Grad student shares personal story on WVII ahead of suicide awareness walk

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

October 2, 2015 Outreach, Student Life, UMaine in the News

Nancy Rotkowitz, a graduate student at the University of Maine, spoke with WVII (Channel 7) about her personal experience with suicide ahead of the seventh annual Out of the Darkness Community Walk on Oct. 4. Rotkowitz, who struggled with depression, credits the suicide hot line with saving her life. “I’m so incredibly thankful for what I have today. And I could have not had it if people hadn’t been there to help me,” she said. Rotkowitz said she initially had a hard time reaching out, but encourages others to do so. “There’s no shame in being depressed. It’s an illness just like any other illness and it’s important for people to know that, and that’s what this walk means,” she said of the noncompetitive 5K walk through the UMaine campus and surrounding areas. UMaine Counseling Center and St. Joseph Healthcare will host the walk that aims to raise funds for research initiatives of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). WABI (Channel 5) also carried a report advancing the event.