EDITOR’S NOTE — Mental health support is available to SIU students through Counseling and Psychological Services at 618-453-5371. An after-hours support line is available at 1-833-434-1217.
The SIU international student community gathered to Remember Ramesh Mutthina at a memorial Sept. 18 held in the Center for International Education office.
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Where the international coffee hours are typically held was place for a time of mourning over the loss of a student that touched multiple lives on campus.
Earlier the same day Chancellor Austin Lane sent a school-wide email informing everyone on the deaths of two students; Mutthina, a master’s student in health informatics, and senior psychology student Selena Hubbard.
No information about causes of death have been released by SIU administration or SIU police department. SIU police chief Ben Neuman did not return calls for comment. Information on Hubbard’s memorial has yet to be announced.
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Chancellor Austin Lane wrote in an email to all students that “International Student and Scholar Services at the Center for International Education is available to provide additional guidance and support.” He also said Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available by calling 618-453-5371.
As many as 40 students, professors and colleagues of Mutthina’s gathered to share their grief and experiences with him, followed by a moment of silence and candle lighting ceremony.
“Most of you all have known him for sharing the same class or lab, if not, then definitely the coffee hour,” speaker and friend of Mutthina’s Aleemuddin Mohammed said. “It was impossible to escape from him in the coffee hour with his joyful conversations being so involved with people after that long day and long weekends.”
Mohammed said Mutthina was the classmate that encouraged his peers to always work harder for future opportunities, and that many in attendance had collaborated with him on research papers.
“He was one of our very own members of [the] international community, just like you all are, and we are all here, one strong family of Salukis,” Mohammed said. “I know this is very hard for some of us to accept that he is no longer between us, and some of us are finding it hard to deal with this as well.”
Mohammed advised people to utilize mental health resources on campus if they feel the need to speak to someone.
After two other speakers briefly spoke about Mutthina, the minute of silence was held, followed by the candle lighting for those who wanted to participate, which concluded the service.
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Jamilah Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. To stay up to date with all your southern Illinois news, follow the Daily Egyptian on Facebook and Twitter.
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