Two Undergrads Die Off Campus, Causes Still Unknown

Columbia College sophomore Jessica Zauner died this weekend in Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. She was 19.

Zauner, a resident of Wien Hall, died in her hometown of unknown causes. A spokesperson for the Connecticut medical examiner's office said that autopsy results are expected in six to eight weeks. Two people close to Zauner said that suicide was not suspected.

Greenwich police reports regarding circumstances that may have led to Zauner's death were unavailable yesterday evening. Her family was unavailable for comment.

"We love her and we miss her," Elizabeth Yale, CC '08 and Zauner's roommate, said.

An e-mail message to the student body signed by Chris Colombo, dean of student affairs, was sent at 4 p.m. A meeting of Zauner's close friends, grief counselors, and administrators took place at 5 p.m.

"Jessica was a deeply caring friend and family member," Colombo's e-mail said. "Her dedication to those around her was apparent in her unyielding support for her friends, her commitment to literacy projects through her many years with the Girl Scouts, and her love for her family."

Zauner is an alumna of Hackley School, a co-ed boarding school in Tarrytown, New York. She was a four-year member of the field hockey team, and she also played lacrosse and ran track. She won the Girl Scouts' Gold Award, the organization's highest honor.

"She was a lovely and bright and caring young woman," Walter Johnson, the headmaster at Hackley, said. "She wrote children's books in Spanish and English and read them to kids. She was a good friend to many Hackley students and respected and loved by many teachers."

Grief counselors are available for extended hours this week for students who want to discuss Zauner's death.

-Jimmy Vielkind contributed to this article.