Following the death of two Southern Miss students in less than two years at the university’s parking garage off West 4th Street in Hattiesburg, more than 2,700 individuals have signed a petition on www.change.org in an attempt to bring attention to the matter and bring about more stringent safety measures at the five-story facility.
The petition, which can be found at https://shorturl.at/cvFL6, was started by USM student Sarah Boone and calls for an additional barrier that extends past five or six feet to the current waist-high barrier at the garage.
“There’s something that needs to be done about it, especially since it’s in the center of campus right next to residential dorms where (students) live,” Boone said. “It also affects students’ mental health, and I don’t think anybody wants to have to live through, or experience that, again.
“When I originally started the petition, I had hoped for (that) barrier just on the fifth floor, but even then I think it should extend all the way from the second to the fifth floors. That would prevent accidents and anything like the past few incidents.”
Students held a vigil Monday night for the deceased individual on October 2, where attendees honored the victim and discussed additional measures the university could implement for mental health awareness and resources on campus.
“I ran into the dean of student affairs, and she told me that there have been a few talks, but I do plan to draft a proposal to give to (university president) Joe Paul some time in the coming weeks,” Boone said. “But other than that, I have not attended any meetings or have been in direct contact with any of the university officials.”
As of October 6, the petition had garnered 2,722 signatures, more than half of its goal of 5,000.
“I didn’t expect to get that many signatures,” Boone said. “I was hoping for just a thousand … so this just blew my mind.
“But I’m really hoping that Joe Paul sees that as enough support to establish a barrier (at the garage). Then again, I don’t know how many signatures it would actually take to get that done.”
So far, university officials have not put forth a comment on the petition.
According to a statement issued by Paul on September 29, a student was found dead the previous evening following an unspecified incident at the parking garage. The student was transferred to a local hospital and passed away “following the night’s tragedy at the parking garage.”
Officials from the university’s police department said there was no associated criminal threat to the campus community, but asked students and travelers to remain clear of the area for the time being.
“To the student’s family and friends, I share in your grief,” Paul’s statement reads. “To the entire Southern Miss community, know that I and many, many others care for you.”
Following the incident, staff from the university’s Student Counseling Services reached out to the student’s friends to officer assistance. Walk-ins were welcomed at the counseling services’ office in Bond Hall on campus.
SCS also can be reached at (601) 266-4829 during regular business hours and at 988 after 5 p.m. and on weekends. Faculty members were encouraged to allow flexibility for students who may have been affected by the incident.
Additional resources include:
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which can be reached by calling 988.
- Individuals who are concerned about a friend, classmate or anyone who is part of the Southern Miss community may anonymously complete a CARES Report, which utilizes a team of campus professionals to quickly connect students to resources that address student concerns related to academics and health. That includes but is not limited to self-harm, family difficulties, stress management, mental health concerns, addictions, Code of Conduct violations, Title IX issues, Clery Act issues and issues of academic integrity such as plagiarism. If the concern warrants immediate assistance, call university police at (601) 266-4986.
- Southern Miss also offers an Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff. Through that program, trained clinicians will listen to participants and help them or family members with issues including anxiety, depression or stress.
“Again, I am terribly saddened to deliver you this news this morning,” Paul said in the statement. “The university will continue to do all we can to best support you throughout your time at Southern Miss.”
Full details are pending an investigation by the university’s police department.
The previous student death at the parking lot occurred in October 2021, in another undisclosed incident at that site.
Following that incident, then-president Rodney Bennett and vice president for student affairs Dee Dee Anderson issued a statement to the university community.
“As longtime university staff members and as the parents of college-aged students, we sympathize with the significant and serious nature of stress and anxiety felt by students,” the statement read. “We want each of you to know that you have significant value, we value your health and well-being, and we care for you.”
