An inebriated Cornell student jumped over the fence enclosing Cascadilla Gorge early Wednesday morning and was hospitalized after Cornell Police found him sitting beside the creek.At 1:17 a.m., Cornell Environmental Health and Safety patrol officers observed a student scaling the fence around Cascadilla Gorge, beside the Schwartz Center, according to the statement. Cornell Police Chief Kathy Zoner said the officers were unsure whether the student had fallen into the gorge or walked down, but since he had minor injuries and seemed extremely intoxicated, they brought him to Cayuga Medical Center.Zoner was unable to provide an update on the condition of the 19-year-old male student, whose name has not yet been released. She said that, although officers on the scene did not judge the student to be suicidal or severely injured, they were concerned about the student’s intoxicated appearance and behavior. “We were concerned enough that we felt he needed to go to the hospital,” she said. Zoner expressed concern about the role of alcohol in creating risky situations for students. “It is clear that when people overindulge in alcohol their reasoning ability is impeded and there’s a much greater potential for accident or injury,” she said. Zoner said the CUPD actively promotes awareness about the risks of alcohol through outreach programs as well as enforcement.
Original Author: Eliza LaJoie