BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AT FORDHAM - PAGE 16
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SERVING THE FORDHAM UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY FOR OVER 90 YEARS
1918-2010
OCTOBER 6, 2010
VOLUME 92, ISSUE 15
Fordham Remembers Deceased Student
COURTESY OF THE BROOKS SCHOOL
Jacob Miller, FCRH ’14, will be missed and rembered by family and friends both inside and outside of the Fordham University community.
By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR
The Fordham community remains shaken by the recent death of Fordham College at Rose Hill freshman Jacob Miller of West Newbury, Mass., who was found deceased in his room
on the morning of Sept. 28. Miller, a resident of Alumni Court South, graduated from the Brooks School in North Andover, Mass. in 2010. A National Merit Semifinalist, Miller was attending Fordham with a full academic scholarship and was a member of the Fordham College at
Rose Hill Honors Program. “Even in the short time that we had with him, Miller had become a valued member of our honors class,” Dr. Harry Nasuti, director of the Honors Program, said. “He was clearly very bright and intellectually curious, but he was also just a really nice guy. His loss leaves a real hole in this year’s program.” “He was blessed with remarkable intelligence which he willingly shared with others,” said Rachel Gibbons, FCRH ’14 and member of the Honors Program, “His loss is painful for all who knew him, but we were lucky to know him. We can only hope now that he has found peace and that he is watching us and smiling his signature smile.” In an obituary published on Sept. 30 by local newspaper Newburyport Daily News of Newburyport, Mass., Miller was described as “an avidly voracious reader, reading across all genres.” Additionally, the News reported, calling him a “brilliant student,” that in his four years at the Brooks School, remained on the dean’s list. A Brooks faculty member was quoted as saying that Miller was “deeply intellectual, sensitive, interesting, intellectually brave and curious,” while another described him
as “utterly humble to the core and completely unimpressed by himself and his accomplishments.” This praise echoes the sentiments expressed by both Nasuti and some of Miller’s fellow students. The University held a prayer service at 6 p.m. on the evening of Sept. 28; the New York Daily News reported that some 100 students were in attendance Tuesday evening in the Our Lady’s Chapel in the basement of the University Church. University response to the tragedy was quick, thorough and sustained. Representatives from the Office of Student Affairs were on hand in Alumni Court South and the McGinley Campus Center immediately after Fordham students, staff and faculty were notified of Miller’s death. Employees from the offices of Campus Ministry, Counseling and Psychological Services and Residential Life were available to assist with any student concerns and continue to deal with such matters as they arise. “I know that the Fordham family will take extra care with and for one another in the wake of Miller’s death and that you join me in holding Miller’s family, loved ones and friends close in our hearts, and in our prayers,” Rev. Joseph M. McShane,
S.J., president of the University, said in Fordham’s official announcement. In addition to its memorial service last week, Fordham will hold a memorial Mass for Miller on Oct. 7 at 9 p.m.; an e-mail to the University community invited Fordham students, staff and faculty to “join Campus Ministry as we offer the Church’s prayers for the peaceful repose of the soul of Jacob Miller.” As with Miller’s memorial service, the Mass will be held in Our Lady’s Chapel and Rev. Joseph Koterski, S.J., Master of Queen’s Court, will preside over the Mass. Miller’s funeral was held on Oct. 2 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport, Mass., and his burial later that day at the Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence, Mass. Fordham provided all members of the University community who wished to attend with transportation to and from Massachusetts. Donations in Miller’s memory are being requested for the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, D.C. and the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Waltham, Mass. Miller is survived by his parents, Drs. Norman D. and Felicia G. (née Maccarone) Miller, his sister Avery G. Miller and other members of his extended family.
U.S. Universities Rapaccioli Holds Town Hall Respond to Student Meeting for Gabelli Students Depression, Suicides By CONNIE KIM
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Emotion and Responsibility Issues Complicate Suicide Prevention and Response at the University Level; High-Profile Cases Raise National Awareness By PATRICK DEROCHER NEWS EDITOR
In the last several years, and especially over the past few months, colleges and universities have experienced an apparent uptick in the number of suicides occurring among their students. Although there have been a number of recent, relatively high-profile cases of student suicides at institutions including Rutgers University, the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, the matter of college students ending their own lives is one that has plagued college and university campuses for years. “College can be a difficult transition with new independence, responsibilities and expectations arriving just as a student’s previous support system of family and friends are often not readily available,” Dr. David Kahn, vice chair for clinical affairs for the Department of Psychiatry at New YorkPresbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center said in a March 2008 article on the matter. The connections between college and, more broadly, adolescent years and suicide is one that has been well-documented and closely
monitored for years, and thus is regularly addressed in-depth by university administrations. “There are people [therapists, friends, family members, clergy] who want to help students figure out how to get through difficult times and feel like themselves again,” the Web site for Fordham Univeristy Counseling and Psychological Services states. “Help is available right here at Fordham.” The University recommends, as it has in times past, speaking to a representative of Counseling and Psychological Services, extension 3725 at the Rose Hill campus and 6225 at the Lincoln Center campus. These phone lines, the University notes, are not just for students who are having suicidal thoughts, but also for students, staff and faculty who fear that other students may be at risk for suicidal behavior. “Trust your gut,” Christopher Rodgers, dean of students said. “If you think something is wrong, be sure to tell someone about what you are seeing. Resident students should reach out to resident assistants, commuter assistants or resident directors or to the office of University security (x2222) in an emergency at any time.” Additionally, the Counseling SEE SUICIDE ON PAGE 3
Dr. Donna Rapaccioli, dean of the Gabelli School of Business, spoke at the town hall meeting in Tognino Hall on Oct. 4 to discuss with more than 250 students the positive changes the $25 million donation will bring to GSB. The town hall was conceived as a forum for students to learn about recent news at the college and to ask the dean their questions. Rapaccioli shed light on some of the main outlets for the recent $25 million donation that Mario Gabelli, CBA ’65, made to the University last week, prompting the school’s name change. A Center of Global Investment Analysis will be created specifically for both faculty and students in GSB as part of the major Hughes Hall renovation, which will increase opportunities for undergraduate research. Also, a challenge program will be created by hopefully recruiting eight to 10 more faculties. Additionally, the school hopes to have SEE GABELLI ON PAGE 3
PHOTO BY CAROLINE DAHLGREN/ THE RAM
Dr. Donna Rapaccioli, dean of the Gabelli School of Business, hosted a town hall meeting with students on Oct. 1 as part of the school’s changes.
INSIDE Sports PAGE 24
Opinions PAGE 7
Culture PAGE 13
Football loses second straight game to Holy Cross.
Point-Counterpoint: The value of a liberal arts education.
The Ram reviews Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.