February 18, 2014

A message from the Chancellor

To the campus community,

I am deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Pravin Varughese, a member of the SIU family. My thoughts are with the Varughese family and all those who mourn Pravin. I, alongside Pravin’s family and many others, had hoped and prayed during this difficult time that he would be found safe and well.  

This is a moment of unimaginable sorrow for the entire SIU community. The loss of a young life calls upon us to hold fast to those we care about and cherish every moment we share with them
As many of you know, Pravin, a sophomore, came to SIU Carbondale from Morton Grove, Illinois, and was majoring in criminology and criminal justice.

We will work with the family on an appropriate way to honor Pravin. 

Even for those who did not know him, this tragedy has the potential to have widespread personal impact on our community — and it is important to recognize signs of emotional and physical stress as they emerge. I encourage all of you to be mindful of your well being and make use of the support services available to you as a member of the campus community. In addition, please look for signs of stress among friends and colleagues and encourage them to seek any needed support through this difficult time.

Students are urged to take advantage of grief counseling and other support services available to them. For more information or to seek these services, please visit the Student Health Services Center located at 374 E. Grand Ave., or reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students, 618/453-2461.  Additional information can be found on the Counseling and Psychological Services website or by calling 618/453-5371.
 
Sincerely,

Rita Cheng
Chancellor