you've always though of yourself as the "smart kid" and suddenly you go to a school like Cornell and realize that you are just average compared to everyone else there, you undergo a bit of a shock to the system. You start second guessing yourself. You feel like you are quickly falling behind. When you've gotten A's your entire life and always strive for the best, getting a C hits your ego in a way that you can't prepare for.

[barnone72]

05:03 AM on 03/15/2010

wow! i'm a bit taken back by ur post. i feel it is a sad state when a young person who's life is full of promise and infinite possiblity is entrapped n such a paradigm. we r not defined by letters of an alphabet used as "score keepers" in a continual rat race.

as i conveyed 2 my professors when i was a college student...this test, these grades r not a measure of my intelligence.

i wholeheartedly disagree w/ the construct of the western educational system n general, particularly as it relates 2 measure of success or achievement. we all have a purpose and our gift/talent 2 offer 2 the universe. our contribution 2 soceity n my opinion is not encompassed by how many "A's" we receive. i like 2 believe my life's work is much more profound than that.

[LastAngryWoman]

07:09 AM on 03/15/2010

I wholeheartedly agree with your view on the construct of the western educational system n general...but I must say, senseid's take on the mindset of some students (many really) is sadly true.

Seems to me, lots of people go to university for the piece of paper and where it can take them...not because they are spectacularly interested in learning and studying in-depth...the ones that do...well, they would learn no matter what...with or without a degree.

[MazdaB2000]

03:33 AM on 03/15/2010

I think life at our colleges and universities will continue to decline. The underlying reason is money. These schools are forced to admit students who can afford the tuition but yet have no love for wisdom. Many of these students are mean, self-interested, and view academic study as one would view a war. The same holds for many of the faculty. And that makes it extremely hard for those students who love the life of the mind, love study, and love rational discourse....and who abhor the nastiness they witness on these campuses. Many of these young people exist, but they and their families do not have the money to attend our colleges. Those that sacrifice and do go, putting themselves greatly in debt, enter a world where a ton of money and a family lawyer is more important than a serious, thoughtful mind. You may say that these schools provide the students with a course--a selection of books to read, and exams and papers they have to present to the instructor. And not all students can handle it. But I think it is different. I think many students see that they could get those books, exams and write those papers anywhere. So why are they in a miserable, anti-intellectual place we call a college or university?

[General Public]

02:10 AM on 03/15/2010

Well, it appears these were suicides. There are several depressing things I found at Cornell. First of all, many students, like me, applied to even more prestigious colleges but didn't get in. Secondly, I found that while it was very easy back in high school to get higher grades than anyone else, some classes at Cornell were so difficult that no matter how hard I tried I could not get a decent grade so I had to drop the classes to keep my GPA from being horrible, which meant signing up for more classes so I could make up for the loss in credits from dropping courses. Third, Cornell is a very large, impersonal university with a vast bureaucracy, and for nerdy sorts of people without many social skills, it is very hard to make friends/girlfriends/boyfriends/etc. there. Fourth, the weather at Cornell is absolutely horrible, and you have to walk up steep slopes covered in ice during winter. Fifth, you have to read tons of difficult books that are heavy to carry around, and many professors are very strict or unhelpful. Sixth, if you live on North Campus or in Collegetown, you cross a bridge over one of the gorges at least twice a day, and the bridges are VERY easy for people to jump off of, and it happens on a regular basis. Cornell is not a fun place at all. These suicides are very understandable to anyone who's been a student there.

[Darkduck]

08:54 AM on 03/15/2010

That sounds bleak and difficult. Hopefully Cornell will address some of these issues. I'm lucky to be at the University of Washington where they have free weekly counseling available to me. I wouldn't be finishing strong without their help.

[silverhawk57]

01:06 AM on 03/15/2010

A lot of people end up going to Cornell because they couldn't get into a better school like Harvard or Princeton.Most don't commit suicide but a lot of them are depressed.

[lizt]

01:38 AM on 03/15/2010

Ridiculous. You make Cornell sound like bad school. Vast numbers of people lead fulfilling lives without Harvard or Princeton or Yale. Cornell is an excellent school.

[RachelMc]

01:58 AM on 03/15/2010

lol...wow

[greenygenie]

01:04 AM on 03/15/2010

That article was terrible.

That being said, I visited Cornell as one of my picks in high school. It wasn't for me. It felt like yet another huge megaschool - and as I had been attending one of those in high school and had already been dealing with depression and isolation as a teen, I ruled it out.

There are a lot of Cornell students and grads on here that rave about their experience at Cornell - and I don't doubt that they had anything but a great experience.

But - and I write this to any parent, student, school acceptance administrator or guidance counselor - a big school with freshman 101 classes in the 100+ student range is NOT for every kid.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/80271
This is an older article, but one I remember reading years ago in Newsweek by the eloquent Anna Quindlen. Re-reading it now, it seems to solidify my feelings about the dangers of the "megaschool" for some students - that no amount of available round-the-clock counselors can possibly counteract.

[RunningARaceWorthRunning]

08:54 AM on 03/15/2010

Your post is well stated and thank you for the article link.

[iameliot]

12:51 AM on 03/15/2010

I know a Cornell student who alleged that he suffered harassment ,retaliation, and other abusive conduct by a faculty member, who tortured the student all semester for sport and ultimately gave the student an underserved course grade of F as a final act of retaliation. The faculty member has a history of bullying students and engaging in conduct unbefitting a college professor and many students have complained about the faculty member's conduct for years. This student complained to appropriate Deans and was told that this was not an issue for the school to address and that the only recourse for the student would be to go back and meet with the faculty member he had just complained had been harassing and abusive ! The student declined to submit to another round of torture.

Is it any wonder why students treated in this way by a faculty member and the school (that turns its back on the student) might be contemplating or committing suicide?

[Ithacan]

12:59 AM on 03/15/2010

I am sure there is MUCH more to this story. I would love to hear the professors side. I have been at Cornell for 5 years now (undergrad and now grad) and have never encountered a professor who gives out Fs for fun. Yes, some professors are tough but that is what you should EXPECT from a school like Cornell. I went there to be challenged.

[iameliot]

01:22 AM on 03/15/2010

In your five years at Cornell, did you ever have or hear of a faculty member at Cornell who gave the students an assignment to write an evaluation of the course and also told that you will be GRADED on your opinion? Do you think this is ethical? (This faculty member then takes the his favorite quotes from those influenced papers and quotes them online as if they were unfettered). Ever hear of a professor who then gives you an F if he does not like your honestly stated course evalutaion opinion?

Your reply ignores the import of my comment. The student complained to the Deans and was effectively told to pound sand.

[LiberalBuzz]

12:15 AM on 03/15/2010

THAT was the worst written article I have ever read.

Exactly what happened?

Suicide?

Bear attacks?

Murder?

Seriously what the heck was wrong with that writer?

[themainpoint]

01:07 AM on 03/15/2010

Thanks for covering all the key questions.

[Camille21]

03:02 AM on 03/15/2010

agree, it took me awhile to figure out what happened.