A memorial is being planned at Queen’s University to honour a first-year student who died after falling through a skylight, according to Safirah Chowdhury, president and CEO of the Alma Mater Society (AMS) of Queen’s University.
Habib Khan, a 19-year-old student from Toronto, was on the roof of the Education Library in Duncan McArthur Hall on the university’s west campus Dec. 2 with another student, confirmed Queen’s communications officer Michael Onesi.
Kingston Police Force Constable Mike Menor confirmed Khan died after falling through a skylight on the roof, and fellow first-year Stephen Nagy, 18, was recovering in hospital. Police were called just after 7:30 p.m., Menor said.
“Our hearts and prayers are with [Khan] and [Nagy’s] families and friends,” said Daniel Woolf, the university’s principal and vice-chancellor, in a Queen’s news release dated Dec. 3. “This is a terrible tragedy.”
The investigation is ongoing, added Menor, making for few updates and leaving some details, including how the men got onto the roof and what they were doing there, unclear.
Khan’s funeral was held Dec. 5, Onesi said, but the memorial on campus does not yet have a set date. Chowdhury added the memorial will hopefully take place before students leave for their winter break.
“This is already a stressful time of year with exams starting next week,” said John Pierce, associate vice-president and dean of student affairs at Queen’s, in the Dec. 3 news release. “We are focusing on ensuring that students have the support they need in this very difficult time.”
To help students cope, the university is offering counselling services, Onesi added.
Chowdhury said the university’s health, counselling and disability services are specifically streamed toward counselling right now and are offering extended hours.
The AMS also offers a Peer Support Centre for students who feel they need more support, she added.
“When students first found out about this death, there was a widespread sense of shock, naturally,” Chowdhury said. “You don’t expect this on the last day of classes. From the shock kind of came the grief, and I think that’s what the university is currently undergoing.”
Another death occurred on campus earlier this semester when Cameron Bruce, another first-year student, fell out of the window in his room in residence, according to a Sept. 15 Queen’s news release.
Chowdhury said she does not think there are concerns from students about their safety or the fact two deaths have occurred on campus less than three months apart.
“The cases are seen to be exceptional in that it’s not really been a common occurrence,” she said. “That’s why it’s so shocking.”