University of Connecticut

UConn Student Dies After Being Pulled From Lake on Storrs Campus

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A University of Connecticut junior has died after being pulled from a lake on the school's Storrs campus on Monday.

Officials said UConn police and fire departments responded to a report of a medical emergency at Mirror Lake in the afternoon.

When crews arrived, they found a female student, later identified as 19-year-old Tianyin Shang, of China, and removed her from a shallow area of the lake.

Shang was transported to Windham Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, school officials added.

A UConn student who was pulled from Mirror Lake on Monday has died, according to the university.

UConn officials said her cause and manner of death would be determined by the Connecticut Chief Medical Examiner's Office and foul play was not suspected.

The Office of the Medical Examiner on Wednesday ruled her death a suicide.

"A loss in our community like this is impossible to comprehend. Last night, my colleagues and I spent time with her friends and we will continue to reach out to those who knew Tianyin best," Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students Eleanor JB Daugherty wrote in an email to students.

"I have learned that Tianyin, or Skyine as she was known to her friends, was proud of her Chinese heritage, excelled in math, was a friend to many in her residential community, and a rising star on the UConn Western Equestrian Team," Daugherty continued.

School officials remind students that resources are available to anyone who may need them including at Student Health and Wellness, Residential Life, the Dean of Students, the Student Care Team or the on-call counselor.

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