4 Purdue students die in 8 days

Purdue sophomore Travis R. Simpson was found dead Saturday in his off-campus apartment. The cause of his death is not clear, but police said they do not suspect foul play.\nSimpson's is the latest in a string of unrelated student deaths. \nDuring the last eight days, four Purdue students have died. Matt Cahill, 22, of Noblesville and Jacob Cushman, 20, of Ossian were killed Jan. 26 in a car crash in Grant County. Less than a week earlier, Laura Williams, 21, of Chesterton was found dead in her West Lafayette apartment in a case that remains under investigation.\nPolice said the deaths are not related to each other, but also noted that it's strangeness to have that many deaths in that short a time. \nLt. Jason Dombkowski of the West Lafayette Police Department said he couldn't remember the last time several University students died at nearly the same time. \n"It's very rare," he said. "I've never seen that many deaths in such a short time in the campus area. I have seen some concern from Purdue students and certainly some shock." \nCahill, 22, who is remembered as the founder of a campus-wide "Do you agree with Matt?" religious campaign (similar to the "Do you agree with Dave?" campaign at IU last year), was a senior in the Schools of Engineering. Cushman was a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts.\nSince the deaths are not been crime-related, Dombkowski said police have not stepped up security. \n"We're working on an investigation diligently with the Tippecanoe County coroners in an attempt to determine cause of the students' deaths," he said.\nLt. Michael Boesch said the deaths all occurred off-campus and Purdue campus police are not involved with the investigation. He added the university has brought in counselors, but in terms of student reaction, Boesch said he believes the effects have not been fully realized. \n"Things that happen on campus are more traumatic," he said. "I don't think it's hit home. I don't think it's taking effect. The university is concerned. They are investigating it the best way they know how."\nJoseph Bennett, vice president for Purdue University relations, said the deaths have been difficult. \n"There's a lot of sympathy for their families," Bennett said. "There's a strong feeling that we've lost some members of our family."\nIt is a university policy to offer counseling services to the friends and families involved. The university holds a memorial service for mourners, Bennett said.\n"It's a very (simple), dignified service," he said. \nBennett said with a large university, death is not uncommon, but it is unusual to have so many students die in such a short time.\n"In a given year, the statistics show you have to deal with a certain amount of deaths," he said. "It's a not a repetitive process by any means. It's just happened close together"