Cornell: 6 Suspected Suicides This School Year

In the wake of three student deaths on Cornell's campus this past month -- two just last week -- the school has disclosed more information about its suicide rate.

The Cornell Daily Sun reports:

Besides the two suspected cases of suicide last week, medical examiners have determined that four other enrolled students died by suicide [at Cornell] this year, according to Deputy University Spokesperson Simeon Moss '73.

[Assistant Dean of Students Casey] Carr also emphasized that Cornell's average suicide rate over the past five years is not as high as what people perceive. There were no suicides recorded between 2006 and 2008, which puts the University under the national rate of 1.5 per 20,000 students per year, Carr said.

The Sun also reports that despite air, water and ground searches for engineering junior Matthew Zika, who jumped from a suspension bridge into Fall Creek gorge on Friday, his body has yet to be found.

The school has bolstered its student support system in the aftermath of the latest deaths, waging an "aggressive mental health awareness campaign."