More Details Emerge About NYU's Bobst Library Suicide

New information has already come out about the NYU student who committed suicide early this morning at Bobst Library. The man was 20-year-old Andrew Williamson-Noble of Irvington, New York. The Daily News reports that he used an NYU-issued card to gain access to the library, and jumped from the 10th floor.

Witnesses heard a "loud thud" but say "there was no blood." He was taken to St. Vincent's where he was pronounced DOA around 5 a.m. While it's unknown why Williamson-Noble took his own life, other students say they just finished with midterms and are still feeling "very stressed out."

After multiple suicides in 2003, panels were installed on the inner balconies to prevent further attempts — one student told the paper it's not easy to make the jump, and "You'd have to be tall to flop over it, unless you had a chair or something." Another told the NY Post, "It's really stressful sitting in here. I've spent 10 hours studying in the library. It's a very depressing place."

Meanwhile, tours have been taken through the library as usual today, and NYU Local got a hold of instructions to tour guides (ambassadors), which said in part: "While we should not volunteer details about this tragedy to university guests, we must be candid and honest if asked. At this point, our message is as follows: it is a tragic death and is currently under investigation. Please share this response if you are asked." They were also told to say that “Suicides at NYU are not typical.”

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on November 3, 2009 4:16 PM

Comments [rss]

frstrunnerup

I think you all need to think about the people who read this and knew Andrew before you write some of the comments on here. It's hard enough losing someone from our small town, but then we go online and have to read insensitive comments like "his bow-tie should have let him glide to the floor safetly" or that his face was splashed around the library floor. That is horrible and disgusting, talking about and mocking the idea of stress in schools. This is reality. No one knows why he did it, so don't pass judgments and assume because of something the media makes it out to be. This is a sad enough situation for people to deal with, they don't need your fucking insensitive comments added to it.

If you're going to make a joke out of a smart, young, handsome mans life that is sadly gone, then you shouldn't bother posting on here at all. It's poor taste, you should learn to have a touch of class.

poetofsorts

People on here are so insensitive. It doesn't matter where you go to college, college is tough and stressful. And how dare someone say "Weeds out the weak, and more jobs for the rest of us." Thats sick and sadden. It's remarkable how many people have their heads stuck up their own ass. This poor kid problem had more mental problems then just being stressed out about school.

Dwayne Hoover

When I was an undergrad, we committed suicide and didn't complain. Even twice a day. While walking uphill. And we LIKED IT.

But seriously,

1) that is an oversized tie

2) he didn't kill himself by diving into the Gowanus canal at 3am. He jumped into the middle of the damn library, obviously making a point. It's therefore newsworthy and why there shouldn't be a problem publishing his picture. We publish pictures of murdered people, every day, right?

3) NYU is definitely not a 'least stressful school'. Go back to Harvard, slacker.

winrx

Is this the school that offers "Guitar Hero" in it's undergrad division?

leilaB89

Some of your comments are absolutely DISGUSTING. If youre enough of a moron to crack fun at the very tragic suicide of a disturbed student, then I feel incredibly sorry for all you. You are all in serious need of help. Of course it's sad that this student thought death was his only option, but who the hell are you to sit helplessly behind your computer screens and call his tragic end trivial or laughable or "cool." Get a life, grow up, and pray that you never have anyone close to you take his or her own life. And to post 16, NYU has one of the highest tuitions in the country, it's obviously in the most fast-paced, cut-throat city in the country, and it's work load and academic programs are overly intense. So please go back to your quiet little ivy school in the suburbs and find some respect...or dignity.

Ralph

Lighten up, Francis.

poopmast

Student commits suicide at one of the country's least stressful schools

freddynyc

BTW wouldn't this have been cool if he presented this spectacle during an admissions tour...

freddynyc

I think I'll go clip my toenails...

Clarice City

The world has lost a very handsome man.

Capt Kirk

You'd think his ridiculously oversized Bow tie would let him glide to the ground floor safely.

The 419 King

Let 'em do it!

Weeds out the weak, and more jobs for the rest of us.

Boo-hoo my college exam was soooo hard. Like it's a Chinese sweatshop or something.

ladyjane

why publish his name...i feel that's tasteless. you can argue he forfeited his rights to privacy upon his death, but i still feel like it's unnecessary. this shit is sad. it happened. end.

Kojak

No I don't think you can just dismiss it and then move on. This is a common problem in stressful University environments. Attention should be called to these incidents and more should be done to help those who feel as if they have no where else to go.

MT

Absolutely. Why does his name, much less his picture, have to be splashed around? The poor kid thought suicide was his only escape. Why make it sensational?

Ralph

Well, his face WAS splashed around the Bobst Library this morning....

Kojak

Zing!!!

verbal

booya!

Mordicai

"While it's unknown why Williamson-Noble took his own life, other students say they just finished with midterms and are still feeling 'very stressed out.'"

In other news, the homeless guy outside the library is hungry. I'm not saying it has anything to do with Williamson-Noble's death. I'm just saying. In other other news, The sky is blue. Maybe that had something to do with it, maybe not. I'm just saying. I hear some people are allergic to peanuts. I mean, I don't know if Williamson-Noble's suicide is related to nut allergies, all I'm saying is we can't rule it out.

HOTCUP

you're right, school related stress probably has nothing to do with an NYU student who took his own life in the NYU library, during one of the most stressful times of the semester.

Mordicai

I just like when rhetoric gets published that would make the editors of Wikipedia blush for shame & take it down. Speculative weasel words, awesome!