Student dies in residence
An 18-year-old high school student was found unconscious in Fanshawe's Falcon residence last weekend and later pronounced dead, after falling and hitting his head.
Jason Mauti, a Bradford high school student on March break, arrived at Fanshawe on Friday and spent the night with friends, and according to an unnamed London Free Press source, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana.
The source said friends thought Mauti had passed out after a combination of drinking and hitting his head. But when the teen was still unresponsive later that morning, authorities were altered.
Mauti was declared "brain dead" and died at London's Victoria hospital on Sunday.
In contrast to the drinking a smoking speculation, a family friend of Mauti, Frank Esson, said toxicology tests found no drugs or alcohol in the teen's system.
Emily Marcoccia, manager of marketing and communications at Fanshawe, said the teen's family is concerned with the emphasis that has been placed on alcohol consumption.
She said it was not an "out of control party," but rather a social gathering of six or seven friends.
A week-old college faculty strike has left the college deserted, and without scheduled classes or activities, those students living in Fanshawe's two residences have little to occupy their time
"Drinking has not been an issue since the strike," explained Marcoccia, who said the Monday night prior to the strike announcement was the only time there was a noticeable increase in social activity.
"One night...there was an increase in activity levels and an increase in drinking," she said, but added that the college is not ignorant to the fact that drinking occurs. "We have not had an increase in inappropriate behaviour."
Marcoccia noted that both of Fanshawe's residences are fully staffed to represent the amount of students in the buildings and said there were close to 200 students in the buildings on Friday night. Staff is constantly monitoring the amount of people coming in and out of either residence.
Each floor has a residence advisor who is to report any incidents of underage drinking or illegal substance involvement. There are also employees at the front desk of the dormitories 24 hours a day checking and identifying guests.
Residence students are debriefed on appropriate alcohol behaviour when they move into the buildings in the fall, and staff routinely issue newsletters and hold meetings to educate residents throughout the year.
"It's an absolutely huge tragedy," Marcoccia said on behalf of the college. "We have to remember that Fanshawe students are involved … and get on to helping our students anyway we can."
According to Esson, five people have already received organs from Mauti, and 72 other donations are a possibility.
Mauti had recently been approved for early admission to Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and was in London to visit Western's campus.
Police are investigating the death, but foul play is not suspected.
Jason Mauti, a Bradford high school student on March break, arrived at Fanshawe on Friday and spent the night with friends, and according to an unnamed London Free Press source, consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana.
The source said friends thought Mauti had passed out after a combination of drinking and hitting his head. But when the teen was still unresponsive later that morning, authorities were altered.
Mauti was declared "brain dead" and died at London's Victoria hospital on Sunday.
In contrast to the drinking a smoking speculation, a family friend of Mauti, Frank Esson, said toxicology tests found no drugs or alcohol in the teen's system.
Emily Marcoccia, manager of marketing and communications at Fanshawe, said the teen's family is concerned with the emphasis that has been placed on alcohol consumption.
She said it was not an "out of control party," but rather a social gathering of six or seven friends.
A week-old college faculty strike has left the college deserted, and without scheduled classes or activities, those students living in Fanshawe's two residences have little to occupy their time
"Drinking has not been an issue since the strike," explained Marcoccia, who said the Monday night prior to the strike announcement was the only time there was a noticeable increase in social activity.
"One night...there was an increase in activity levels and an increase in drinking," she said, but added that the college is not ignorant to the fact that drinking occurs. "We have not had an increase in inappropriate behaviour."
Marcoccia noted that both of Fanshawe's residences are fully staffed to represent the amount of students in the buildings and said there were close to 200 students in the buildings on Friday night. Staff is constantly monitoring the amount of people coming in and out of either residence.
Each floor has a residence advisor who is to report any incidents of underage drinking or illegal substance involvement. There are also employees at the front desk of the dormitories 24 hours a day checking and identifying guests.
Residence students are debriefed on appropriate alcohol behaviour when they move into the buildings in the fall, and staff routinely issue newsletters and hold meetings to educate residents throughout the year.
"It's an absolutely huge tragedy," Marcoccia said on behalf of the college. "We have to remember that Fanshawe students are involved … and get on to helping our students anyway we can."
According to Esson, five people have already received organs from Mauti, and 72 other donations are a possibility.
Mauti had recently been approved for early admission to Sir Wilfrid Laurier University and was in London to visit Western's campus.
Police are investigating the death, but foul play is not suspected.
