Purdue helping student community
deal with deaths
From University News Service
Purdue
administrators are taking steps to help the student community deal with
the murders of two South Korean sisters.
Yeunkyung Woo, 31, and Huo
Kwung Woo, 29, were found dead Friday morning at the Purdue Village,
a campus apartment complex. The apartment belonged to Yeunkyung Woo,
who was a doctoral student in biological sciences at Purdue. Huo Kwung,
from Chicago, was visiting her sister at the time of the deaths. Police
believe the murders occurred sometime Thursday evening.
On Sunday, approximately
1,262 students received their degrees during the West Lafayette campus
summer commencement ceremony. The two deaths cast a shadow over the
normally joyous occasion.
Purdue President Martin Jischke
asked those attending the ceremony to observe a moment of silence in
memory of the victims.
In order to answer questions
and provide support for Purdue Village residents, two community meetings
have been scheduled for Monday. The sessions are open only to residents
of the 1,200-apartment complex.
Representatives from the
university's Office of International Students and Scholars, counseling
and psychological services, Purdue Police Department, university residences
and Purdue Village will be available to answer residents' questions.
Officials also will make support resources available for those who need
assistance in dealing with the tragedy.
"The goal is to share any
more information we might have and to provide references and resources
for residents," said Christa Pazera, Purdue Village assistant manager.
Michael Brzezinski, director
of the Office of International Students and Scholars, said every international
student at Purdue has been informed of the deaths by e-mail. Students
were encouraged to contact the office with any concerns or questions.
There are more than 500 South
Korean students and 47 non-immigrant faculty and staff from South Korea
on the West Lafayette campus, he said.
Joseph Bennett, Purdue's
vice president for university relations, said autopsies were performed
Saturday (8/4) at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis.
The autopsy results and cause of the deaths have not yet been released.
Purdue Police Chief Linda
Stump said both women were fully clothed and there were no signs of
forced entry into the apartment. The Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department,
Lafayette Police Department, Indiana State Police and FBI are assisting
with the investigation.
Stump said police are seeking
information about the women's whereabouts anytime after 5 p.m. Thursday.
Anyone with information should contact the Purdue Police Department
at (765) 494-8221.
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