On Sunday, April 7, a student was found dead on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s campus. The ULPD determined there was no foul play involved, and their report of the event classifies the incident as a suicide. A day later, an email signed by Dean of Students Margarita Perez was sent out, describing the tragedy as “an unspeakable loss.” The word “suicide” was not used in the email.
While news, as well as photos, of the death were quickly circulated over social media, and multiple students saw the student dying, the University’s Emergency Notification System (ENS) was not triggered.
Lance Frederick, the ULPD’s public information officer, stated that this system is used only “if a serious crime, a natural disaster or a man-made emergency occurs that poses an immediate threat to the health and safety of the UL Lafayette community.”
An Instagram post was made by the student before his death alleging that a faculty member at UL Lafayette sexually assaulted him. Eric Maron, the university’s senior communications representative, said the allegations are being looked into.
“The University of Louisiana at Lafayette prioritizes the health and welfare of our students and takes accusations of this nature seriously. The university is investigating the allegation, but does not comment on personnel matters,” Maron said.
Lance Frederick also confirmed that the ULPD was made aware of the post and is currently conducting an investigation.
In the wake of this tragedy, many members of the university community have reached out to Counseling and Testing for assistance, according to its director Dr. Brian Frederick.
Brian Frederick stressed the importance of supporting each other through this time.
“No one is alone at this moment. This is a time when safe, adaptive coping skills such as prayer/meditation, understanding and service to others are of vital importance. Supporting others is a way of supporting ourselves as we work through grief and loss,” Brian Frederick said.
An uproar came soon after Perez’s email was sent. Many professors, despite wanting to support their students, were left confused, unsure of what had happened.
Jacy Lirette, a senior majoring in visual arts and friend of the deceased, criticized the vagueness of the email.
“A lot of my professors did not know what was going on. They found out from social media or their students. And it left people digging for information that they should not have dug for,” Lirette said.
On April 15, a protest was organized outside the Student Union in response to the university’s handling of the situation. Among the protest’s demands were: an updated ENS, better welfare check protocols, a counseling system with trained professionals working alongside the graduate students and an updated response from the university.
Wren, a senior majoring in political science, echoed a similar sentiment of disappointment in the university’s response.
“I was extremely disappointed from the start with the university’s response. I had to find out my friend died from a Yik Yak post 14 hours before the university released its lukewarm “unspeakable tragedies” email. I then had to inform other students– and some professors– about the precise nature of one of those unspeakable tragedies, while combating misinformation about my friend’s death,” Wren said.
Wren further criticized the email that was sent for its lack of clarity.
“This vague, nebulous email from the university not only placed a huge weight on the people grieving, but it also ignored the reality of the situation– people are talking about his death, people saw it happen, there are videos circulating, people need the administrators in charge to recognize and acknowledge that pain,” Wren said.
Lirette felt there’s much more the university can do in terms of mental health support.
“I feel like the university could hold a lot more mental health days. Having one each semester is not beneficial, a lot of us struggle from the beginning to the end of the semester,” Lirette said. “Maybe an appropriate amount of mental health days would be two or three, just throughout the semester. You know, like the beginning when everyone’s overwhelmed with all the schoolwork, the middle when mid-exams are happening, and final when people are stressed for finals.”
Wren was a friend of the deceased, Basil Brown. Speaking on the death’s spread on social media, Wren was conflicted over the differing stories being spread.
“Part of me is comforted to know that so many people care about Basil’s story and are doing what they can to call attention to it,” Wren said. “Another part of me is frustrated, there’s a lot of misinformation circulating on social media about Basil and his death– and it’s hard to consistently correct the record.”
Suicide has long been stigmatized and considered a taboo topic to even discuss.
Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer for the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, said this stigma discourages people from feeling like they can talk about their mental health and if they’re having suicidal thoughts.
“It keeps them from being able to take the step to open up, to talk about what they’re experiencing, and then to get the help that they need,” Moutier said.
The American Association of Suicidology (AAS) wrote that the stigma around suicide can make those struggling with suicidal thoughts fear they’ll be perceived as weak if they reach out for help, and added that “the care they receive from healthcare professionals might be inadequate; that is, it might address their physical needs without taking care of the emotional or psychological needs that caused the attempt in the first place.”
To end the stigma of suicide, the AAS suggests widespread education efforts on the causes and prevention of suicide, as access to resources and support.
Education, resources and support regarding suicide are not possible if we aren’t able to, firstly, talk about suicide. At the past Ragin’ Recognition Awards, a moment of silence was held, but the topic and the word suicide remained unspoken.
Lirette was a friend and fellow band member of Basil, and shared that she was glad the university community could come together in solidarity and draw attention to mental health and suicide.
While this tragedy and the administration’s handling of it has been a rightful point of criticism of the university, it’s important not to forget the person. Lirette wanted people to know, even if just a little bit, about the incredible person her friend was.
“His fashion was incredible. That dude would show up on the field dressed out, dressed better than anybody on the field in 100-degree weather, and I would be like ‘damn, if it only was me,’” Lirette said.
Lirette added that Basil was always willing to reach out a hand of support to other people, always with a smile on his face, and she wished for more people to know him as a person.
“He’s not some taboo topic, he’s not some taboo person, you know? He’s Basil. And he’s a special person, and I think a lot of people would agree with me.”
Wren wanted Basil to be remembered for more than his death as well.
“Basil was extremely kind, he had this puckish grin (like the character from Shakespeare) that would light up his whole face. He loved doing tarot. He was patient. He played clarinet. He always wore sandals. He was so genuine and earnest. He enjoyed philosophy. He was wicked smart, a talented artist, too. He was so loved. There are a million things I could write about Basil and not a single thing would even come close to the real person,” Wren said.
Suicide is not an inevitable end for those struggling with depression or other mental health issues. Support can come from a community, from family, friends or partners. That support, along with effective coping skills and feeling connected to something in life, can go a long way.
One source of support is the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, which connects callers to a trained crisis counselor that will listen, offer support, try to figure out ways to help you feel better and connect you with relevant help and resources. Support resources can also be found on their website.
Nobody is truly alone. Support resources are available both on and off campus, and there are countless communities to become a part of and find lifelong connections in.
Mental health care is vital. While it takes many forms, the connections we make with the people that enter our lives play a big part. Check in on your friends, and on yourself.
