Each year, a number of West Virginia students are abruptly taken from this world, whether from accidents or illness.
Since August of 2000, five students have passed away, said Becky Lofstead, director of the WVU Office of News Services.
“That’s five too many,” she added.
Donald L. Grubb, a pre-journalism senior from Ellamore, W.Va., died in a automobile accident in Buchannon on Aug. 15, 2000. He was almost 22 years old.
Matthew S. Lawson, a freshman pre-computer science student was also killed in a car wreck on Oct. 21, 2000, while traveling on Route 73. Lawson was 18 years old.
Lillian A. Devison, a business graduate student, passed away after a battle with cancer on Dec. 28, 2000. She was 35 years old and a resident of Fairmont.
Brian P. Hoban, a 22-year-old geology student from Clarksburg, died in a house fire on McClane Avenue on New Years Day, 2001. Hoban was a senior. His death prompted the city of Morgantown to re-examine its smoke-detector regulations for landlords.
Most recently, Sutan R. Al-Ajmi, a Ph.D. candidate in political science, drowned at Valley Falls on April 13, 2001. Al-Ajmi, originally from Kuwait, was 29 years old.
“When we lose members of the community it’s a loss for all of us,” said Tom Sloane, associate dean for Student Life. “Students have a tremendous impact on the lives of others that is sometimes only realized when they have passed away. It’s unfortunate.”
Sloan said that 11 WVU students passed away last year.
He added that the University tries to make contact with family members immediately, “to offer our support, help and guidance.” He said that the counseling staff is ready to go out to residence halls and elsewhere in Morgantown to counsel friends of the deceased.
“We also try to attend as many funeral services as possible,” Sloan said.
Alpha Phi Omega, a service organization fraternity, holds bell ringing services, usually on the Friday after the incident. The bells are rung 21 times in memory of the student.
“(Alpha Phi Omega) are in the process of proposing a memorial plaza, to memorialize students that have passed away,” Sloan said.
Sloan stressed that many accidents occur when traveling on the holidays, or home for the summer.
“Be careful when you travel,” he said. “Be safe.”