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UW student dies
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by John Potratz
Wednesday, September 7, 2005
Before attending her first day of class, University of Wisconsin freshman Hannah Means was found dead in her Bradley Learning Community residence hall early Friday morning, according to university officials.
Since the tragic event, the university has categorized Means’ death as a possible suicide, but is not yet ruling out other causes pending a full investigation.
UW Police and officials say it is unknown what may have driven Means, an honors student and prominent athlete in her home town of Northfield, Minn., to take her life.
“We certainly wish we knew what happened,” UW Dean of Students Lori Berquam said. “Sometimes the circumstances [of starting college] are compelling enough for people to make this decision. … We hope if they feel that way, they will seek help with services on campus and university counseling.”
To help friends and fellow Bradley residents come to terms with Means’ death, UW housing, counseling and administrative staff members joined together at the residence hall to mourn her loss and remained there throughout the weekend.
The university has also provided two vans — with the option of allocating more if needed — to transport mourners to Means’ funeral services to be held in Minnesota.
Berquam, who will attend the services to send her own condolences, said students close to Means are encouraged to seek counseling.
“There are things we will never know about her life and what may have [driven] her to that decision,” Berquam said. “This is not an easy time for anyone.”
UW Police Captain Brian Bridges said no further information regarding the investigation into Means’ death will be released until it is complete — a process that will require toxicology and “microscopic” tests.
“These folks are in a healing process,” he said of those close to Means.
To be conscious of potentially suicidal inclinations, Berquam urged students to first “notice things” in themselves. Students can find support groups in the campus community through friends or professional counselors and also through parents who are usually a phone call away, she added.
“The hard thing is there are so many unanswered questions, [and] we will probably never know the answers,” Berquam said, adding Means’ death is “nobody’s fault.”
“This is not an easy time for anyone,” she said of those close to Means, especially her parents. “Our hearts go out to all of them.”
Students mourning Means’ death, considering suicide or aware of a friend who is are encouraged to call UW counseling services at (608) 265-5600.
