Cornell University Police Department officials and the Ithaca Police are currently investigating the death of a Cornell graduate student who collapsed Monday night at approximately 10 p.m. in an Olin Hall laboratory.
The identity of the 25-year-old male has not yet been released.
“We are waiting to make sure family members and friends on campus are notified,” said Linda Grace-Kobas, director of the Cornell News Service.
No one was working with the student at the time he collapsed, according to Grace-Kobas.
When he was found, the student was brought to Cayuga Medical Center where he died yesterday morning. The cause of death is still under investigation.
“The medical examiner will hopefully get back to us [today],” Grace-Kobas said.
As a precautionary measure following the incident, Cornell’s Environmental Health and Safety specialists initially sealed off the laboratory where the student collapsed.
“They were able to conduct tests over the course of the night,” Grace-Kobas said. “The team did not pick up any [sign of] chemical contamination.”
The lab has since reopened.
“This is a time where a lot of people are anxious,” Grace-Kobas said.
The identity of the student as well as the cause of death will be released as early as today, according to Grace-Kobas.
Students and staff affected by the unexpected death gathered today at a meeting held through the Dean of Students Office.
Archived article by Marc Zawel