URI Graduate Student Dies At Campus Pool Sunday Afternoon

KINGSTON, R.I. -- A second University of Rhode Island student in less than a month died Sunday following an incident in a campus pool.

"The University of Rhode Island is saddened to report that one of its international students, Suhail Habeeb, a graduate student in physics from India, died Sunday, Feb. 24, following an incident that occurred in a Tootell Physical Education Center pool on the Kingston Campus," the university said in a statement. "Habeeb was a graduate student from India who had been studying physics at the university since 2016."

According to a statement from the University, emergency responders were called to the Tootell Physical Education Center pool around 4:30 on Sunday afternoon. Lifeguards performed CPR at the scene, before Habeeb was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Further details on the incident have not been released at this time.

This is the second student death on URI's Kingston campus this month, following the death of Dominique Franco on February 16. Franco was the president of URI's chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and a junior nursing student.

Franco was found unresponsive that morning and was taken to South County Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

This past Friday, students across campus wore purple, Franco's favorite color, as a memorial.

Counselors were made available following Franco's death, and will be a resource for students throughout the rest of the semester.

"In support of our students across the campus, staff are available this week and throughout the semester," the university said.

Counselors are available in the following locations on campus. Students can reach out to individual offices for more information.

• Dean of Students Office: 302 Memorial Union. Appointments available by calling 401-874-9411.
• Health Services: Potter Building, 6 Butterfield Rd. Open Minday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.
• Psychological Consultation Center: Chafee Social Sciences Building, Suite 100. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. Call 401-874-4263 for information or 401-874-4264 to schedule an intake.
• Campus Chaplains: To reach a campus chaplain, contact Amy Olsen by email or by calling 401-874-2740.