Another suicide in campus

[lost-and-found]

have you guys heard? Another student committed suicide at CPP. An 18 y/o engineering student was found dead by a janitor at 3AM in one of the labs in building 17.

Last year, about the same time, another student (this one has already graduated) jumped off the 5th floor in the CLA building.

CAMPUS ADVISORY - STUDENT FOUND DEAD IN ENGINEERING LABORATORY

The body of a 19-year Cal Poly Pomona student was discovered by a custodian in an Engineering computer lab (Building 17-2109) at 3:36 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The young man appeared to have died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound. The University Police and Los Angeles County Sheriff's departments are investigating the apparent suicide.

The student's identity has been withheld until his family has been notified.

The computer lab and its surrounding areas on the east wing's second floor have been cordoned off while the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and other auxiliary agencies complete their work. This area will be closed throughout the day. Faculty and staff offices are not impacted.

A freshman electrical engineering class, ECE 114 and ECE 114L, scheduled from noon to 2 p.m., in 17-2103, will be moved. For information about classes, contact the Electrical Engineering department at (909) 869-2511.

As more information becomes available, it will be posted on PolyCentric at http://polycentric.csupomon a.edu.

[ak]

The first one was a CIS major, and now a future engineer.

What is going on?!?

[PandaMoOo]

I think it's important to point out the difference. The previous suicide was a GRADUATED CIS Major, while this instance was a 18 year old mechanical engineer. This 18 year old mechanical engineer is probably a first year student...

Out of 26,000 students in campus it's quite saddening... but... I wouldn't start worrying about our school being a lure/trap/cause of suicide... unless there's a bigger pattern. It's definately not cool though I wish everyone the best!

[Admin]

Oh my.
I hope that the family and friends of Allen Yong-Chia Lin will be strong.

[zoedragon]

I have heard in the past that the young population of Japan have a fairly high suicide rate due to the immense familial pressure placed on them to succeed. Is this true of other asian families? My mom always encouraged me and made me practice my academic skills, but never placed so much pressure as to crack me. Anyone else have a viewpoint?

[Keng]

Japanese family has pressure? Try Taiwanese family =.="

[Puffguts]

"I have heard in the past that the young population of Japan have a fairly high suicide rate due to the immense familial pressure placed on them to succeed. Is this true of other asian families? My mom always encouraged me and made me practice my academic skills, but never placed so much pressure as to crack me. Anyone else have a viewpoint?"

I think the notion that parents put too much pressure on the child is incorrect. Most pressures are from the children themselves, who would feel guilty for letting down the family if expectations are not met. Parents give out expectations, and the children feel like it is their duty to fulfill them.

Many immigrant parents save up all they can for the children's education. Some even abandoned their white-collar jobs from overseas to become a house parent / blue collar worker so their children can go to college in the U.S. Of course, the parents do not hesitate a moment to let the children know about all the sacrifice they've made and there is no alternative for the children but to meet the expectations. There is absolutely no need from the parent to pressure the children into studying (if the child is properly taught about the sacrifices their parent have made); the children would work 110%... otherwise their parents would've lost their former well paid, well respected careers for nothing.

Of course, expectations sometimes fall short. If it comes down to the worse and the child cannot fulfill their parent's dreams and make the parents' sacrifices worthwhile, they cannot go home and tell their parent that they've failed "the mission." If the parents' sacrifice didn't come to fruit and the children failed their parents on their academic mission, they need to live up to their own part of the bargin, and death is the only thing that can match what their parents already sacrificed.

It is all about breaking even and let the parents know their sacrifices are not taken for granted. At least that is the way I understand it / used to feel.

[jamarquez]

I will keep the family in my prayers.

[zoedragon]

Originally Posted by Puffguts

I think the notion that parents put too much pressure on the child is incorrect. Most pressures are from the children themselves, who would feel guilty for letting down the family if expectations are not met. Parents give out expectations, and the children feel like it is their duty to fulfill them.

Children in these situations are taught since they are toddlers to respect their elders, and that honor is everything. Family honor is extremely important to most traditional asian families, and this value is passed down to their children. So if the child fails in their academic mission, then they are dishonoring the family. In the samurai tradition dishonor = death. Even though it isn't that severe anymore, the importance of honor is still there. If there was no pressure from the parents to begin with, then the child would not feel so obligated to fulfill the expectations.

[rensky]

i just feel this was a shocking incident..and quite sad too

[Admin]

Puffguts and zoedragon is right on the dot.

The young man appeared to have died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound.

That is a scary thought (weapon on campus).

[socio13]

A shotgun?! I thought it was a handgun, if you mean like a 12-gauge shotgun, then that's scary.

[scannergeek]

I'm wondering how he got into the lab in the first place...the building's doors to the outside, as well as the doors to the labs are locked automatically at night. He could have hid in the room, but there's not much room in there to hide.

[astrocoz]

There is more to the story. Apparently there were people in the lab next door and they heard a loud noise, but didn't think to check on it. He was also in the lab from a previous class or something. The windows in the doors are pretty small, so you probably could hide in there if you wanted, plus they are always posting flyers over the windows too. You can read more here if you feel like it:

http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stor...512342,00.html

Oh yeah, he was a Junior Mechanical Engineering student at 18, so he was probably one of those overachiever types who cannot accept failure. I hope he is in a better place. It is sad that he thought he had to resort to suicide.

[zoedragon]

Oh man, a self-inflicted shotgun blast has GOT to be messy! I would hate to be the person who discovered him! Wouldn't a handgun be easier to hide? I'm just glad he didn't choose to shoot the person who was at the top of the grading curve!

[Steven]

Originally Posted by astrocoz

Oh yeah, he was a Junior Mechanical Engineering student at 18, so he was probably one of those overachiever types who cannot accept failure. I hope he is in a better place. It is sad that he thought he had to resort to suicide.

Suicide seems like much more of a failure to me. Failing in studies doesn't even compare to not existing at all.