Vice provost’s message to students on death of Stanford undergraduate coterminal student

Dear campus community members,

I am writing, on behalf of the President and Provost, with terrible news to convey on this Commencement Weekend. We have lost another member of our student community.

Police this afternoon have confirmed the death of an undergraduate coterm student who was found in a residence on campus. The police have told us there is no ongoing safety threat to the campus community.

It is difficult for me to convey the depth of anguish I feel, and I know many of you will feel, at this news. It is impossibly challenging to comprehend the death of another student at Stanford this year.

We have been in touch with the student’s family this afternoon. While we are working to understand the family’s wishes, we are not in a position to share the identity of the student. We also will be reaching out to friends and colleagues of the student to offer support and care, now and over time.

I want to urge all of you, as well, to reach out for support. Many students are in the process of traveling home or elsewhere for the summer right now. Even if you are off-campus, I encourage you to contact one of the campus-based resources listed below:

• Stanford Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available for students 24/7 at (650) 723-3785 and https://vaden.stanford.edu/get-help-now. Students who are off-campus and traveling can still contact CAPS as a resource, as well as this national number for free and confidential emotional support: (800) 273-8255 and https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/.
• The Graduate Life Office is available 24/7 at (650) 723-7288, pager ID number 25085, and during office hours at (650) 736-7078.
• The Office for Religious Life offers pastoral care and spiritual guidance and can be reached at (650) 723-1762.
• Residence Deans (RDs) are available to help undergraduates navigate support and resources during this difficult time. An on-call RD is available 24/7 at (650) 504-8022, and RDs also can be reached through this web page: https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/residence-deans/find-your-rd.
• The Faculty Staff Help Center offers confidential assistance for faculty and staff. More information is available at https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/faculty-staff-help-center.

I am profoundly grieved to have to share this news, particularly in the wake of the deaths of multiple members of our campus community this year. I wanted to share the news as soon as possible, recognizing that there is clearly a need for greater conversation. We will share more information as soon as it is available.

At this moment in the year, many of us are dispersed around the globe. However, our sense of community travels with us wherever we go. I hope you will reach out to each other to extend care and support, and we at the university are here for you, as well.

Sincerely,

Susie Brubaker-Cole
Vice Provost for Student Affairs