It has been a tumultuous year so far for the University of Dayton, from the St. Patrick’s Day party gone awry to the suspension of basketball standout Matt Kavanaugh, who was accused of assaulting a freshman co-ed. Recently there have been back-to-back tragedies of students falling from dorm windows, resulting in the April 2 death of Larry Cook and the critical injuries suffered April 20 by freshman Michael Fuchs. We would like to hear from UD students, parents and alumni about how these recent incidents could affect UD’s image and reputation. What should university officials be doing to address these incidents and prevent future problems in the future? Please send feedback to reporter Mary McCarty at mary.mccarty@coxin.com.
The University of Dayton has released the name of the freshman who injured himself after he fell from a sixth-floor dormitory window Saturday afternoon and said his condition is improving.
Michael Fuchs, 19, of Edison, N.J., continues to recover from injuries sustained in an apparent fall from Marycrest Complex residence hall. He remains hospitalized at Miami Valley Hospital, according to school officials.
“His mother describes his condition as serious but improving,” said Bill Fischer, UD’s vice president for student development. “The family is appreciative of the care and support they have received from the University and asks that we keep Michael in our prayers.”
Fuchs is a criminal justice major. Dayton police are conducting a joint investigation with University of Dayton public safety into the cause of the fall.
Campus ministers and counselors remain available for all students seeking support, Fischer said.
Fuchs was found at about 4:30 p.m. Saturday lying in a temporary parking zone outside Marycrest, according to university officials.
UD officials said their investigation is ongoing into the circumstances surrounding the second freshmen to fall from a sixth-story dormitory window this month. Fuchs was found on the ground with visible injuries to his left leg around Saturday afternoon, according to a 911 call released today by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. Fuchs was described as conscious, but unresponsive, according to the call.
A woman breathlessly tells the 911 dispatcher that she has just walked up to the residence hall and found Fuchs on the ground bleeding heavily and “just moaning,” according to the nearly 6-minute call. “Somebody fell,” the woman told the dispatcher. She described Fuchs had a severe leg injury and that other UD students were starting to crowd around the injured teen.
The operator told the caller neither to touch nor move the student until medical personnel arrived.
Marycrest is the largest community housing on campus with approximately 560 first-year and 300 second-year students, according to UD’s website.
The university said it has no new information to release about the investigation, which is being conducted by Dayton police and UD’s public safety officials. They noted also they have not set a timeline when the investigation will be completed.
Earlier this month, UD freshman Larry Cook, 18, died after falling from a sixth-floor window in the Stuart Complex, which UD’s website says houses 632 first-year students.
His death was ruled a suicide by the Montgomery County Coroner, but his family disputes that ruling. They have hired Florida attorney Christopher Chestnut, who is conducting his own investigation. Dayton police are investigating Cook’s death, as well.
Marycrest and Stuart complexes are co-ed dormitories and are air-conditioned.
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