More Than 50% of College Students Contemplate Suicide

A comprehensive study of suicidal thinking among college students found more than half of the 26,000 surveyed had suicidal thoughts at some point during their lifetime.

The web-based survey conducted in spring 2006 used separate samples of undergraduate and graduate students from 70 colleges and universities across the country.

Of the 15,010 undergraduates, average age 22: 55% had ever thought of suicide; 18% seriously considered it; and 8% made an attempt. Among 11,441 graduate students, average age 30: Exactly half had such thoughts; 15% seriously considered it and 6% made an attempt. [USA Today]

Report Shows Kevin Grady Was Asleep At Wheel

Wyoming Police Officer Kevin Meany says when he approached a white GMC Yukon in the early hours of July 2, the driver, football standout Kevin Grady, was passed out behind the wheel with the car running and in drive. Grady was unconscious and his foot was on the brake.

Meany said he reached inside through the driver’s window, put the car in park and turned off the ignition.

The car was stopped in the southbound lane of Byron Center Avenue SW, just north of 44th Street at the stoplight. [M Live]

Yale Student Makes History, Decides to Retire

Michael Phelps wasn’t the only college student that made Olympic history last week. Sada Jacobson, Yale ’06, did too by being one of the three Americans who took all the medals in the fencing competition – a feat that hasn’t been done since 1904.

Apparently, after etching one’s name into the history books, there’s nothing left to accomplish in sports, because Jacobson is retiring from competitive fencing.

Yes, at the tender age of 25, Jacobson has had enough. And so, she’s putting down the saber and picking up – a law book?! [College OTR]