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A freshman from New York University apparently committed suicide yesterday morning. The student, Allan Oakley Hunter III, jumped from the roof of University Hall, a 15-story dorm at 110 East 14th Street; his body was found in the courtyard. The Washington Square News reports that police were searching his room around 10AM yesterday morning and that his body was removed by 1PM.
Friends told the Washington Square News that Hunter was "introverted but friendly," but recently had been missing classes and seemed more "disheveled." Matthew Margini, a classmate in introductory Italian, said, "He was definitely more absent mentally than usual. He must have been going through something." Daily News reports that, according to other sources, Hunter was sad over a "broken love affair."
The doors to University Hall's roof are alarmed, but it's unclear what the dorm security's response was. Earlier this year, a Hunter College student set off alarms when he tried to get onto a Hunter building's roof, but guards stopped him; 15 minutes later, he gained access to the roof and jumped to his death.
NYU President John Sexton sent an email to the school community, "It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you of the apparent suicide death of a CAS freshman in University Hall early this morning." (Full text of his email after the jump.) In the past few years, a number of NYU students killed themselves, both on-campus and off; two deaths in the Bobst Library atrium prompted NYU to install glass barriers.
Text of NYU President John Sexton's email to the NYU community:
It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you of the apparent suicide death of a CAS freshman in University Hall early this morning. We have reached out to the student’s family and friends and offered our support and sympathies, and I am sure I speak on behalf of us all when I say that the prayers and thoughts of the NYU community are with them.
I have spent virtually my entire life educating young people, drawn to this vocation by the joy of being in the presence of their energy, their vibrancy, and their promise. For me, this vitality, found so pervasively among our students, makes the national phenomenon of youth suicide so incomprehensible; how can it be that despair can so utterly eclipse so patently bright a future, and that such talented individuals can be snatched from us so suddenly, so tragically, and so painfully?Part of suicide’s pain is the elusiveness of any easy answers. However, notwithstanding the absence of easy answers, some things are very clear: we have a responsibility to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and others around us safe and well. It is sign of strength to reach out when one needs help, and it is a blessing to reach out to another who is in need of help; never hesitate to seek assistance, either on your own behalf or on behalf of someone about whom you are concerned.
We have a comprehensive array of support services available on this campus to help those who are struggling. Our Wellness Exchange operates round-the-clock, with mental health experts available to assist members of the NYU community confidentially and connect them to a web of campus services; you can reach the Wellness Exchange 24/7 at 212-443-9999 or via email at
wellness.exchange@nyu.edu. If this news makes you feel vulnerable, do not hesitate to contact the Wellness Exchange.In addition, a counselor will be on-site at University Hall until 10:00 pm tonight and from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm tomorrow, or as needed. Walk-in counseling hours at the Student Health Center can be found on-line at www.nyu.edu/999/counseling.
Each of you should know that there are people who care about you, and people who stand ready to help. Each of you is valued. Take care of yourselves, and take care of one another.
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We need more people killing themselves. New York is too overcrowded. I need cheaper rents
"more after the jump"?
hahahahahahah....
mes agrees
less i-pod listening sandal wearing dog walking hipster clones in my hood please!
I think John Sexton's letter was actually very nice and appropriate.
wow, how sad that this happened. here or anywhere, what a shame. i can't believe anyone would post such terribly insensitive comments on here. interesting how a fucking blog just brings out the best in you people.
from his mouth to God's ears. if only we did what he wrote. however, if one mentioned he could be a terrorist instead of the changes his fellow classmates saw, you know action would be taken.
Very sad, and surprising considering how early in the semester it is.
Props to Sexton for a sensitive and appropriate response for once.
I just wish- for once- people who write such horrible messages on blogs would post their names and addresses. I'd love to meet these fools. They may outwardly project a great life, but I have no doubt they are terrible people who lead miserable lives...and if they don't, then I'd be happy to make sure they're miserable.
Too bad about the student. A real shame...
was he an hero?
Very sad, and surprising considering how early in the semester it is.
Obviously the guy had long standing problems (unles it turns out he was on drugs at the time).
so sad - to be so young and in so much pain that suicide seems like the only way out.
i only hope that some of the snarky douchebags who think they're being oh-so-clever by posting their lameass quips one day feel half as much pain as this kid did.
man, no NYU-suicide jokes for a few more days
NYU = DEATH
as a member of the NYU community (and one who sent this tip to Gothamist, though perhaps there were others?) it's really, really terrible that NYU is developing a sort of "reputation" as a jumper's school. The jumps of a few years back were also early in the semester, and some involved first year students. Obviously this student had mental issues that existed before enrolling, but I also think many people simply forget how hard it is to be a college freshman, and how monumental and trying problems can seem when you're also adjusting to a new environment, difficult classes, and having no friends.
#5 and #8: Sadly, it's the apparent anonymous nature of posting as "Guest" that inspires some people to act like jackasses in light of this tragic event.
My deepest condolences to the family.
