from Chinese Univ. of HK......Just copying in the original email, you make your own judgment:
RIP
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16 August 2011
Dear Students, Colleagues, and Alumni,
In Memory of Miss Fiona Lee
The whole University was in shock and intense grief when it learnt that Miss Fiona Lee Tian-wei, a new student admitted to the first year of our Physics programme, took her own life yesterday. While Fiona would have been joining the University in September, we already take her to be a member of the University community, and are deeply saddened by her passing. We have conveyed our condolences to her family, and we hope that they will gradually recover from the profound sorrow caused by their tragic loss.
Fiona joined the orientation camp of the Physics Department which took place from the 10th to the 13th of August. Based on the information obtained from the camp organizers, the camp was held mainly for the purpose of assisting new students to understand and plan their university life, and there were no inappropriate activities involved. We have also learnt from Fiona’s family, a secondary school teacher close to her, and other students who participated in the orientation camp, that Fiona had not been intimidated or shown any trait of distraught during the four days of the camp. We do not know the reasons behind the decision that she had made.
The orientation camp is an activity that marks the launch of one’s university life, and much is done by both the University and student organizations every year to ensure that new students will integrate themselves with their new environment as early as they can. Hence the orientation camp carries a distinct, positive value and meaning. Fiona’s case was, of course, most unfortunate, but it is also very much to be hoped that consideration be given to the feelings of those involved in the planning and organizing of orientation activities, so as to prevent pressure being put upon them.
The University has taken the initiative to contact the organizers of the orientation programme who have been affected by the incident, and provide both resource and counselling support to the students concerned. At the same time, we will also reiterate the University’s guidelines to all units that are organizing orientation activities, and continue to impart information to new students who are about to take part in orientation programmes, to ensure that all channels for assistance are widely known.
It is a heart-breaking matter to see a young and worthy life ending before its time, and I call upon our young men and women to treasure their own lives, and face the vicissitudes of human existence with courage and fortitude. When confronted with problems, your University, your teachers and your friends are all there to help you overcome them in effective ways.
Once again, on behalf of the Chinese University, I extend our profound sympathy and heart-felt condolences to Fiona’s family.
Joseph J Y Sung
各位同學、各位同事、各位校友:
惋念李天蔚同學
本校物理系一年級新生李天蔚同學昨日不幸離世,大學同人及我皆感到非常震驚和難過。雖然天蔚將在九月才正式入學,但我們已視她為中大大家庭的一分子,對其遽然離世感到萬分哀痛。校方及我已向天蔚的家人致以深切慰問,希望他們節哀順變,多加保重。
天蔚於本月10至13日參加了物理系的迎新營。據我們向迎新營的籌委了解,迎新營主要為協助新生解及規劃大學生活,並無涉及不合宜的活動。經與天蔚家人、與她稔熟的中學老師及一起參與迎新活動的同學溝通,我們得悉天蔚在迎新營四天,沒有受到欺負,也未曾表露不快。她輕生的原因,我們尚未能了解,也無從揣測。
大學迎新營自有其價值及意義,迎新營標誌著大學生活的起步點,每年大學及學生組織都投進不少心力,以令新生盡快融入新的學習環境。天蔚的事故誠屬不幸,但希望大家體諒其他籌辦及參與迎新活動同學的感受,不要妄下判斷,避免為他們帶來無形的壓力。
現時,大學已主動聯絡受影響的同學和學生組織,為他們提供所需的支援與心理輔導。同時,我們亦會提醒其他迎新單位活動應按既有指引進行,以及繼續向即將參與迎新活動的新生提供適用資訊,確保他們在有需要時知悉各項求助渠道。
才剛在校園相識,轉瞬即臨永別,難免令人神傷;年青有為的生命早凋,更加叫人惋惜。我誠摯呼籲年輕人珍惜生命,正向面對人生的高低起伏;遇到困難時,別忘記學校、身旁的師長和朋友,都隨時願意與你們分憂共戚,協助你們解決問題。
在此祝願天蔚的家人早日從哀痛中復原!
沈祖堯上
2011年8月16日