Grad student commits suicide in dorm room

A communications graduate student was found dead in her Mayer Hall apartment Monday evening following an apparent suicide, University officials said. University Police officers discovered the body of Sunmee Lee moments after her husband called University Police at 7:30 p.m. asking that police check on his wife, Police Commissioner John Kuprevich said yesterday. Kuprevich said Lee's husband was out of town at the time and had not been able to get in touch with his wife for some time. Officers arrived at Mayer, located at 3817 Spruce Street, and began knocking on Lee's apartment, where the 26-year-old doctoral candidate lived alone. When no one answered, a resident advisor unlocked the apartment for officers. Officials declined to release details of the death. Kuprevich said Lee's relatives have been notified and that the University is helping the family make arrangements to return the body to South Korea, where Lee lived. Brigitte Blanco, director of graduate programs in residence, said last night that the building staff at Mayer is "looking out for any sign of distress" and added that there is no evidence of any so far. Blanco said that no one knew Lee very well because residents had moved into Mayer only three or four days prior to Lee's suicide. Cassel said the University is providing counseling to any of Lee's friends, associates and classmates who need support. Several students called the Office of International Programs this week after hearing rumors that Lee's death may have been a homicide. Kuprevich sought to dispel those rumors and reassure students. He said the rumors were "not at all true," adding that there was "no indication of any foul play whatsoever."