Grief, Criticism After 3 Suicides At Rowan University In 2 Months

NEW JERSEY – Students, faculty and parents at a New Jersey university are coming to grips with horror: three suicides in the span of two months.

Now concern, grief and even criticism have been mounting since Rowan University's president revealed that a male student fell from the parking garage near the campus's Barnes & Noble Bookstore on Thursday.

"The last 24 hours have been a trying time for the University community," President Ali Houshmand said in a message to the campus. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family."

In a statement to the campus community, Houshmand said the college has had three students die by suicide this semester, "but we also have lost several other members of the university community due to other causes. While even one death is one too many, so many losses in such a short time have been shocking."

The parking garage death happened less than a week after another student jumped to his death from another nearby garage, according to The New York Times. The authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of that tragedy.

The Glassboro campus has erupted in a groundswell of anger and frustration, according to The Times, with one student, Alyssa Steinberg, 21, a junior studying elementary education, telling the publication: “Everything has been building up, but this incident (on Thursday) was the final straw."

More than 75 students and faculty members gathered Thursday afternoon outside Rowan’s Wellness Center to discuss access to mental health services, Houshmand said, and a candlelight vigiil was held on Friday night. The owner of the parking garages is also installing fencing on the top tiers of the structures.

But the efforts haven't stopped the criticism. A number of current and former students, among others, have taken to Twitter and elsewhere to criticize what they consider a lack of support and mental health services at Rowan.

Here are a few of those comments:

Houshmand said he understands the most recent news has caused "anxiety, anger and frustration which are often reflected on social media."

But he added that, although social media is a good platform for expressing thoughts and feelings immediately, "it also can be a place where rumors take root and misunderstandings spread and grow."

Houshmand then listed several points intended to "clarify" statements that have been made. He said:

• "Out of respect for students and their families and to comply with privacy laws, the university cannot always be forthcoming about details. We understand that withholding details can be disturbing and seem as though the university is not being transparent, but we are bound by the wishes of families and legal constraints.
• "Counselors are available to students 24/7. When a student calls or goes to the Wellness Center, they meet one-on-one with a counselor who assesses the level of crisis the student is experiencing. Based on that session, the counselor makes a plan for the student which may include anything from health and wellness strategies to attending group counseling sessions, additional individual sessions and/or referral to outside specialists. Everyone has a personalized plan, which has eliminated the wait lists that some students experienced in years past.
• "During the past six years we have tripled the number of counselors at the Glassboro campus. While our current level of 15 counselors puts us at the high end of the national standard of one professional for every 1,000 to 1,500 students, we are concluding searches for three more professionals who will join our staff at the beginning of next semester to provide even more capacity. Other counselors serve our campuses in Camden and Stratford.
• "In addition to the services we provide through the Wellness Center, there is a wide variety of programs and services provided by units throughout the university, particularly throughout the Student Affairs departments, which we’ll review on Monday evening and share in subsequent e-mails."

On Monday, the administration will gather for a public discussion at 7 p.m. in Chamberlain Student Center Eynon Ballroom. The regularly scheduled Student Government Association meeting will be devoted to "bringing together students, faculty and staff to discuss concerns about mental health, resources and grief," the president said.

"As always, we welcome your thoughts and suggestions," Houshmand said. "While we will continue to monitor social media, we encourage you to email mailto: officeofthepresident@rowan.edu with your concerns."

Houshmand said if you or someone you know is struggling, please go to the Wellness Center and ask to speak with a counselor or call the Wellness Center at 856-256-4333 (on the main campus call 64333). Counselors can be reached 24 hours a day at 856-256-4922.

"As president, I am determined to do everything possible to serve our university community, especially in times of crisis," he said. "As a father, I am moved with compassion for each person who struggles. I implore those who need help to ask for it and for everyone to speak and act with kindness as we move through this difficult time and beyond."