bloodrayne
09-19-2004, 05:46 AM
Student Attempts Suicide Using Fork
CMU Police reported a 20-year-old male CMU student attempted suicide Wednesday in the Robinson Residential Restaurant.
The student stabbed himself in the head several times with a fork, police say.
The student, whose name was not released by authorities, stabbed himself at about 2:06 p.m. during an afternoon lunch in the residential restaurant.
CMU Police Chief Stan Dinius said several students have attempted suicide during the years but this incident was highly unusual.
Dinius said the student is physically OK but is seeking external help for other problems. Police are investigating to determine whether drugs were a factor in the incident, which is just one of four attempted suicides reported in the residence halls since January, he said.
Trenton sophomore Anthony Ciarlo, president of Robinson Hall Council, said he noticed the student sitting with four females Wednesday. Ciarlo said all eyes turned to the student when he slammed a drinking glass down, making a loud, shattering noise that echoed throughout the crowded cafeteria.
“Nothing ever captured the attention of the cafeteria like this before,” he said.
Ciarlo said the four females then left the student sitting at the table where he stayed with his head down for about two minutes. He then abruptly stood up and began rapidly stabbing himself in the temple region.
That’s when Ciarlo said he took action and approached the student. He was lying on the floor and Ciarlo said he and others offered to take him to Health Services.
Ciarlo said he was upset the incident happened in front of several students and restaurant employees who did not try to intervene. He addressed the issue at a recent hall council meeting and hopes others will be on the lookout next time a serious incident happens.
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said the important thing is that some students did help. Roscoe initiated an advocacy program this semester, encouraging students to look out for one another.
“I applaud the efforts of those who did step up and help the individual in a real time of need,” Roscoe said. “My concern is where the situation is one in which no one is providing assistance.”
Roscoe said attempted suicide is more frequent than suicides on campus and are taken seriously by the university. Five students have committed suicide since 1995, he said.
One student died from injuries sustained after jumping off the top of the library stairwell in April 1998. The last reported suicide occurred in February 2003, Roscoe said.
Last December, CMU police officers had to talk a suicidal student down from the rooftop of Kulhavi Hall.
Counseling Center Director Ross Rapaport said 18 suicide attempts on campus were reported to his office during the 2003-04 academic year.
The Counseling Center specifically addressed 15 situations involving self-injurious behavior, he said.
Dinius said only three incidents were reported to CMU police in 2003 and two were reported in 2002, though not all attempted suicides are reported to the department.
Rapaport said attempted suicide is not acceptable and medical professionals would determine the seriousness of any case. He would not comment specifically on Wednesday’s incident, but said it was unusual compared to what he’s seen before.
CMU’s policy and behavior expectations under the student code of conduct state if university personnel become aware of suicidal behavior that a student should receive appropriate assistance and possible disciplinary action.
Roscoe said he receives recommendations from a behavior evaluation team that determines if suicidal students need additional assistance off campus and if they should continue to be a student at CMU.
“I do know that the student was directed to resources that could be of immediate and longer term assistance,” Roscoe said. “My understanding is that he is not in any physical risk at this time.”
CMU Police reported a 20-year-old male CMU student attempted suicide Wednesday in the Robinson Residential Restaurant.
The student stabbed himself in the head several times with a fork, police say.
The student, whose name was not released by authorities, stabbed himself at about 2:06 p.m. during an afternoon lunch in the residential restaurant.
CMU Police Chief Stan Dinius said several students have attempted suicide during the years but this incident was highly unusual.
Dinius said the student is physically OK but is seeking external help for other problems. Police are investigating to determine whether drugs were a factor in the incident, which is just one of four attempted suicides reported in the residence halls since January, he said.
Trenton sophomore Anthony Ciarlo, president of Robinson Hall Council, said he noticed the student sitting with four females Wednesday. Ciarlo said all eyes turned to the student when he slammed a drinking glass down, making a loud, shattering noise that echoed throughout the crowded cafeteria.
“Nothing ever captured the attention of the cafeteria like this before,” he said.
Ciarlo said the four females then left the student sitting at the table where he stayed with his head down for about two minutes. He then abruptly stood up and began rapidly stabbing himself in the temple region.
That’s when Ciarlo said he took action and approached the student. He was lying on the floor and Ciarlo said he and others offered to take him to Health Services.
Ciarlo said he was upset the incident happened in front of several students and restaurant employees who did not try to intervene. He addressed the issue at a recent hall council meeting and hopes others will be on the lookout next time a serious incident happens.
Dean of Students Bruce Roscoe said the important thing is that some students did help. Roscoe initiated an advocacy program this semester, encouraging students to look out for one another.
“I applaud the efforts of those who did step up and help the individual in a real time of need,” Roscoe said. “My concern is where the situation is one in which no one is providing assistance.”
Roscoe said attempted suicide is more frequent than suicides on campus and are taken seriously by the university. Five students have committed suicide since 1995, he said.
One student died from injuries sustained after jumping off the top of the library stairwell in April 1998. The last reported suicide occurred in February 2003, Roscoe said.
Last December, CMU police officers had to talk a suicidal student down from the rooftop of Kulhavi Hall.
Counseling Center Director Ross Rapaport said 18 suicide attempts on campus were reported to his office during the 2003-04 academic year.
The Counseling Center specifically addressed 15 situations involving self-injurious behavior, he said.
Dinius said only three incidents were reported to CMU police in 2003 and two were reported in 2002, though not all attempted suicides are reported to the department.
Rapaport said attempted suicide is not acceptable and medical professionals would determine the seriousness of any case. He would not comment specifically on Wednesday’s incident, but said it was unusual compared to what he’s seen before.
CMU’s policy and behavior expectations under the student code of conduct state if university personnel become aware of suicidal behavior that a student should receive appropriate assistance and possible disciplinary action.
Roscoe said he receives recommendations from a behavior evaluation team that determines if suicidal students need additional assistance off campus and if they should continue to be a student at CMU.
“I do know that the student was directed to resources that could be of immediate and longer term assistance,” Roscoe said. “My understanding is that he is not in any physical risk at this time.”