Student Death at Middlebury: A Routine That Shouldn't Be
Two years ago, we addressed the issue of student losses becoming a "routine" at Middlebury, emphasizing that such tragedies should be anything but routine.
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 incidents.
- In 2023, the college allocated funding towards mental health resources after the deaths of Ivan Valerio '26 and Evelyn Mae Sorensen '25.
- This included hiring more full-time, graduate interns, and guest and visiting counselors.
Something is still missing, as evidenced by the death of another student from a marginalized community.
The college's efforts have not been enough, and student death has become embedded in the school's culture.
Author's summary: Middlebury's student death routine persists despite efforts to improve mental health resources.