As I know some of us RDers are Purdue alumni, I thought this was important news for everyone to read about.

If you haven't heard, the past two months a young man named Wade Steffey disappeared after attending a frat party. The police, volunteers, his parents, and family members have been searching endlessly, posting fliers, selling shirts with his face and name on it, everywhere. Today, a body has been found in a residence hall, which was one of the last places he was seen or heard at. No official word has been released as who it is, but many personally believe that Wade's parents have finally found the closure they needed, albeitly however painful it is to bear.

The full story can be found here:
http://purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=4833

In other news, two other Purdue students have died during last week's Spring Break. One in Panama by a possibly drunk driver, another, with two of her friends, in a car accident in Chicago. She was one of my friends.

The recent events happening here at Purdue is startling and striking. I don't know how to feel except for being numb; finding out a friend has died recently and I never knew about it. The possible closure of Wade Steffey. It makes a person think how mortal they are, and really, it opens your eyes as how you should NEVER take life for granted. Yes, we have all experienced the recent passing of one of our greatest friends and members, but we should always remember that those that have passed on, even though our lives feel more empty than before, they are in a better place. Tonight, Please say a prayer for all the families missing their loved ones, as well as a prayer to thank God for all the friends and those you love being here on Earth with you. Personally, I am thankful for having a family that loves me, having many great friends personally, as well as having the RD and uBp family to share my life with. God bless.

yea i heard that today too, its really weird, makes me wonder about how all teh kids in owens are doing

Yeah...a classmate of mine died in January in a car accident. It hadn't occurred to me till that day when I found out about it how unaware we are that in a moment we might never see our friends and family again. And as a senior, all we seem to worry about is what's next, what's in the future, where we're going to college, what we want do with the rest of our lives. But then when a fellow student who we always see at school passes away, reality hits us. No longer do we feel that sense of immortality, but rather a cold realization of life and how we often take friends, family, and even people we see all the time for granted. This was the first death of a classmate for many if not all of us who go to the school (and the first in many, many years here in our town), so it was nice to see hundreds of students, parents, and teachers attend the church service for our classmate. And as friends of his stood up to talk about the times they had shared and about the person he was, I couldn't help but think, what if that was me up there speaking? Just thinking about how easily it could have been any of us that night... My prayers go out to all.


On a lighter note, I got into college. So far I'm leaning towards UC Davis. >.>

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That's too bad, and it's sadly becoming more of a common event in Universities around the country.

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"Competition is natural to the ignorant; and cooperation is natural to the wise." - Manly Hall

That's trully unfortunate Snipeye, Krim. Losing family or friends is always a blow, just focus on the fun times you had with your friends... hang in there my friends!

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"Down with democracy... we need more dictatorships"! Galamoth
"Derms, celebrate your independance"! Babz

It has been confirmed today at 10:12AM at a news release.

The body found in Owen Hall is the body of Wade Steffey.

"The body found in a high-voltage room in Owen Hall Monday afternoon has been identified as that of missing freshman Wade Steffey.

University spokeswoman Jeanne Norberg said during a press conference at 10:18 a.m. that the cause of death has been determined to be accidental electrocution.

Officials think Wade was trying to get into Owen Hall, next to his residence of Cary Quadrangle, and tried different doors. He entered through the exterior entrance of the high-voltage room, which was not marked with a high voltage sign. During the investigation, police found that the exterior door had been unlocked.

Norberg said the area near the room was searched previously by dogs.

"The location of Wade's body inside the room would have made it difficult for anyone to see him from any of the doorways," she said.

Norberg also said the person who opened the door Monday and discovered the body, a utility worker, was drawn in by the smell.

Officials also think he tripped within the room, which was about 50 yards from where he was last seen. He was accidently electrocuted and the death was instantaneous.

The utility room, about the size of a one-car garage, contains three electrical transformers which are connected by high-voltage wires, said Norberg. Steffey's body was found behind one of the transformers.

The coroner is releasing the body sometime today and the funeral will be held in Bloomington, Ind., Steffey's hometown.

Wade Steffey, who has been missing since early Jan. 13, was last seen just out of Owen Hall by two female students.

Wade's father, Dale Steffey, said the past couple of months have been difficult. He said he is glad to have his son and the investigation is not over. "We're thankful more than anything," he said. "We're thankful we have our son."

Dawn Adams, Steffey's mother, said she was glad her son's death was not malicious.

She said she is mostly relieved for everyone involved in the search effort, but feels grief as well.

"We have many answers. We have the big answer to where our son is," she said. "and we have him back."

Check back with www.purdueexponent.org for updates on this story."

You can read the entire article at:
http://purdueexponent.org

Tragic!

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"Down with democracy... we need more dictatorships"! Galamoth
"Derms, celebrate your independance"! Babz