In an effort to curb the amount of suicides at our school, Cornell University officials have decided to install fences around some of the main bridges on campus. The Sun originally reported that the SA was considering taking such measures, but the action has been confirmed in the most recent of a series of emails from Communications VP Thomas Bruce.
In this spirit, we will continue to seek ways to make the campus safer. Over the next week, Cornell will begin installing temporary fences on the sides of the campus bridges. This will allow us more time to consider long-term solutions appropriate to our circumstances.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Steering Committee, among others, advocates bridge barriers as a most effective means of suicide prevention.
The University has taken quite a bit of effort to provide a defense for the fences. A newly updated ‘Caring Community’ website has a list of downloadable documents and videos that deal with suicide prevention and mental health stability. They obviously recognize that this move is going to provoke some negative reaction. And perhaps for good reason, too. Right now there are security guards on our bridges. Next there are going to be fences lining our bridges and possibly nets hanging below them? What kind of message does this send to tourists on summer getaways? What about to eager high schoolers during Cornell Days?
Welcome to Cornell. Jurassic Park. Where we have security, nets, and fences on our bridges so you don’t kill yourself.
This is probably better for high school students touring campus because they’ll be able to know what Cornell is actually like versus what the school propaganda tells them.