The Badger Herald: Opinion: Mourning a loss

Opinion

Mourning a loss

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By Badger Herald Editorial Board
Wednesday, November 15, 2006 12:00 a.m.

3 Vote 0 Votes

While the rest of the University of Wisconsin campus was going about yesterday like any other day — attending class, studying at the library and going to work — a fellow Badger's life came to an abrupt end.

The 19-year-old student fell from the parking ramp adjacent to the Fluno Center and, after being rushed to the hospital, was pronounced dead late in the afternoon.

Being a college student is unquestionably both stressful and overwhelming at times, and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to everyone involved in this tragic incident. We can only imagine what it is like to lose a son and a friend under such desperate circumstances.

In the wake of yesterday's events, it is our hope that the rest of the student body is aware of the bounty of resources available on campus for counseling and crisis intervention.

University Health Services offers individual counseling sessions with psychotherapists to discuss issues ranging from stress to depression to drug and alcohol abuse. These meetings are strictly confidential and private; UHS employees cannot legally tell anyone — even parents — about counseling sessions. And group counseling sessions exist for those students who wish to meet and share their problems with other students experiencing similar hardships. No problem is too small; UHS provides trained professionals that are ready to address a range of student needs. Furthermore, UHS counselors are able to recommend other healthcare professionals in the Madison area for further help.

For those who feel healthy but have friends who may be going through a tough time, intervention services and information on prevention techniques are also available. Students, as well as faculty and staff members at UW, can request these services through UHS.

Access to these resources is straightforward: Call UHS at 608-265-5600 to receive additional information about counseling services. This number is also a 24-hour hotline for mental health emergencies.

We urge students to take advantage of all our university has to offer. Whether you are in his circle of friends, a student with a problem of your own or a concerned friend, don't hesitate to ask for help.

The campus is mourning a friend today, and we hope the UW community can recover from the loss and work to prevent future tragedies.

3 Comments | Leave a comment

Anonymous | November 15, 2006 2:27 AM | Reply
IP hash: 566a5173

too sad :o(

Anonymous | November 15, 2006 5:22 PM | Reply
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It’s a sad story, but it could have been prevented if the kid wasn’t so mentally weak and could pull himself together through the stress. I imagine he ended his life over something that in the long run isn’t all that important; maybe he failed an exam or something.

Anonymous | November 17, 2006 10:16 AM | Reply
IP hash: 10efd302

Mentally weak? This comment shows a complete lack of understanding of someone who is perhaps suffering from chronic or situational depression. This is such old school thinking, this young man should simply “pull himself together”? What? And, you have no idea why he ended his life. Don’t make assumptions, when you don’t have any or all the information!