<p>This troubles me greatly. Someone I know attempted suicide at Cornell. Instead of being offered therapy, she was expelled from the university. </p>
<p>To be honest, this whole situation was handled terribly, and did no good for her mental state. </p>
<p>How could administration be so heartless? Obviously, she was troubled and needed help. Expelling her definitely did not provide that help. </p>
<p>What does everyone think?</p>
<p>I also think that it could be handled better as I also read about a similar topic on here about a student that was on suicide watch and was kicked out a few weeks later. I, personally, think that it could push them over the edge if they expel them. I think it would be better if they sort of ‘gave them a break’ from school. Like send them home for a month or 2 to get help and sort out there issues and then return to normal activites at the college. I don’t know why Cornell would expel them though, as they are not a threat to the student body, but what can we do? </p>
<p>^Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>While I agree that expelling her from the university seems harsh, if your mental state is so deplorable that you are attempting suicide, you should not be in school. You should focus on yourself for awhile.</p>
<p>That happened to a girl I knew a few years ago when I was there. She attempted suicide, next thing we all knew was that she left Cornell and the school told her not to come back. I think the university does it to some extent because if someone’s trying to take their own life, the university doesn’t want to be associated with that person out of PR concerns. That and the person probably shouldn’t be in school if they’re trying to kill themselves.</p>
<p>While I agree that it sounds kind of harsh, if the university would “give them a break” and wait for them to get their mental state back in order, how long are they expecting to keep this person on leave?</p>
<p>Dealing with issues that lead to attempted suicide take years of medicine and therapy. “Taking a semester off” is not enough. </p>
<p>In fact, it would be downright IRRESPONSIBLE of the university to NOT expel them.
If the pressures of being at this school drive them to attempted suicide, and Cornell keeps them here under those pressures, they are putting that student at risk.</p>
<p>Also, if a student has more minor mental and emotional issues that are getting in the way of their school work, but the student has not yet attempted suicide, Cornell is great about offering counseling and psychological services and allowing students to take semesters of medical leave.</p>
<p>so I guess this is Cornell’s way of trying to disassociate itself with suicide?</p>
<p>By kicking out suicidal students with no regard to their personal happiness? Figures.</p>
<p>Obviously their level of personal happiness was not achieving generally accepted standards of acceptability in their current environment.</p>
<p>I don’t really know what the right steps should be in this case. Clearly if they did nothing and something terrible happened that would not be good for either party. But maybe phrasing the separation as a Leave of Absence (subject to stringent medical clearance and university discretion) might make the student feel better, which at this point in time might be preferable.</p>
<p>But perhaps they’ve had some experiences with this over the years that suggest otherwise. Or perhaps they’ve decided that they just can’t take the PR hit anymore, if something happens.</p>
<p>We do not have all the facts so it would be irresponsible to speculate on whether the University is handling the situatuion correctly. Here is an article that discusses (superficially) the issues in such cases. </p>
<p>[The</a> suicide test - Salon.com](<a href=“http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/09/suicide/]The”>http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/09/suicide/)</p>
<p>It may seem a bit harsh, but Cornell’s stance towards students and suicidal behavior is considered an “industry best practice”. It has both the student and the University community’s best interest at heart:</p>
<p>[When</a> Colleges Go On Suicide Watch - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194020-1,00.html]When”>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1194020-1,00.html)</p>
<p>[Kitsch</a> Magazine - An offer you can’t refuse](<a href=“http://www.kitschmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=26]Kitsch”>http://www.kitschmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=144&Itemid=26)</p>
<p>Suicide always affects others. It can “spread”. It can leave friends with lasting scars. I can see why Cornell wants a suicidal kid out.</p>
<p>You go to college to be educated, not babysat. Yes they do have an obligation to do something if they find out, especially since you live there 8 months out of the year. They should not, however, have to care for you and hold your hand through school. If you’re having these issues, you should take some time off to get things sorted out. Do I think you should be expelled permanently? No. But I think there should be a required medical leave if there is any significant probabliity of a suicide attempt.</p>