Yesterday, Friday, at about 3:45pm, again the Ithaca Fire Department found another body in the Fall Creek Gorge under the suspension bridge, you can read the article here.
The investigations are not complete yet by the Cornell University Police, but they suspect that both were suicides. This is always shocking to the whole Cornell community, but especially since another such incident happened barely 3 weeks ago in the same gorge on campus, you can read the article here.
3 deaths in barely 3 weeks.
Many campuses around the US & the word deal with suicide on an annual basis. But, I think it is more pronounced, or at least public, here for a few reasons: 1. Many of the suicides here at Cornell are students jumping off of bridges into the gorges on campus (thus being more public and dramatic). 2. It is an Ivy League campus, and the academic, career, and success pressures are increased.
We are all affected by these events, whether we choose to recognize it or not. Many of the students in our Nav ministry have expressed their sadness and confusion over the recent deaths. I think many Cornellians were still reeling from the first two deaths; the death yesterday may begin to panic or numb students.
This has been an on going issue for Cornell with the gorges and the bridges. Over the night hours the Cornell Police have patrol cars driving over each of the bridges once every 30 minutes. But today, there are police patrolling each bridge as I write. The University is trying to take precautions. I think it is scary and troubling for all.
Unfortunately, larger guard rails, and more announcements about the available counseling services will not be our hope, as many have suggested. You can read Cornell President Skorton's email after this most recent death here.
Please continue to pray with us for the students and this campus. "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." Pray that they would see the hope, purpose, and life that Christ offers, and not the meaninglessness of the naturalism that is preached in the class room. Please pray with us that lost students would encounter the power, the love, and the healing of the resurrected Christ.
Please continue to pray for us as well ... "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." Colossians 2:4-6
It has always been true, but this world truly & desperately needs the transforming love and power of the resurrected Jesus Christ.
We can't fight this battle without you.
In His Power,
Matt & Lindsay
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