Should NYU faculty and their dependent children receive full tuition remission?
Update: Police have identified the student who died today as Andrew Williamson-Noble. He was 20 years old. Police found him unconcious and unresponsive in the lobby of Bobst Library. He was removed and taken to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, minutes after 5 a.m. The medical examiner is determining the cause of death. Update: University spokesman John Beckman released a statement concerning the death.
"The death of a College of Arts and Science junior early this morning in Bobst Library is a matter of great sorrow for the NYU community. In a close-knit community of young people such as ours, the death of a fellow student is always keenly felt," Beckman said, adding: "While the cause of this death is still being determined, indications are that he took his own life."
Beckman said that in spite of the many measures NYU has taken to help students' mental health, the univeristy is "not immune to this national challenge."
Beckman and WSN remind students who are struggling to call the Wellness Exchange at 212.998.9999.
LSP freshman Zarrin Ma'ani (who is also member of WSN's editorial board) was studying in the library late last night when, around 4:30 a.m., she heard a huge sound. She said the whole library seemed to shake — she described it as "earthquake-like." She did not leave Bobst's LL-1 floor, but 15 minutes later, she said an NYU Public Safety officer asked students to exit the building via an emergency exit.
Update: NYU sent a universitywide e-mail (http://nyunews.com/news/2009/nov/03/comment/) about the student death in Bobst this morning.
University spokesman John Beckman told WSN the university had reason to believe the student took his own life.
"There was a student death in the library earlier today. I am at great sorrow for the NYU community. Conditions are still being determined by the medical examiner," Beckman said. He said he would be sending an official statement in 15 minutes.
Executive vice president Michael Alfano said: "We're trying to honor the interest of the family" of the student.
Update: 11:31 a.m.: The NYPD could not confirm that the death was a result of a jump. They said all they can confirm is that the activity was "non-criminal."
Carol Mandel, the library dean, declined to comment until after a university statement. Marc Wais said the university should be releasing its comment soon.
Update: 11:25 a.m.: Workers just took a food cart to the 12th floor of Bobst, where administrators are currently meeting. A prospective student group just toured Bobst.
Update: 11:20 a.m.: Students are currently not allowed above the 10th floor of Bobst. The stacks (including floor 10) normally open for students at 7 a.m. and close at 1 a.m.
Marc Wais, vice president for student affairs, and Tom Ellet, associate vice president for student affairs, declined to comment on the situation. NYU spokesman James Devitt, also present at the library, declined to comment until NYU sent a release.
Update 9:50 a.m.: President John Sexton walked into Bobst around 9:40 a.m. He spoke to a WSN reporter and said, "I just am learning the details of it, we always mourn when a terrific young person passes. We have to find out how and why, of course, and then work through it." He added: "The first thing is to take care of the folks." Before walking into the far-right elevator, which has access to his office on the 12th floor, he said, "I just wanted to check on the well-being of everyone here and now I have to go upstairs." Marc Wais, vice president for student affairs, left shortly before Sexton arrived but declined to comment.
Update 9:23 a.m.: Anthony Jiga, NYU's vice president for budget and planning: "I just heard about it. It's a terrible, terrible tragedy." He advised students to talk to friends, reach out to faculty and call the Wellness Exchange.
Update 9:21 a.m.: Bobst is now open.
Update 9:10 a.m.: Patrick Wing, NYU Public Safety's investigations manager, declined to comment but said NYU spokesman John Beckman will release a statement shortly. NYU administrators are currently meeting on the 12th floor of Bobst.
Update 9:05 a.m.: DCPI detective says person was male.
Update 8:59 a.m.: NYPD's Office of Public Information has confirmed a death in Bobst this morning.
8:48 a.m.: WSN is speaking to police and NYU to confirm reports of a death at 4:30 a.m. in Bobst Library. The library is currently closed, and a police presence has been reported in the atrium. Stay with WSN for more on this story. NYU offers services for struggling students or those who are concerned about friends. The Wellness Exchange is available at all times at 212.443.9999 or wellness.exchange@nyu.edu. For more information, visit their website at http://www.nyu.edu/999/handbook/
ben levine
Nov 03, 2009
11:32 a.m.
Students are never allowed above floor 10 because 11 and 12 are admin offices. I have to go up there sometimes and you always need to pass a public safety officer.
ellen
Nov 03, 2009
11:50 p.m.
Where was the public safety officer that night?
Diane
Nov 03, 2009
2:29 p.m.
What part of this don't you get??
"The family has asked that they be accorded the greatest possible degree of privacy and sensitivity in this difficult hour, and I would hope that we all shall strive to comply."
This is not the right place or time to release a name! Might just be another story for you...but this is REAL for everyone else involved.
Pat
Nov 03, 2009
2:31 p.m.
Wow... it's really unethical to report the name of a suicide victim, especially against the explicit wishes of his family.
Simone
Nov 03, 2009
2:47 p.m.
Good coverage, but where do you guys get off releasing a name? The university statements seem to indicate that the family wants their privacy respected at this time. Classy, WSN.
Ash
Nov 03, 2009
6:41 p.m.
WSN was not the first source to release the name. Though the family might not of wanted it released, students were unsure of who had passed, and didn't know whether their friend they hadn't talked to since before going to bed last night was okay or not. It's better for the academic community to know so we can mourn.
Trey
Nov 03, 2009
9:30 p.m.
It's just wrong to release a name....even if the "academic community" needs to know. People who know him will find out, those who didn't know him don't need to know who died if the family wants PRIVACY. Releasing the name was just a bad ethical decision overall.
erg
Nov 03, 2009
11:33 p.m.
suicide is useless...
ellen
Nov 03, 2009
11:44 p.m.
Since this is not the first, second or even 5th suicide in this building! Why doesn't the University have a guard on each floor and ESPECIALLY the upper floors? Obviously, the library should be CLOSED at 4:30 a.m. if they can't afford to staff the floors. The plexiglas guard wall is useless. I see this as neglect on the part of NYU in light of the fact that this is becoming a common problem in this library. Oh, and DELETE the kid's name. Another example of negligence.
v
Nov 06, 2009
3:27 p.m.
the sad truth is someone who wishes to commit suicide will find a way regardless. nyu has taken the right approach in enforcing preventative measures such as offering counseling services. but if this was in fact a suicide, then the student had already consciously made the choice.
having a guard on each floor makes absolutely no sense. and having the library closed at 4:30am makes even less sense. there have been suicides during the day in that building as well. why don't we just close all buildings over 2 stories in the whole world. the library should be open at all times as it is an essential academic tool. the fact that certain students have different schedules or need to study/cram makes it counter intuitive to close the library down. unfortunately, tragedies do happen.
i do agree that WSN should show more sensitivity with the report. so what if other sources are listing the name, they should use their own discretion and respect the parent's request.
F. Buckminster
Nov 04, 2009
2:37 a.m.
Wow, back in the day NYU students never would have committed suicide, because it was such a laid-back place to get an education. Drug overdoses maybe, but suicide? Has Ivy-envy destroyed what was once a really chill and fun school?
lizzy
Dec 02, 2009
11:22 a.m.
yeah now...its really heavy on the workload for some people like lots of papers and the science tests...ridiculous amounts of writing it sucks...and all the offices here mess up everything
G
Nov 04, 2009
1:35 p.m.
people need to relax about releasing the name.... don't you realize NYU is not the only place to report this story? The Daily News has not only a name, but a picture. If you are twenty years old and you decide to take your life in a public library with other students present, your name will be in the papers... that's a simple fact.
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