US: Cornell builds bridge fences to deter suicides

Cornell University last week erected temporary fencing along three university-owned bridges that cross the deep gorges on its campus, where three students have jumped to their deaths in recent weeks, writes Lisa W Foderaro for The New York Times. University officials are also in talks with the City of Ithaca to get permission to put up similar fencing along three other city-owned bridges on campus, said spokesman Simeon F Moss.

The installation of the eight-foot chain-link fencing, which started last Monday with most students away for spring break, came after the university consulted with "many experts both local and national" on suicide prevention and bridge barriers, Moss said. "Recent research has shown that fencing can be an effective impediment to suicide, so we feel it's necessary to take that into account." He said Cornell was exploring permanent barriers.

The recent suicides, which began in mid-February, came after three other student suicides last semester, but none of the earlier suicides involved the gorges. It is believed that the three suicides this semester, two on consecutive days in March, were all committed from bridges. Full report on The New York Times site