Student found dead in dorm

A 19-year-old sophomore on Sunday afternoon was found dead in her dorm room in Wilson College, the University said.

Melissa Huang of Mechanicsburg, Pa., was found in her 1939 Hall room by a University custodian and her parents, who had arranged a meeting with her, the University said.

While officials have ruled out criminal activity, Media Relations Manager Patricia Allen said Public Safety reported that initial tests to determine the cause of death were inconclusive. She said the Mercer County Medical Examiner's Office -- where an autopsy was scheduled today -- said it could take weeks to determine the cause.

Sunday afternoon, President Tilghman and other officials met with the dead student's parents, Leon Keng-Lock Huang and Sauling Huang. The University did not release the name until today, out of concern for other family members.

In addition to her parents, Huang is survived by her brother, Kevin, and a sister, Alina.

Huang was a student in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the University said, and spent her summer doing chemical engineering research with professors Jeffrey Carbeck and Ilhan Aksay.

It is the first on-campus student death since a graduate student committed suicide in January 2003. Students just began to move in on Thursday.

At 7:30 Sunday, Wilson College held a 20-minute meeting of sophomores to inform them of the death and offer support, including counselors on request. Administrators released the sophomore's name, but urged those present to keep it within the University community, said students who attended.

Outside 1939 Hall in Wilson College Sunday, two police cars were on site as concerned students looked on and emotionally distraught staff, residential advisers and officials entered and exited the building.

Students reported seeing authorities as early as 2 p.m., and several said they couldn't drive into the Wilson College courtyard to move in.

Before the sophomore meeting, students expressed shock and confusion.

"I don't know what to feel," Emma Shoucair '07 said. "I hope they tell us what happened."

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After the meeting, some students said they were satisfied with the University's response and offered prayers for the student's family.

"The administration is doing a great job responding," Wilson College Council president Bennett Graham '07 said. "I pray that it will continue that way and that the family will continue to have a strong support system for the days and years to come."

"It was great to see the sophomores' response — a really familial response," Graham said. "It is wonderful to see that through such a tragedy, such love and compassion could come out."

He added, "It's definitely been a traumatizing event for me and for the rest of the college."

Princetonian Senior Writer Leslie Hook contributed reporting to this article.