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Student Government

Statement from the Student Body Officers in Response to the Recent Student Deaths on Campus

October 27, 2022

To the Campus Community of North Carolina State University,

Over the past several weeks, we have together received the news of several student deaths. There is no easy way to speak about this. There is no comforting thing we, or anyone else could say. But the fact remains: we are in the midst of a crisis among our fellow students, and we have a duty to you and each other to not remain silent in the face of it.

Student death—especially death by suicide—is a topic that, by its nature, is impossible to speak about. Acknowledging it can cause more cases. Not acknowledging it makes students feel unheard, unseen, and lied to. As your representatives, we have heard from you that the administration’s response has felt underwhelming. Offering resources is important, keeping language neutral is important, but at what point does it cease to be enough? When are solutions disclosed and discussed? How can the community feel protected when they aren’t told of the solutions being worked out?

Our community is in pain. We are in pain. 

As the leaders of Student Government, we want you to know that we have been—and still are—in active conversations with Chancellor Woodson and campus administration about support services, suicide prevention resources, and paths into our future. While the conversations show promise for a better tomorrow, we know that the student body is often not informed about the University’s next steps until they are in motion. As evidenced by our personal conversations as well as Technician articles, the student body feels that there is a conspicuous silence surrounding this crisis on campus.

To address this concern, we are calling on the university administration to share with the community the steps that are being taken to prevent further tragedy. We are sympathetic to the needs for family privacy, sensitivity to difficult subject matter, and general confidentiality, but we know the time has come to address the issue head on. We can no longer afford to address this concern individually and we must come together as a community to heal.

Finally, to the students: please know you are never alone in your feelings or on this campus. Reach out to someone. And, even to those who are doing well, reach out to your friends. It can make all the difference. We need to know that we can lean on each other, even when things seem impossible. There are numerous on and off campus resources to support you, some of which are listed below from Prevention Service’s webpage. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency and need to be connected to a trained counselor, call, text, or chat 988.

We are here to listen. We are here to advocate for you. And we won’t let your voices be unheard, not when the stakes are this high.

McKenzy Heavlin
Student Body President
sbp@ncsu.edu		Timothy Reid
Student Body Vice President
sbvpresident@ncsu.edu
Miles Calzini
Student Senate President
ssp@ncsu.edu		Harrison Andrews
Student Body Treasurer
sbt@ncsu.edu
Official Statement Release 

On Campus Resources

NC State Counseling Center — By Phone: 919.515.2423 – 24 hours

  • Offers individual, group, and couples psychotherapy and psychiatry with specialized services for substance abuse, eating disorders and trauma.
  • Offers consultation for faculty and staff.
  • Offers outreach programming on mental health issues, stigma reduction, and personal and academic success.

CARES Case Management + Prevention Services — By Phone: 919.515.4405

  • Works collaboratively with campus resources to provide support for students who are in crisis or who demonstrate concerning or worrisome behaviors.
  • Referrals can be made anonymously using the online form.

University Police CIT Officer Program — By Phone: 919.515.3000

  • Provides officers trained in mental health evaluation and intervention to maintain the safety of students, staff, and faculty.
  • Offers training to the university community regarding safety.

NC State Violence Prevention and Threat Management, and Risk Assessment Case Manager — By Phone: 919.513.4224  or  919.513.4315

  • Offers consultation to staff and faculty regarding students exhibiting concerning/threatening behavior.
  • Works collaboratively with campus partners and manages concerns related to students exhibiting threatening or potentially violent behavior.
  • Facilitates the NC State Behavioral Assessment Team.
  • Offers training to students, faculty, and staff concerning threatening behaviors.

Office of Student Conduct — By Phone: 919.515.2963

  • Offers consultation to faculty, staff, and students regarding students of concern.
  • They can support a student’s participation in treatment if needed.

NC State Women’s Center — By Phone: 919.515.2012

  • Offers workshops and programs on social justice, body image, gender-based violence, and other “hot topics” related to gender equity.

NC State GLBT Center — By Phone: 919.513.9742

  • Offers diversity programming for students, faculty, and staff via Project SAFE.
  • Offers support for members of GLBT community and allies, including Google TalkBin text line:  919.648.1793

NC State Student Health Services — By Phone: 919.513.2563

  • Offers consultation, treatment, and outreach programming for health-related crises, women’s health concerns, nutrition, and related services.
  • The toll-free number for after-hours nurse advice: 877.514.5307.

Off Campus Resources

National Suicide Hotline — 1.800.273.TALK (8255) or Dial 988 (24 hours/7 days a week)

Hopeline — 919.231.4525 or 1.877.235.4525 (24/7 confidential local hotline)

Veterans Crisis Line — 1.800.273.8255 – Press 1

  • Triangle Survivors of Suicide — 919.829.3711
    • Located at 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC and meet every Thursday from 6:30-8:00PM
    • The group is open, which means that new members may join at any time
    • Contact Larry Bernstein at BernsteinLCSW@gmail.com

Psychiatric Emergencies

  • Wake County Mobile Crisis Management — 877.626.1772
    • MCM will come to you!
  • Wake County Crisis and Assessment, Walk-In Services — 984.974.4830
    • Located at 107 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh NC 27610, across Sunnybrook Road from Wake Med Raleigh.
    • Offers in-person evaluation and referral, no appointment needed.
    • Their toll-free number to connect with service providers: 800.510.9132.
  • Holly Hill Respond Line (adults) — 919.250.7000
    • Offers telephone evaluation.

Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence

  • InterAct —919.828.8304 (main office)
    • Located at 1012 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC 27605, between Cameron Village and Wade Avenue.
    • 24-hour Domestic Violence Crisis Line — 919.828.7740 or 866.291.0855
    • Sexual Assault Line — 919.828.3005 or 866.291.0853
    • Offers counseling, community education, shelter services, job-seeking services, and parent training.
  • SOLACE Center at InterAct
    • Sexual Assault Forensic Examination — 919.557.8025 or 866.291.0854
    • Offers safe, respectful evidence-gathering for sexual assault survivors.  (Survivors are discouraged from showering or changing clothes.)
  • LGBT Center of Raleigh — 919.832.4484
    • Located at 324 South Harrington Street, Raleigh.
    • Offers programs, events, and support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Triangle residents and their allies.
  • Women’s Center of Wake County — 919.829.3711
    • Located at 112 Cox Avenue, Raleigh NC 27605, one block from campus.
    • Offers crisis intervention, case management, financial assistance, and assistance with basic needs (food, clothing, shelter, phone service) for women in the Triangle.