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Possible suicide attempt averted Community gathers to pray and show support for student DAISY CREAGER NEWS REPORTER Editor’s note: The Daily does not print names of possible suicide victims to protect their privacy.
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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ● To report someone who may be suicidal, contact OU’s Behavioral Intervention Team at 405-325-7700. ● For 24/7 mental health counseling, call the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Crisis and Information Line at 1-800-522-9054. ● For two national suicide prevention lifelines answered in the state of Oklahoma by Heartline, call 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-SUICIDE. ● For local mental health services, visit Red Rock Behavioral Health Services, Inc., at 900 E. Main, Bldg. 52, in Norman, or call 405-307-4800. ● For counseling and recovery groups, visit NorthCare of Norman at 550 NW 24th Ave. in Norman or call (405) 329-3349.
TONY RAGLE/THE DAILY
Top: OU Police use caution tape to block off a section of the WalkerAdams Mall, where students gather to view a student sitting on a ledge on Tarman Tower’s twelfth floor. The student agreed to come back in the building after about an hour. Bottom: Students form a circle to pray for the student involved in a possible suicide attempt.
● For mental health counseling, visit the Norman Behavioral Health Group at 3625 W Main St Norman or call (405) 579-7560. ● For community-based mental health services, visit the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center at 909 Alameda St. in Norman or call (405) 360-5100.
tudents gathered Monday afternoon outside of police lines around the Walker-Adams Mall, looking up at an OU student dangling his feet off the edge of a 12th-floor ledge at Adams Center’s Tarman Tower. The man broke out a window in a 12th-floor lounge in Tarman Tower. An OU Emergency Alert said the man, an OU student, was a possible suicide subject. Officials at the scene could not comment on the situation. A text message was sent through OU’s emergency alert system at around 3:30 p.m. telling students that there was a potential suicide subject at Adams Center’s Tarman Tower. The individual, who was a Sigma Phi Epsilon pledge, was taken back inside the building at around 4:30 p.m. During the event, students gathered near the basketball courts at Walker-Adams Mall to pray. After the incident, Amy Buchanan, assistant director or marketing and communications for OU Housing and Food, said all questions were being directed to OU’s Office of Public Affairs. SEE MORE ONLINE When asked for more inVisit OUDaily.com formation during the incifor a Storify of tweets dent, university spokesman showing support for Corbin Wallace reiterated the student involved the text of the emergency in the possible suicide alerts. At 5:01 p.m., Wallace attempt. told The Daily he had given all the information he could at the time. Sigma Phi Epsilon president Wade Martin issued a statement at around 6 p.m. saying the fraternity members were “overwhelmed with joy” that the pledge is safe, and Sigma Phi Epsilon will provide love and support to the student and his family. A wooden board was put up in place of the window in Tarman Tower. Taylor Evans, accounting freshman who lives in Tarman Tower, said she was cleaning her room when someone knocked on the door to tell her what was happening. “I thought the windows were unbreakable. I looked out the window and saw police and firemen and a bunch of kids looking up. Then I got an email saying to avoid Tarman 12, so I put my pillow down and sat on it for like an hour and a half. I didn’t want to see it if it was going to happen,” Evans said. Taylor said she wished fewer people had crowded around the building to watch the incident unfold. She was particularly upset with how people in neighboring towers reacted. “If you wanted to watch, they could have at least closed their blinds and peeked through. He could clearly see them. I thought it was disgusting that they were just openly taking pictures,” Taylor said. Another Tarman Tower resident, Danielle McDaniel, said she found out about the incident as she walked to class. SEE COMMUNITY PAGE 2
BRIEFS
HOLIDAY
Plan to attend these Veterans Day events Some local restaurants also offering free food to United States military veterans STAFF REPORTS
For Sooners looking to celebrate Veterans Day, we’ve compiled a list of some of the events happening on campus.
For veterans, we’ve included a list of some of the restaurants in the Norman area that will give free food to veterans with proper identification.
PLACES VETERANS CAN GET FREE* FOOD ON VETERANS DAY
Bicyclist and motor vehicle crash Monday at Lindsey and Asp corner A vehicle and bicycle collided at the Lindsey and Asp street intersection just before 3 p.m. Monday. OUPD was notified of the collision and a possible injury and 2:55 p.m., said OUPD public information officer Bruce Chan. OUPD has no additional information about the potential injury or its severity, Chan said.
Applebee’s 500 Ed Noble Parkway, Norman
VETERANS DAY EVENTS Veterans Day Ceremony When: 8 a.m. Where: Parrington Oval Lawn A gathering including remarks by OU President David Boren and a presentation by the ROTC color guard. Military Appreciation Cookout When: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Where: Robertson Hall lawn A cookout sponsored by the Veteran Support Alliance to show appreciation for those who served in the Armed Forces.
Olive Garden 117 Ed Noble Parkway, Norman Chili’s 3009 William Pereira, Norman Red Lobster 302 N Interstate Dr., Norman Denny’s, 5 a.m. to noon 1617 SW 74th St, Oklahoma City Outback Steakhouse 860 N. Interstate Dr., Norman
Staff Reports
Emergency services respond to call for medical help at Price Hall Monday OU Police Department officers and an ambulance responded to a medical emergency at Price Hall on Monday afternoon, an OU Police Department officer said. A police vehicle left the scene at approximately 3:50 p.m., and an ambulance parked outside of Price Hall left at approximately 4:15 p.m.
SEE VETERANS PAGE 2
WEATHER Sunny today with a high of 45, low of 29. Follow @AndrewGortonWX on Twitter for weather updates.
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