As an exchange student at NUS, I knew Scott Monat and was appalled to read the article that The Campus Observer had written about him.  In the event of death, I would hope that a student publication would have the decency and tact to write a proper news article (if writing one, and therefore telling the entire student community, is even necessary).

The first half of the article was one I expected to read in a respectable publication, and perhaps have it followed with details of a memorial and funeral.

What the writers instead chose to investigate, however, was gossip around PGPR.  Publishing hearsay about a student's death and including rumors about his medication are both incredibly tasteless.  The disrespect shown to the deceased student and his friends by publishing a gossip article is entirely inexcusable.

If the security personnel withholds details about his identity, I would think that any intelligent young adult would understand that they shouldn't pry any further.  But the writers did, and now the kind of information that should have been reserved for family, close friends, and the necessary authorities is public knowledge.

I am extremely angry and disappointed with this kind of writing.  Having studied journalism myself, and recognising that it needs integrity especially in a university setting, there is no excuse for what was written.  This information can't be taken back once it's written, and I only hope something like this won't happen again, in the terrible case that another student should suffer such a tragedy (God forbid).

This is not something that makes NUS a welcoming place for exchange students, and certainly not something that would make me recommend it as a university once I return home.  This definitely leaves a very sour taste in my mouth.  The writers and editors owe Scott's friends and family a very sincere apology.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lovinger
Political Science B.A. 2010
Exchange student from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Editor's note: The death of an undergraduate student residing on campus is a newsworthy event, especially in light of the stabbing incident on the NTU campus just three days earlier. As official sources were not forthcoming with information regarding Scott Monat at the time of writing the news story, the reporters interviewed friends and neighbors of the victim. This is standard journalism practice.

Students in the NUS community have a right and a need to know whether the death of a young student on campus was a result of violence, natural causes or misadventure. The editors stand by the decision to inform readers of the circumstances surrounding the untimely death of a resident student.