Ithaca College

It is with a great deal of sadness that I inform the Ithaca College community of an automobile accident that has claimed the life of one of our students and left three others injured.

While returning from Thanksgiving break in Massachusetts late last evening, Michael N. Clark was killed when the car he was driving swerved to avoid a deer and overturned on Rt. 88 near Cobleskill, New York. Michael was a junior English major from Boxborough, Massachusetts.

Also traveling in the car with Michael were Ezra Chamberlain, a junior theatrical production arts major; Melanie Pond, a junior speech-language pathology major; and Christopher Rose, a sophomore integrated marketing communications major. All three were transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. We do not have information at this time on the conditions of the three injured students.

We extend our deepest sympathies, as well as our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time, to the family, friends, classmates and professors of these four members of our campus community.

We will keep you updated as we gather more information.

In the meantime, support services to all members of the Ithaca College community are available through the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) by calling 274-3136. Faculty and staff can access the counseling services of the Employee Assistance Program by calling 1-800-327-2255. For more information on support services, visit www.ithaca.edu/sacl/counseling.

Once again, we ask that you please keep these students and their loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Marisa Kelly
Provost and Vice President for Educational Affairs