CC Sophomore Killed In Tragic McBain Fall

Columbia College sophomore Andrea Melendez, a Spectator photographer and former member of the track team, fell to her death in the McBain Hall stairwell early Wednesday morning.

A Staten Island native, Melendez took photographs for the Spectator for one year, was a distance runner for last year's track team, and was a member of Columbia's Puerto Rican student club, Accion Boricua. She lived on the eighth floor of McBain.

An e-mail from Dean of Student Affairs Chris Colombo said New York City police do not suspect foul play, but police yesterday evening said her death was under "under investigation."

At approximately 3 a.m. Melendez fell from the landing from the eighth floor, according to Colombo.

McBain residents said they heard a scream, which an eighth-floor resident said came from an eyewitness.

Two off-duty members of Columbia Emergency Medical Service (CAVA) responded immediately, said Director of CAVA Bree Akesson, CC '01.

Colombo said the security guard stationed in the McBain lobby immediately called Columbia Security's emergency number.

Akesson said CAVA was dispatched at 3:15 a.m. Three on-duty CAVA emergency medical technicians were on route at 3:17 a.m. and arrived at 3:19 a.m. CAVA's ambulance transported Melendez to St. Luke's hospital, arriving at 3:27 a.m.

Melendez died around 5 a.m., said St. Luke's spokesperson Andrea Miller.

Counseling and Psychological Services held extended walk-in hours yesterday until 8:30 p.m. It will hold its regular walk-in hours today from 1 to 2 p.m. and will also be open by appointment.

Student affairs staff members were contacted immediately after the first call went out to security, Colombo said, and members of the student affairs staff contacted Melendez's parents immediately. Her parents were present in the hospital when she died. Several of Melendez's friends also gathered in the waiting room at St. Luke's to await word of her condition, and University counselors were on hand in the emergency room to talk to students.

Columbia College and Fu Foundation of Engineering and Applied Science students received e-mails from Colombo and Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Brian Paquette describing the incident and offering counseling help yesterday. Resident advisers in McBain also sent e-mails or phone messages to their floors and Barnard students received an e-mail from Dean of Barnard College Dorothy Denburg.

McBain residents were also notified of the incident by signs posted throughout the building.

Friends of Melendez, McBain residents, and other concerned students gathered in a McBain lounge last night, where Paquette, Colombo, Dean of Columbia College Austin Quigley, and members of the Counseling and Psychological Services staff discussed the facts of the case and offered counseling services.

By yesterday afternoon, friends had placed white roses on the lobby floor where CAVA members had worked just hours before to save Melendez's life. The daily midday Catholic mass in St. Paul's chapel was held in Melendez's memory yesterday, and Sunday's regular 5:00 mass will also be dedicated to her.