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Student Found Dead in Dorm

Posted on: Friday, 31 March 2006, 09:00 CST

By Mary Helen Hinchliffe, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

Mar. 31--A WVU student was found dead in his Dadisman Hall dorm room late Wednesday night. The body of Jonathan David Hansen, 21, a junior from Elkview, was discovered by a member of the residence hall staff, said WVU spokeswoman Becky Lofstead. There were no signs of foul play, according to the report from WVU's Department of Public Safety. The staff member found Hansen's body after his parents called in, worried, Lofstead said. "My understanding was that his parents had not been able to reach him for a day or so and asked that someone check on him," Lofstead said. "He talked to his folks every day by e-mail or by phone. He didn't have a roommate, as far as I know." W V U DPS was called to the scene just after 11 p.m. S e v e r a l members of WVU DPS responded to the call, i n c l u d i n g DPS Chief B o b R o b e r t s , who could not be reached for comment. DPS officers referred all questions to Roberts. The cause of Hansen's death is unknown. The state medical examiner's office will investigate, Lofstead said. Representatives for the state medical examiner's office declined to comment Wednesday. They referred all questions to WVU DPS. Hansen was a chemical engineering major, and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key National Honor Society and the chemical engineering honorary. "The West Virginia University community is saddened today," said Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray. "Anytime you lose a student, it is a difficult situation for everyone. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Hansen family and to Jonathan's friends." Lofstead noted, "He was an excellent student, from what I understand. He was a very bright young man." University counselors offered support and counseling to students Wednesday night, Lofstead said, and will continue to be available throughout the week. "We also had counselors in classes (Thursday) at the engineering department, so classmates who knew Jonathan could have someone to speak with," she said. "We want students to know our counseling center is open as well." Walk-in appointments at the Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services are available from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays or by evening appointment by calling 293-4431. A campus bell-ringing service in memory of Hansen will be at a later date, Lofstead said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.

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Source: The Dominion Post (Morgantown, W.Va.)

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