Cornell tragedy - how to leave a condolence message

Parents Forum
1

<p>I happen to know who this family is. Suicide? Another one of those unsolved murders of young college men? It scares me to the core.</p>

2

<p>Sorry, I forgot to post the link. [Bradley</a> Ginsburg found: Body of Cornell University student Bradley Ginsburg of West Boca Raton found in New York - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com](<a href=“http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-bradley-ginsburg-body-found-20100218,0,5853156.story]Bradley”>http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/boca-raton/fl-bradley-ginsburg-body-found-20100218,0,5853156.story)</p>

3

<p>Another link:
[Rescue</a> Workers Recover Body of Cornell Student from Fall Creek Gorge | The Cornell Daily Sun](<a href=“http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/02/18/rescue-workers-recover-body-cornell-student-fall-creek-gorge]Rescue”>http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2010/02/18/rescue-workers-recover-body-cornell-student-fall-creek-gorge)</p>

<p>He certainly doesn’t sound like a suicide - new fraternity brother, energetic and with a large group of friends. It is very sad news, and a real mystery. Unfortunately, one or more Cornell students are found in the gorges every year.</p>

4

<p>Very sad. </p>

<p>The others that are found in the gorge, are those usually murder victims?</p>

5

<p>No! It is a place where students have committed suicide by jumping off a bridge.</p>

6

<p>This is just so sad and completely unnerving. I wish there was some indication of what happened, because by reading that article, I see a kid striving for perfection… the best. And then I read some of the stuff about fraternities… and well, I hope they find some answers for the closure the family will definitely need.</p>

7

<p>I know of one case, about 40 years ago, where a coed accidentally fell to her death while hiking with friends. So it could be an accident, especially in winter when the snow and ice are real slippery.</p>

8

<p>Cornell U and Ithaca College have a particular problem because the beautiful, deep gorges of the Finger Lakes region are attractive for hiking. I understand they go on for miles, so it’s not just a singular lookout spot they could put up a guardrail. Also there’s a particular bridge there with the unfortunate nickname “Suicide Bridge.”</p>

<p>Any reported death from the Finger Lakes region could be an accidental fall, an icy path, a fall influenced by fatigue or substances, or a suicide.</p>

<p>Cornell is among the leaders now in suicide prevention education, as I recall from threads last year after suicide by a townsperson (not a student). </p>

<p>In this case, the linked articles indicate the police are not ready to declare the cause of death for freshman Bradley Ginsburg. Classmates describe him as an upbeat, very well-liked individual.</p>

<p>His fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, is a nationally respected Jewish fraternity and held services with the family Thursday night.</p>

9

<p>[Google</a> Image Result for <a href=“http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge2.jpg[/url]”>http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge2.jpg](<a href=“http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge.html&h=800&w=600&sz=82&tbnid=gG_dzHj_IY0F0M:&tbnh=143&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIthica%2Bfall%2Bcreek%2Bgorge%2Bbridge%2Bpicture&hl=en&usg=__qReKj40t3Lk69eiefvhzXHXm8wA=&ei=-CJ_S42yLM2XtgeBn7y8Dw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&ved=0CAwQ9QEwAQ]Google”>http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.deater.net/weave/pictures/late_summer_2006/fall_creek_gorge.html&h=800&w=600&sz=82&tbnid=gG_dzHj_IY0F0M:&tbnh=143&tbnw=107&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIthica%2Bfall%2Bcreek%2Bgorge%2Bbridge%2Bpicture&hl=en&usg=__qReKj40t3Lk69eiefvhzXHXm8wA=&ei=-CJ_S42yLM2XtgeBn7y8Dw&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=2&ct=image&ved=0CAwQ9QEwAQ)</a></p>

<p>picture of gorge from internet. This is beautiful country and many people hike the gorges.</p>

10

<p>EmilySpinach, I’m a Cornell graduate and the parent of a current Cornell student.</p>

<p>I have never heard of a death in Cornell’s gorges that was murder. </p>

<p>And Cornell’s suicide rate, including suicide-by-gorge, is not unusually high.</p>

<p>Typically, one or two people die in the gorges each year. Some are suicides (of people who likely would have killed themselves in some other way if the gorges were not available). Some are instances in which a person, usually under the influence of alcohol or some other substance, falls after fooling around on one of the bridges or on the edge of a gorge. And there are other ways to die, too. A couple of years ago, someone drowned while swimming in one of the gorges, in an area with a tricky current (swimming is forbidden, but the rule is sometimes ignored). </p>

<p>This young man’s death is very sad, but it shouldn’t scare anyone to the core. The exact circumstances may never be known, but they are unlikely to be anything particularly frightening. My daughter has been crossing one gorge or the other daily for more than five semesters. I don’t worry about it at all.</p>

11

<p>I also agree with Marian. Thousands of people cross these bridges each day. There are high railings. People do not “accidently” fall off. They would need to get on top or over the high rail.</p>

<p>There have been deaths in the last 3 1/2 years my D has been a student. There were one or two accidents (drownings), at least two suicides that were NOT current students and NO murders.</p>

<p>Cornell’s suicide rate is not above normal. It is at or below the rate of all other colleges.</p>

<p>My heart goes out to the family of this young man. No matter what the circumstances, they have lost a son, brother, grandson,etc. It is awful beyond words.</p>

12

<p>The funeral service was held in Florida on Tuesday morning.</p>

<p>The cause of death remains unknown. He leaves behind a mother, father and sister.</p>

<p>Here’s how to leave words of comfort and consolation for Bradley Ginsburg’s family:</p>

<p>[Guest</a> Book for Bradley Marc Ginsburg ? Online Guest Book by The Palm Beach Post and Legacy.com.](<a href=“Bradley Ginsburg Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information”>Bradley Ginsburg Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information)</p>