A week ago, a tragic incident unfolded at Bucknell University. Christian Samay, a 22-year-old political science student from Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, was found lifeless in his fraternity house, The Tribune-Democrat reported.
The news of Samay’s death came as a shock to the whole Bucknell community. Samay, a senior at the University, was discovered in his fraternity house, Phi Gamma Delta, on University Avenue in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. His sudden demise occurred just weeks before his graduation.
The university’s President, John Bravman, expressed profound sorrow over the incident. He acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “This is an unspeakable loss for the Bucknell community, and our hearts go out to Christian’s family and friends.”
The county coroner, Dominick Adamo, revealed that an investigation is ongoing. Though the circumstances surrounding his death are not deemed suspicious, an autopsy is slated for Tuesday to ascertain the cause of Christian Samay’s death, according to PennLive.com.
The University cancelled classes on Monday. The administration also arranged for counselors and campus chaplains to provide support to students who might be affected by the incident.
The news of Samay’s death has left the student body in a state of distress. As expressed by one of the students, Amaya Becker, on Facebook, “Our student body is really shaken from the last 24 hours.”
Christian Samay was not just a student, but a young man on the brink of achieving his bachelor’s degree in political science. The LinkedIn account of the deceased reveals that he had interned at M&T Bank in Baltimore, investment firm KBW in Florham Park, New Jersey, and Digital Capital Advisors in New York City.
The incident has raised questions about student safety on campus. Bucknell University had faced reports of an active shooter on campus the previous night, which had resulted in a campus-wide lockdown.
Phi Gamma Delta, the fraternity where Christian was a member and where his body was found, is located at 78 University Avenue. The fraternity is part of a private liberal arts school situated about 60 miles north of the state’s capital, Harrisburg.
In this time of grief, the students are planning to organize a vigil on the campus quad to remember Christian Samay. This event aims to bring the community together and provide a space for shared healing.