Following the third death of a student on Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Chancellor Robert Jones says its time to end the tradition.
In a statement Jones said:
“Going forward, we must find a way to work together as a community to end this event and avoid more senseless tragedy.”
Jones’ comments were in response to the death of 23 year-old Jonathan Morales, who fell from the balcony of his 4th floor apartment at 51 E. John St. in Champaign.
Morales participated in Unofficial earlier in the day, napped, and then continued drinking at his apartment. It is unclear if he was intoxicated.
Morales’ death follows the deaths of two students, one in 2011 where a pedestrian was hit by two cars, and one in 2006 where the victim fell from the back of a motorcycle after a crash.
