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Becker College Community Mourns Student Death
Published on Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Becker College community has been shocked and saddened today by the death of one of our students, 19-year-old William L. Smith of Scotland, MD.

Smith, a sports management major and resident of Davis Hall, transferred to Becker College this fall from a college in West Virginia.

We understand that several Becker students, living in an apartment off-campus, hosted a party Saturday evening. When the hosts asked some uninvited guests to leave, a fight ensued, and continued outside of the apartment building on North Ashland Street. Two Becker students were injured, one fatally. Smith was pronounced dead at 2:45 a.m. at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus, according to the Worcester Police Department.

The Worcester Police Department is currently investigating the incident. An assailant has not yet been taken into custody.

"We have been in touch with the Smith family to offer any assistance the Becker community can lend during this terrible time," said Kenneth S. Cameron, vice president of student affairs. "Counseling staff are scheduled to visit William's classes on Monday and Tuesday of this week, as well as his residence hall. Counseling is also being made available to anyone having difficulty coping with this tragedy."

The College has informed students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community of the incident and is taking additional appropriate actions.

Cameron added, "In the past, the College has experienced the tragic and untimely deaths of students as the result of accidents or illness. This is the first time the College has been faced with a fatality as the result of violence."

The Becker College Campus Police are encouraging anyone with any information that may aid in the investigation of the incident to contact the Worcester Police Department.