Student Death at Middlebury: A Routine That Shouldn't Be
Two years ago, the issue of student death becoming a "routine" at Middlebury was raised, emphasizing the need for comprehensive mental health support resources.
The recent death of Lia Smith '26 marks the fourth student death on campus in six years, highlighting the college's inadequate response to these tragedies.
- In 2023, after the deaths of Ivan Valerio '26 and Evelyn Mae Sorensen '25, Middlebury allocated funding towards mental health resources.
- Efforts included hiring more full-time, graduate interns, and guest and visiting counselors.
Student death is now embedded in our school's culture.
The death of another student from a marginalized community underscores that more needs to be done.
Author's summary: Middlebury College struggles with student deaths.