Cornell putting nets over gorges to stop suicides

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(AP) ITHACA, N.Y. - Cornell University in New York plans to begin installing nets on several bridges over gorges where three students jumped to their deaths in 2010.

The Ithaca Journal reports that the town of Ithaca and the Ivy League school have reached an agreement that calls for installing nets on five bridges.

The three students committed suicide by jumping from bridges within a month of each other. According to the newspaper, 27 people committed suicide between 1990 and 2010 by jumping from the bridges, including 15 students.

The school has long been haunted by a reputation for suicides. Cornell maintains its suicide rate over time is normal for colleges.

Fences were erected after the 2010 suicides.

Some nets will extend about 15 feet out from the bridges. Installation is to start Monday.

[mjlewis6]

If the suicide rate fits the normal curve for colleges like Cornell, perhaps the Administration is 'over-reacting' by participating in the rationale for gorges bridges net construction?

Students or faculty for that matter who jump may not necessarily be the model citizen/parent/faculty or doctoral student since they are temporarily out of touch with the realities of their situation to devolve into personal life and death decisions, a kind of all or nothing scenario.

Sounds to me the net-building money would be better spent in faculty and student counseling about life issues and the role of education if not outright screening for emotionally unstable personalities to be directed to professional help.

[matt6052]

It will stop some. If they can't jump off a bridge, they can't join a string of people who have. Sure, there are other ways to kill one's self, but none as dramatic as jumping off the bridge that everyone else jumps off.

[Bojax39]

"Cornell University in New York plans to begin installing nets on several bridges over gorges where three students jumped to their deaths in 2010."

Why? Cornell honestly thinks people need a nearby bridge to suicide? Whomever came up with this brain dead idea needs to be fired unless, in addition to a suicide rep, Cornell wants a reputation as a school run by out of touch morons....

[MIO42]

The Net becmes an open invitation and a glaring constant reminder to the most Selfish of Acts

[venusvegasvada]

Cornell maintains its suicide rate over time is normal for colleges.

If you put up nets like a Chinese factory, it still won't stop people from doing that, if they are motivated. Unless you are saying that all college suicides are committed by jumping off bridges?

[Bush-cheney-R-Terrorists]

Darn! That was the only way to kill myself. Guess I'll go back to my dorm and play Russian Roulette with my semi-automatic model 1911 fully loaded .45cal pistol.

[freeteddy]

"I just can't do it anymore. Oh, crap, there's a net. Oh well, back to work I guess." Genius.

[yelobrikroad]

<<speechless>>

[FoolKiller]

Wow... talk about only treating the symptoms.

[signseeker1717]

This is just one more preventative measure. That's partly why there are guard rails on bridges. There are suicide hotlines, and other help out there, but there's no harm in having a physical barricade to self-destructive behavior when it's ocurred at this site before. And there's no way to know how many lives might be saved by making this type of suicide harder. If it stops ONE person, and makes them rethink, it's worth it.

[credibility2]

Are they really this stupid to think this will prevent suicides? Those bent on doing this selfish and cowardly act will find other means to commit suicide. Silly.