I agree with the above poster. As a recent graduate of NYU (undergrad), one of the things (albeit somewhat trivial in the grand scheme of things) that I find very sad about this is that he will never get to experience what he presumably came from across the country to do--go to college, meet new people, get an education, live in New York City, etc. It breaks my heart because I know what an amazing experience I had doing so.
Damn you, Ahmadinejad!
damn you to heck, you blew it up, you really blew it up.
As tragic as Allan Oakley's suicide was, it is even more tragic that people sit and mock the end of a beautiful life. This was not a scene from a movie or a chapter in a novel but rather a real life event that undoubtedly has changed and touched the lives of countless people. He was not merely an NYU student but a friend, son, brother. The sadness those who knew him must be unbearable and to hear people callously mock his death can only make it worse.
Rest in peace.
he had so much promise, so much to look forward to,
unlike like those simians in crown heights, right?
just shut up. I can't wait for the war to happen.
i blame anonymous blog comments for this death.
...and fellow "members"... how is our posting any less anonymous?? all you know about me is that i'm a dude named "nick" with an "s" last name... quit trying to act high and mighty.
Trey, I love you, rest in peace. As for the really unnecessary posts, kindly stop.
I think the reason at nyu that you see this so often is that nyu attracts a lot of these brooding, depressed types. Think about how great some of the arts programs are at nyu, now think about what some of the best artists did to themselves. Who was the guy that cut off his ear again?
I feel bad bout this kid, I dont think nyu can really do anything about it other than offerin free counseling and educatin people bout what to look for so their roommate doesnt off himself. But if someone wants to kill himself, he's gonna.
Does Sexton have a form letter by now for this suicides, like he just fills in the name and stuff?
#3 - hipsters don't wear sandals.
As a current NYU sophomore, I don't have sympathy for the kid. Putting your signature on that application is analogous to signing a waiver form , containing a number of trials, adjusting the largest city in the US being just one.
This should serve as a reminder to any prospective freshmen to reconsider their "Sex and the City" fantasies.
i lived on the same floor as a freshman who jumped off of the library in 2003. he was a great guy and just did too many shrooms.
that same year 2 other people killed jumped to their deaths (not drug related)
as for the others, nyu did try to reach out a lot after that. but from my experience, nyu can be really isolating and you have to rely on yourself more than other universities i've been at.
Thank you to those with a heart and a soul. I don't know the kid personally, but I am heartbroken for the family. I really don't understand the motivation behind insensitive comments. Some of you need to take a long look in the mirror.
Trey was an amazing individual.
If you would kindly stop posting insensitive comments, and further bringing pain upon those who knew him, and are being forced to the realization that he is gone for good.
I will miss you Trey.
I knew this young man personally and feel utter shock about the tragedy and deep sorrow for his family.
However, what never ceases to amaze me is how some immature people can post hurtful and cruel messages that can be read by the family and friends (like me).
One class some of the people posting should attend is a compassion and sympathy class (or at least show some).
Some of these posts just go to show that although you may be in college and now feel yourself somehow annoited and educated and able to pass judgement, some are still truly children (and I know since I have 3 in college now). Your parents would be very proud if they knew you were now at this level, being all educated and the such. Why don't you go ahead and send them a link to your brilliant post? I am sure they will be proud to tell all of their friends how mature you are.
As a side note: To the immature "posters", I can't wait for the real world to catch up with you. Put on your flak jacket - You think it's tough in there, I will assure you that you haven't seen anything yet...
An honorable gesture by those who post drivel would be to step up to the plate and post an apology for being, quite frankly, childish asses. Your posts are neither funny nor witty. May you never have to suffer this kind of pain in your own life. If so, hopefully people will be more kind to you than you were to others.
To those with compassion, I know for a fact the family very much appreciates your kind words and thoughts as they try to cope with this.
My sympathies to the family and friends. And may Trey Rest In Peace.
I agree. Show some common decency.
I hate how everyone says "nyu is so isolated". First of all, I chose nyu after going to a relatively small high school (150 in my class) and I was sick of knowing everyone and being known by everyone. I liked the fact that I could blend into the crowd and be anonymous or stand out at nyu as much as I wanted. With so many students, organizations, and classes, you had to put in a concerted effort not to meet anyone.
It's a tragedy that this kid killed himself, but I hardly think nyu is to blame - seems like he came with a set of problems of his own.
There has been a long standing problem of sudden unexplained suicides of college students. Administrators are stumped and unable to cope with these deaths to prevent them.
There is a little known problem with human physiology that was discovered when it caused mental breaks for office workers in the 1960's. The cubicle was designed to deal with the problem and where they are correctly used the mental events do not happen.
College students are knowledge workers just like those office workers. They can accidentally create the "special circumstances" for Subliminal Distraction exposure.
If you have a laptop computer or use any computer in a dorm room with a roommate visit VisionAndPsychosis.Net to read how to avoid exposure.
http://visionandpsychosis.net/College_Suicides.htm