Murder shocks Columbia campus

News of a Columbia University student being murdered by her ex-boyfriend last week awaited students returning from their spring break yesterday.

The situation is similar to one that occurred at the University last September, when LSA senior Tamara Williams was stabbed to death by her boyfriend, Kevin Nelson, who was subsequently shot by a Department of Public Safety officer on the scene.

Third-year Columbia Law student Hyeseung Lynda Hong's body was discovered in her apartment late Friday evening by a friend. Her body was covered in blood and her throat was slit.

Former Cornell University student Edmund Ko, with whom she was romantically involved, was charged with second-degree murder Sunday.

Virgil Renzulli, associate vice-president for public affairs at Columbia, said that despite the absence of many administrators and students during the spring break, the situation was handled efficiently.

"People were on the scene immediately," Renzulli said. "Within 24 hours there was an arrest."

The conviction was not new to Ko. He was arrested and charged in another case involving the slashing of a former girlfriend last November, which did not result in the victim's death.

Renzulli said Columbia officials have been working around the clock to aid in counseling and distribution of information. In addition to extended counseling hours, a community telephone information chain was set up, flyers were tacked up in residence halls and a hotline was established, Renzulli said.

"We're just in the process of bringing people up to date," Renzulli said. "The counseling service will continue. There haven't been too many calls on the hotline, but that is most likely because there has already been so much information being given out."

Columbia University President George Rupp sent an e-mail to every Columbia student, informing them of the death and the resources available on campus.

"On behalf of the entire Columbia community, I express our deepest sympathy to Lynda's family and friends," Rupp wrote. "This is a time for us to come together as a community. We can never make sense of this terrible tragedy. But we can and must reaffirm the values that Lynda Hong expressed in her life even as we are joined together in profound sadness in mourning her death."

Since the murder of Williams, the University of Michigan has taken additional steps to curb domestic abuse.

DPS spokesperson Elizabeth Hall said that since the incident last fall, DPS has remained firm in its efforts to prevent domestic violence.

"Any domestic violence situation is taken very seriously," Hall said. "We certainly do receive these calls and we respond to them routinely."

Hall said that DPS has worked to increase domestic violence awareness and has held staff meetings geared specifically toward addressing dating and domestic violence.

"We don't ever want to have something like that happen again," Hall said. "We are working with other groups on campus to address these issues and our hope is to head off these types of situations before they ever happen."

Sarah Heuser, training and education program coordinator at the Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Center, said it is important for counseling services to be available - whether or not they are utilized.

"It's an individual decision," Heuser said. "But simply having the option to talk with someone who has special training is very important."

Heuser said that since the death of Williams, SAPAC has continued to address the needs of domestic abuse survivors.

"I think there is a higher level of awareness now, certainly since (the death of Williams)," Heuser said. "We definitely continue to provide domestic and dating violence workshops at the volunteer and staff level."

Heuser said that although Williams' death took place last year, members of the community, especially those living in Northwood family housing, where the murder took place, are still affected by the memory.

"It doesn't have to be on our campus - an event like that in any community can serve as the same kind of trigger for survivors," Heuser said.

Hall agreed that Williams' death remains in people's memories.

"I think it's had a lasting impact on the community," Hall said. "It was devastating. I think Tamara Williams will always be remembered."

Pam Kelly, an operator at the Columbia hotline that was set up after the murder, said memorial services for Hong are being planned.

"Students are just coming back and the administration wants to give them the opportunity to help in the planning of the memorial services," Kelly said. "They expect it to take place sometime by the end of the week."

Renzulli said students and faculty have a long path of healing ahead.

"It looks like a normal day and outward, students are just going about, but of course there is a sense of sorrow, a sense of great loss," Renzulli said.

SAPAC's crisis line can be reached at 936-3333.

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