Here at IU, we must value the life of every single Hoosier. And to do so means we must recognize those who are taken from us all too soon.
The Indiana Daily Student is a forum for student and community voices to be shared among students, staff and faculty across the campus. This publication works to keep the public updated about campus events and attempts to convey to its readers what is going on around them and why it matters. This responsibility involves covering the news even in the worst of circumstances: when a student dies.
Student deaths are traumatic experiences. When this happens, it is not only devastating to respective friends and family, but to the entire IU community. When students die, their deaths have a rippling effect throughout our University, and it can deeply affect students and staff alike. So far this semester, IU has experienced four student deaths, three of which occurred in a 15-day period.
When students die, IU administration has an obligation to the campus community to make available the necessary resources to those who might be in need of them. These services fall completely under the radar when the institution can’t even do so much as to acknowledge the circumstances.
IU-Bloomington must strive to uphold the ideals of compassion and transparency. Without a dialogue, the University cannot offer adequate services or aid to help students and staff members cope with whatever they might be facing.
These traumas can stir anxiety, ?depression and discomfort. Emotional consequences such as these are serious and require the full attention and devotion of IU staff and administrators.
The IDS is a student publication. With every decision made in this newsroom, our journalists carefully weigh what is in the best interest of our readers across the campus community. And when a student is taken from this community, the IDS will take swift action to inform its readership in a respectful and thoughtful manner.
In most cases this semester involving student suicide, the University administration stalled in providing confirmation and addressing inquiries from IDS reporters and editors, and it is not acceptable.
IU is an institution that prides itself on a sense of community.
It is imperative, in the spirit of community and transparency, for the University administration and appropriate local elected officials, such as Monroe County Coroner Nicole Meyer, to cooperate with news sources who are only trying to keep the flow of information open and readily available to the public.
This isn’t to say IU has not been at all cooperative. Officials have provided the IDS with information when pressed, just not necessarily in a timely manner. As for the University, as of now, written protocol as to how to address a student death does not exist. Without this written protocol, it is near impossible for students, media and the community alike to hold officials accountable.
It is also necessary to note that, in most cases, the IDS will not disclose the manner of death if it is ruled a suicide, unless it has occurred in a public space. However, at least three of the four students who died during the fall semester took their own lives, according to public records. A cause of death in the case of the fourth student has yet to be determined. These are circumstances that are not inconsequential, and they deserve to be acknowledged so proper steps can be taken to make resources available.
In 2011, a study by Dr. James Turner, a professor at the University of Virginia, looked at data from 157 schools. According to that research, for every 100,000 college students, at least six kill themselves each year, and about five die from alcohol-related causes, including traffic injuries.
One-hundred sixty-three students have died since the year 2000. IU doesn’t know how each of these students died. A database that is maintained by the Dean of Students Office exists, but only 156 names are included within this database, along with an unofficial cause and manner of death listed for some (but not all) of the students. If such information is not being collected and regularly updated, then the University is incapable of identifying possible trends or problems that might need to be addressed on a larger level.
We care about IU. We care about all students. We care about this administration. We care about you.
IU students are guaranteed two free counseling sessions per semester with Counseling and Psychological Services. For questions or to make an ?appointment, call 812-855-5711.
