On Friday, Feb. 8, President Kathryn Foster sent out a campus-wide email to report the death of Jenna DiBenedetto, a senior psychology major and member of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. The cause of death has not been confirmed.
DiBenedetto’s visitation was held on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, 101 South Finley Ave, in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. According to the funeral home’s website, the family is requesting memorial donations to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey in lieu of flowers.
DiBenedetto was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon (Instagram).
On Friday between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m., six students close to DiBenedetto met with Campus Police and Mark Forest, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services.
Whenever the community faces a tragic incident, there are various response teams in place at College that report to Campus Police so that students who may be most affected by the situation are made aware before a campus-wide email is sent out, according to Dean of Students Jordan Draper.
The president and several other staff members also met with members of Delta Phi Epsilon on Sunday and discussed holding an American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness community walk in DiBenedetto’s honor.
As the campus community mourns this loss, staff members have stressed that students should be supportive of one another and the campus community. Students are encouraged to submit Counseling and Psychological Services referrals for friends who might be in need of support. This can be the first step in connecting peers with help in a variety of areas, including academic, financial and mental health needs.
Sean Stallings, the Interim Vice President of Student Affairs, also emphasized the importance of leaning on peers, as well as resources at the College, in a Feb. 10 email.
TCNJ you seriously have a suicide issue. There has been a suicide on your campus every year for the last 8 or so years.