Utah Student Tragedy: What Happened And Why?

The University of Utah, established in 1850, is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the second-largest public university in Utah, with 35,236 students enrolled as of fall 2023. The University of Utah has been the site of several tragic incidents involving students over the past few years, including the deaths of student-athlete Lauren McCluskey, ChenWei Guo, and Zhifan Dong. McCluskey, a student-athlete, was murdered on campus, leading to a multi-year investigation and efforts to improve campus safety. ChenWei Guo, a computer science major, was killed in a carjacking in 2017, and Zhifan Dong, an international student from China, was murdered by her boyfriend in an off-campus motel room in 2022. These incidents have brought attention to issues of interpersonal and gender-based violence and prompted the university to implement changes to policies and procedures to enhance student safety.

Deaths of students

The University of Utah has seen several student deaths over the years, some of which have occurred under tragic and violent circumstances. Here is some information about a few of these cases:

Lauren McCluskey

Lauren McCluskey was a student athlete at the University of Utah whose death occurred on October 22nd. Each year, near the anniversary of her death, the university and the McCluskey Family Foundation host a 5K run/walk in Lauren's memory and to raise awareness about interpersonal violence. Since McCluskey's murder, the university has made significant changes to campus safety, including transforming its approach, introducing new officers, providing specific training for police and advisors, and implementing or working towards completing 37 specific changes to policies and procedures.

ChenWei Guo

ChenWei Guo was a 23-year-old computer science major from China. He was killed in a tragic carjacking incident in October 2017.

Ty Jordan

Ty Jordan was a football player at the University of Utah who died in December 2020. He accidentally inflicted a gunshot wound on himself near his home in Denton, Texas.

Zhifan Dong

Zhifan Dong was a 19-year-old international student from China who was murdered by her boyfriend in an off-campus motel room in Salt Lake City in February 2022.

Sarah Hawley

Sarah Hawley, a 27-year-old family medicine resident at the University of Utah Hospital, was also murdered at her home near the university campus.

Campus safety

The University of Utah has a comprehensive health care system, including four hospitals, twelve community clinics, and specialty centers. The University Police are well-trained and equipped to handle any situation, with nearly 80% of sworn officers in the Department of Public Safety being new. They are trained in lethality assessments and are sensitive to the questions that should not be asked of victim-survivors.

Housing and Residential Education have also taken proactive steps by embedding "community advisors" in residence halls. These advisors are specifically trained to identify and intervene in cases of interpersonal violence, ensuring the safety and support of students living on campus. The University has also implemented or is in the process of making 37 specific changes to policies and procedures, with 29 of these being recommendations arising from the tragic death of student Lauren McCluskey.

In addition, the University fosters a healthy and humane campus culture, providing financial assistance, personalized support, and engaged learning experiences to enhance student success and persistence through degree completion. The University also respects the relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government, and is committed to partnering with Native Nations and Urban Indian communities through research, education, and community outreach activities.

The University of Utah takes campus safety extremely seriously and is dedicated to creating a secure and supportive environment for all members of its community.

Commencement ceremony

Commencement, also referred to as a commencement ceremony or graduation ceremony, is a celebration of a degree completion. While the terms commencement and graduation are often used interchangeably, they are distinct concepts. Graduation marks the fulfilment of degree requirements, while commencement is a ceremony that celebrates those achievements and looks forward to the future.

At many colleges and universities, students may choose to participate in commencement without officially graduating. This typically entails fulfilling graduation requirements soon after the commencement ceremony. Conversely, it is also possible to graduate without partaking in the commencement ceremony.

The University of Utah, for instance, has witnessed several tragic incidents involving the deaths of its students, including Lauren McCluskey, ChenWei Guo, and Ty Jordan. The university commemorates these students and raises awareness about interpersonal violence through annual events like a 5K run/walk near the anniversary of Lauren McCluskey's death.

In the face of these tragedies, the University of Utah has undergone significant transformations in its approach to campus safety. This includes enhancing officer training, embedding "community advisors" in residence halls, and implementing numerous policy changes to better protect its students.

Student athletics

In 2018, the University of Utah student-athlete Lauren McCluskey was murdered on campus by her ex-boyfriend, Melvin Rowland, a registered sex offender. McCluskey had reported Rowland to campus authorities multiple times and expressed her fears of violence, but her requests for help were dismissed. This tragic incident led to a settlement of $13.5 million between the McCluskey family and the university, with the university acknowledging that it failed to handle Lauren's case appropriately.

Each year, near the anniversary of Lauren McCluskey's death, the University of Utah and the McCluskey Family Foundation host a 5K run/walk in her memory and to raise awareness about interpersonal violence. The university has also implemented numerous changes to policies and procedures, with a focus on improving campus safety and transforming its approach to safety leadership.

In addition to McCluskey, other University of Utah students have also lost their lives under tragic circumstances. Zhifan Dong, an international student from China, was murdered by her boyfriend in 2022, and Sarah Hawley, a family medicine resident at the University of Utah Hospital, was murdered near the campus in 2019. These incidents highlight the ongoing need to address relationship and sexual violence and improve safety measures for students.

Utah State University also recently mourned the death of football student-athlete Andre Seldon Jr., who drowned while diving from cliffs at Porcupine Reservoir. This tragic loss has left the university community grieving and seeking emotional and mental support.

These events serve as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of student athletes and ensuring that their concerns are taken seriously. By learning from these tragic incidents, universities can strive to create a safer and more supportive environment for their student athletes and the entire campus community.

Academic freedom controversy

The University of Utah was embroiled in an academic freedom controversy in 1915, which resulted in the resignation of a third of its faculty members. The incident was sparked by Joseph T. Kingsbury's recommendation to dismiss five faculty members following a graduation speech that was critical of Utah Governor William Spry. This decision led to a significant backlash, with many faculty members protesting the dismissals.

The controversy surrounding the incident had two main perspectives. One viewpoint attributed the dismissals to the influence of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the university. In contrast, others believed it reflected a broader pattern of suppressing religious and political expression deemed offensive. This incident highlighted the tension between academic freedom and the potential influence of external factors on university decision-making.

The protest by the faculty members was a strong statement against the perceived infringement on academic freedom. By resigning, they emphasized their commitment to the principle of free expression, regardless of whether it involved criticism of political or religious figures. Their stance had a significant impact on the university, as it resulted in a substantial loss of experienced and knowledgeable faculty members.

The controversy was eventually resolved when Kingsbury himself resigned in 1916. However, the university faced subsequent challenges due to World War I, followed by the Great Depression and World War II, which impacted its operations and student enrollment. The incident and its aftermath underscore the delicate balance between academic freedom and the potential influence of external factors, religious or political, in higher education institutions.

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