Politics | 02/18/2009 2:25 pm

Dalton Student Falls to Death in Possible Suicide

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

The Dalton School

Students at a ritzy New York prep school are in shock after a peer plunged to his death this morning from an 11th-story window. Some are saying it was an intentional tumble.

The 17-year-old student reportedly fell from the dance studio window at The Dalton School, founded in 1919 on Manhattan’s Upper East Side at 108 East 89th Street. Officials there had no comment.

The student has not been identified. Authorities are investigating the death. We will provide you with updates as they come. Our sympathies go out to the student’s parents and friends.

Click here to read the New York Post.

18 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Suicide is a permanent answer to a temporary problem, especially when you are 17 and cannot see a way out. A very sad story.

Wonder if there is any connection to the financial upheaval in NYC ?

By EKA - on 02/18/2009 2:43 pm

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You are right EKA. I wonder if he left any note behind?

By Grande Camper on 02/18/2009 2:55 pm

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Or if, for some reason, he was ostracized by his peers?

By Diana T on 02/18/2009 3:31 pm

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That’s generally the reason, you’re right …. but the upper East Side is home to many in the financial world, where I am sure there are more than a few stressed families.

By EKA - on 02/18/2009 4:18 pm

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EKA,

I always wonder when this happens if it doesn’t happen because of some form of rejection. I always remember being the "new girl" in high school and how I was treated…

By Diana T on 02/18/2009 7:16 pm

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Oh, yes, and who feels rejection deeper than anyone ?Teenagers. I remember crying my self to sleep some nights and contemplating suffocating myself and thinking "won’t THEY be sorry " … the THEY being my parents or some boy. But I always could see myself through to tomorrow, and it breaks my heart to see teenage suicide because for most of us life does get better. Maturity gives perspective, doesn’t it ?

By EKA - on 02/18/2009 8:39 pm

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I think that very often, EKA, depression is something that parents either deny or simply don’t know enough about.

By Diana T on 02/18/2009 9:03 pm

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How incredibly sad….

By Belinda Joy on 02/18/2009 4:02 pm

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Wonder if he was on anti-depressants. Please do keep us posted.

By Ms. Dee on 02/18/2009 4:24 pm

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I don’t think it had anything to do with the financial situation. He was actually bullied a lot at school, and thats what most of his peers believe. I know this because I am a senior at one of the schools which is connected to Dalton through many events. (I won’t be too specific for personal reasons) But from what I’ve heard, it was mostly because of bullying. I’m just glad that no one has made any Gossip Girl references here…what a terrible show and disrespect to a genuinely excellent student and athelete.

By M R on 02/18/2009 5:07 pm

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Well I actually go to his school. He was not bullied, its just that he did not have many friends. He was mentally ill, yet very smart. No one knows exactly why he jumped, but in the long run if he had more control over his emotions he would not have committed sucide. He was a gentle giant, an eccentric part of the community, and will be missed. Condolences.

By Zeebo Zeebi on 02/18/2009 5:19 pm

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Please accept my hearfelt condolences.

I am so sorry for this young man — that he felt this was the only way out. I also am so sorry for you and his entire community - his parents, family, as well as all his fellow students and teachers. Events like these touch everybody.

My son, who is approximately the same age, lost a friend to suicide in December. We have had to reassure him that he could not have prevented the suicide, although I know he still is trying to come to terms with it privately. He and his schoolmates will carry their sorrow with them for a long time, if not forever — as they move forward, hopefully it will stop haunting them and they will be able to store it in a pocket so to speak.

The reasons for teen suicide are complex and the signs are not always easily read. In the case of my son’s friend, he was a well-liked, well-respected, generous, warm, scholar-athlete, with whom he had a great deal of fun. They shared a love for sports, music, fishing, and the outdoors. My son would never have predicted this outcome.

By Lucinda Herbert on 02/19/2009 8:37 am