An unknown person wrote a bleak message on a staircase on campus and Ohio University students came together offering words of encouragement to their fellow peer.
Graffiti with suicidal undertones was discovered Monday morning on the main staircase of Glidden Hall as students and faculty arrived for class.
"I was passing through to get to another class,” said Katherine Bramley a first-year graduate assistant in theater. “I was first surprised that there was graffiti and more surprised by the content.”
The message that the graffiti conveyed should spark conversation on campus about depression and suicidal thoughts, Bramley said.
“I feel like it should alarm people because there are a lot of individuals that have similar feelings (to the person) and one was bold enough to write it,” she said. “Some people just keep these thoughts to themselves. Depression and suicidal thoughts should not be taken lightly.”
Several students had responded to the message on the wall by leaving notes of encouragement throughout Monday, according to the Ohio University Division of Student Affairs Facebook page.
Ryan Lombardi, interim vice president for Student Affairs, said he was notified of the message from a student on Twitter. “My reaction two-fold is that I’m very concerned for the individual and it’s unfortunate that he or she is going through emotional distress right now. Second, I’m honestly very touched in how students have responded to the situation and supporting one another.”
Lombardi said that he hopes that students will reach out to someone whenever there are thoughts of suicide or if students are struggling with depression.
“The university is always working hard to try and put a message out to remind students that they are not alone,” he said. “Unfortunately things like this happen and we can’t prevent everything. However; we can try out best and give (the students) resources such as counseling when they need it.”
The university is not certain if the graffiti will be covered up. The decision will be made by Facilities, Lombardi said.
