From: LARRY KLAES (ljk4_at_msn.com)
Date: Thu Jun 26 2003 - 09:41:35 PDT
----- Original Message -----
From: cunews_at_cornell.edu
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2003 9:12 AM
To: CUNEWS-CAMPUS-L_at_cornell.edu
Subject: Cornell News: Two students drown near Arecibo
Search ends for students missing near Arecibo in Puerto Rico
FOR RELEASE: June 25, 2003
Contact: Roger Segelken
Office: 607-255-9736
E-mail: hrs2_at_cornell.edu
ITHACA, N.Y. -- Authorities in Puerto Rico are continuing their
investigation into what happened during a June 21 hike near the
Arecibo Observatory that led to the deaths of two students -- one
from a college in Florida and the second, whose body was found in the
Tanama River June 24, from a college in Minnesota. Both are believed
to have drowned.
At Cornell University, where the National Astronomy and Ionosphere
Center (NAIC) operates the Arecibo Observatory's radio telescope on
behalf of the National Science Foundation, President Hunter Rawlings
expressed sympathy and concern for families of the students.
The body of Kristopher Reilly, 24, of Coconut Grove, Fla., was found
in the Tanama River Monday morning, July 23. Reilly, who would have
been a senior this fall at New College of Florida, was at the Arecibo
Observatory for a National Science Foundation-sponsored summer
program called Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU). He was
among three students who set off for a hike from the radio-telescope
facility to the river.
A day after the first body was recovered, rescuers diverted the flow
of the river and found Colin "Mike" Ewers, 21, of Bloomington, Minn.,
who would have been a senior this fall at Carleton College. Ewers
was participating in an astronomy research project at the observatory
with another Carleton physics student and a faculty member from that
college.
Cornell President Rawlings said: "Everyone associated with Cornell
University and the National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center is deeply
saddened by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
families and friends of Kristopher Reilly and Mike Ewers. We deeply
appreciate the extraordinary efforts made by authorities and
volunteers in the search for the students," he added.
A delegation from Cornell, led by Senior Vice President Harold D.
Craft Jr. and including NAIC administrators and counselors from
Cornell University Health Services, flew to Puerto Rico June 24 to
assist the families, as well as other students and staff of the
observatory.
-30-
The web version of this release may be found at
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/June03/Arecibo_students.hrs.html
Cornell University News Service
Surge 3
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-4206
cunews_at_cornell.edu
http://www.news.cornell.edu
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