Special Reports: App State Student Deaths
524 views · Published 26 February 2015 · 3:20 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: WLOS News 13 · 2015 · News & Politics
BOONE, N.C. -- After nine Appalachian State University student deaths this academic year, campus officials have ramped up efforts to provide support for students affected and needing help themselves. "It's been a challenging year and certainly from a campus community, we're here to support our students and that's certainly what we've tried to do all year long and continue as we move forward as well," dean of students J.J. Brown said. That includes rebranding some of the tools they already have, from survive and thrive cards to magnets with printed campus resources hand delivered to students and the AppCares app available for both Androids and iPhones. Campus officials have also created coasters that they've placed in area bars with more community resources to help students in need. "I think the school's going to do a good job with continuing that and letting people know there are people around helping them," freshman Selena Montagno said. Since spring 2012, 28 students have died, nine in the 2012 calendar year, five in the 2013 calendar year and 10 in the 2014 calendar year. In 2015 alone, there have already been four student deaths. "We want them to know, this is a safe place. There are resources and they are not alone in that journey," Brown said. The students are also taking part in providing comfort and support to one another. Sophomore Samantha Bender initiated a Post-It-Note Campaign to spread positive messages around campus. "Life is all about risks and if it didn't work, it didn't work, but I was going to give it a shot," Bender said. Two days later, new sticky notes were still found hanging around campus. "You can walk through campus with a smile on your face and that's probably the biggest difference you can make. Just trying to be nice to people and loving on people. That's as simple as it gets. So a simple note like this can definitely make a big difference," freshman Hunter Frye said. The university has hired a number of extra counselors and is currently working to create another department that would specialize in all aspects of health as it relates to students. _______________ Follow WLOS on social media: WLOS ABC 13 News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/News13/ WLOS ABC 13 News on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WLOS_13 WLOS ABC 13 News on Instagram: https://instagram.com/wlos_13 Subscribe to WLOS on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ABC13Channel/?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to AnchorMOMS, the Podcast: https://wlos.com/news/anchormoms/anchormoms-the-podcast Watch more top local news stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk8Ge6UXHJs&list=PLkVbaoT-aYbIvnEpR0Ct5QQQqYaORUSUH For all of the day’s top local and national news, visit http://www.wlos.com Watch our live newscasts and other live video at https://wlos.com/watch Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 828.684.1340 WLOS ABC 13 News serves the Asheville, NC area and the rest of western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. We keep our audience informed through local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of community events, sports and entertainment programming since 1954.
