A UTSA doctoral student died at the Bauerle Road Garage on Wednesday, “likely due to suicide,” according to UTSA President Taylor Eighmy.
Students were notified of the incident at 10:14 a.m. when a UTSA ALERT was sent to students and faculty regarding police activity at the Bauerle Road Garage. At the time, the University had not disclosed the nature of the incident. However, UTSAPD had closed off a section of Bauerle Road adjacent to the garage.
At 10:21 a.m., UTSA released a campus update to their Instagram cautioning students about the police activity, encouraging them to avoid the area if possible.
At 11:10 a.m., UTSA released another campus update, disclosing that a UTSA student had died at the Bauerle Road Garage. “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of a student at the Bauerle Road Garage this morning. Information is still coming together. We will provide updates to the campus community when available,” the post said.
At 12:30 p.m., students and faculty received a UTSA ALERT that the police activity at the garage had concluded, giving the “ALL CLEAR” to “resume regular activities.”
“With a heavy heart, I’m writing to share that we’ve lost a member of our doctoral student community, likely by suicide. I know an unexpected loss like this can feel overwhelming and may impact you differently; however, please know that you are not alone, and support is available,” Eighmy said in a statement released via email and on Instagram. “I know our community is feeling a sense of confusion and loss, especially those who knew the student best. If you or someone you know is struggling, I urge you to utilize the free well-being resources available to you 24/7.”
The response by students and faculty directly following the incident was mixed. Some professors canceled scheduled lectures for Wednesday, while others opted to maintain their regular schedule. Students took to platforms like Reddit and Instagram, searching for answers from the community about what UTSA could have done differently and what tangible changes need to be made to ensure that another incident can be prevented.
Should the incident be confirmed, this would mark the second instance that a UTSA student has died by suicide on campus in six months.
On Thursday, Nov. 7 at 6 p.m., Eighmy released a statement that UTSA would cancel all classes scheduled for Friday, Nov. 8 in response to an uproar of student concern.
“We know there are deep concerns about the well-being of members of our community as we witness an increase in stress, anxiety and uncertainty across our campuses. We’re writing to share how we plan to do better and be better as an anchor of support for you,” Eighmy said in his statement.
“We’ve heard you, and we are committed to taking swifter, stronger actions to address these needs. Tomorrow, to support you and our entire campus community, we are canceling all classes to share a Day of Reflection for us to pause, reflect and care for one another. We encourage you to come to campus, lean into resources and participate in free support programming throughout the day.”
This is a developing story. To stay updated, visit paisano-online.com.
