Injured student

[jsglow]

As many of you are aware, a Marquette student accidentally fell from a 3rd floor balcony to the pavement below early Friday morning when the railing he was leaning on failed.  In what has to be described as an absolute miracle, I have received positive reports about his condition within the last hour from very reliable sources.  The continuing prayers of the MU community are appreciated.  He is not out of the woods yet.

[🏀]

Where at?

[jsglow]

15th & Kilbourn

[cheebs09]

15th & Kilbourn

Are those the Balcony Apartments? I saw that e-mail, glad to hear there is some positive news.

[jsglow]

Yes, I believe so.

[RideMyBuycks]

Yes, it was the balcony apartments. They were voted as the worst place to live on campus this year. It's really too bad, but I would be lying if I said I didn't see something like this coming. The ceiling fell in at my buddy's apartment on the 4th floor there earlier this year. I hope the building is condemned.

[Chicago_inferiority_complexes]

Yes, it was the balcony apartments. They were voted as the worst place to live on campus this year. It's really too bad, but I would be lying if I said I didn't see something like this coming. The ceiling fell in at my buddy's apartment on the 4th floor there earlier this year. I hope the building is condemned.

The ceiling in my bathroom of my last apartment on campus fell in. It would be quasi understandable if the building were 100 years old (i.e. Ardmore, etc.) but it was built in the 70's. Thank God none of us were in it when it happened.

[jsglow]

Senior university administrators are plenty upset.  Let's hope serious pressure is brought to bear on the mayor's office to fully enforce building codes.  JSOnline indicated that representatives of the ownership group claimed that 'minor violations' had been noted (and reportedly corrected) earlier.  Sorry, not nearly well enough.

I hope some top notch Marquette PI attorney puts the 'fear of God' into every apartment owner who rents to our kids.  We understand that they'll always be college apartments . . . just make sure they are SAFE college apartments.   

[warthog-driver]

In 1998 there was a violent coup to overthrow Pres Suharto of Indonesia. The expat community was evacuated and Jakarta Intl School closed early for the year. Most folks pitched up in Singapore or Bangkok. I was with the folks in Singapore. They held a graduation ceremony for the JIS seniors in Singapore. That night, one of the grads fell to his death, more than 20 stories. There was debate as to whether it was an accident or a suicide. The irony is that the kid's name was Leaper.

[jsglow]

I know you're not suggesting that the MU student did anything foolish Warthog.  The facts of the case are that a completely innocent kid suffered a serious injury when a railing failed.  We all pray for his well-being.

[brewcity77]

Curiosity question, was he sober?

[Tugg Speedman]

In the early 1980s a student fell to his death from a balcony of the Reeves Apartment on 14th and Kilbourn.  The year before a student committed suicide by jumping from an 8th floor window of McCormick.

[MerrittsMustache]

Curiosity question, was he sober?

Sitting on a balcony railing early Friday morning? Doubtful. Gotta be smarter than that.

I'll be praying for the young man, his friends and family.

[mr.MUskie]

Any updates on his condition?

[drewm88]

Sitting on a balcony railing early Friday morning?

The report is that he was leaning against it, not sitting. I agree that since it was 2:30 on a Friday morning, he probably wasn't sober, but I think the distinction here has merit.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

If the railing actually broke, then it doesn't matter if the kid was sober or not.

I think there is a reasonable expectation for people to lean against railings.

[warriorchick]

If the railing actually broke, then it doesn't matter if the kid was sober or not.

I think there is a reasonable expectation for people to lean against railings.

I heard directly from a school official that the dumpster for the apartment building was right under his balcony, and the railing gave way as he was leaning over it trying to toss a bag of garbage into the dumpster.

This kid has a very high GPA in a tough major, and it was the Friday before finals week.  Given all the facts, it's doubtful he was drunk.

[🏀]

This kid has a very high GPA in a tough major, and it was the Friday before finals week.  Given all the facts, it's doubtful he was drunk.

Given this statement, if true, sounds like he was more likely drunk.

[warriorchick]

Given this statement, if true, sounds like he was more likely drunk.

That makes no sense whatsoever.  I suppose you are saying he didn't need to study, so he got drunk instead.  Most of the serious students I know take finals very seriously and wouldn't be partying on the weekend before finals.

I can't say any more than that without violating HIPPAA and FERPA laws.  But for God's sake, the kid, to my knowledge, is still in the hospital.  Would it kill you to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

[MerrittsMustache]

That makes no sense whatsoever.  I suppose you are saying he didn't need to study, so he got drunk instead.  Most of the serious students I know take finals very seriously and wouldn't be partying on the weekend before finals.

I can't say any more than that without violating HIPPAA and FERPA laws.  But for God's sake, the kid, to my knowledge, is still in the hospital.  Would it kill you to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

It was early Friday morning (i.e. Thursday night) the weekend before finals. When I was a student, I likely would have been drunk at that time. That doesn't mean I wasn't a "serious student" who didn't take finals "very seriously."

Based on past incidences around the country, when is the last time a student was involved in a similar type of accident at a similar time of day but wasn't drinking? Doesn't mean he's a bad kid or a bad student. I don't think anyone is saying that. We're just saying that if history is any indication, it's fair to assume he was not sober.

[🏀]

It was early Friday morning (i.e. Thursday night) the weekend before finals. When I was a student, I likely would have been drunk at that time. That doesn't mean I wasn't a "serious student" who didn't take finals "very seriously."

Based on past incidences around the country, when is the last time a student was involved in a similar type of accident at a similar time of day but wasn't drinking? Doesn't mean he's a bad kid or a bad student. I don't think anyone is saying that. We're just saying that if history is any indication, it's fair to assume he was not sober.

Thank you.

warriorchick, ever think about changing you moniker to Helen Lovejoy?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I heard directly from a school official that the dumpster for the apartment building was right under his balcony, and the railing gave way as he was leaning over it trying to toss a bag of garbage into the dumpster.

This kid has a very high GPA in a tough major, and it was the Friday before finals week.  Given all the facts, it's doubtful he was drunk.

Again, doesn't matter to me if he was drinking, or throwing garbage out.

A railing should be able to hold people on the balcony. That's the point. People don't get heavier when they drink, therefore, the railing should hold sober people and drunk people the same.

[brewcity77]

I can't say any more than that without violating HIPPAA and FERPA laws.  But for God's sake, the kid, to my knowledge, is still in the hospital.  Would it kill you to give him the benefit of the doubt? 

Another curiosity question...are you a health-care provider for the student or employee for Marquette, his health care insurance agency, Milwaukee County EMS, or Froedtert? If not, you aren't subject to HIPAA.

And there's nothing wrong with being drunk. College kids drink, I didn't mean the question as any sort of condemnation, I was just asking if anyone knew. It was simply curiosity, because the outsider perspective always changes when alcohol's involved, though often-times it isn't a fair change in perspective.

[Bocephys]

Thank you.

warriorchick, ever think about changing you moniker to Helen Lovejoy?

[MU B2002]

Another curiosity question...are you a health-care provider for the student or employee for Marquette, his health care insurance agency, Milwaukee County EMS, or Froedtert? If not, you aren't subject to HIPAA.

This is a very unfortunate incident and I am assuming the son/daughter of jsglow/warriorchick must know the student. As they have mentioned before a child at MU IIRC.  I am sure they are just trying to defend the student from the automatic assumption that he was drunk.  Something I would probably do myself if I knew him. Can't we all just get along?

Praying for a speedy recovery.