White Hall residents are struggling to make sense of the hall’s second suicide in seven days after the discovery of the body of a 19-year-old male student in the building on Tuesday.
Chad Baldwin, UW’s director of media relations, confirmed the death.
“I can confirm that there was a student death in White Hall today, a 19-year-old male. It appears to be a suicide by asphyxiation,” Baldwin said.
The death comes exactly one week after another student’s body was found in a car in the parking lot of White Hall following suicide via self-inflicted gunshot wound. On Tuesday that student was identified as Martin Oppenheimer, a UW freshman from Cleves, Ohio. Albany County Coroner Jennifer Graham confirmed Oppenheimer’s identity and the cause of his death.
“His name is Martin Oppenheimer and he did die of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head,” Graham said.
In a statement sent to all UW students, UW President Dick McGinity discussed both suicides, and the importance of community during the difficult time.
“Today, another student died of an apparent suicide in one of the residence halls. The death is under investigation and we are in contact with his family and friends to make sure they have the support and services they need,” McGinity said in the statement.
“During this time of great loss we are reminded of the importance of community. Losing a fellow student and member of our university can be very difficult.”
Freshmen in the lobby of White Hall on Tuesday night were reeling from the news. Friends of the more recent suicide victim gathered on their floor to grieve and learn about the resources available to UW students.
“Your community, your peers, your fellow residents here, members of the staff, faculty, instructors, those of us at the counseling center—there are so many people who want to be there for you and want to support you,” Keith Evashevski, director of the university counseling center, said. “So please let us know if you need help.”
McGinity also emphasized the availability of mental health resources in his statement.
“I encourage those who feel they may need additional support to contact the UW Counseling Center, located in 341 Knight Hall,” McGinity said.
