A resident of Porter Quad was in stable condition on Tuesday after falling out his fourth-floor dorm window during the weekend.
In the early hours of April 1, the student plummeted about 40 feet from his Ellicott room to the grass below. UB officials have said that the fall, which occurred at approximately 3:35 a.m., was accidental.
"It's under investigation right now, and I can't discuss the investigation, but we feel it was accidental," said John Grela, director of Public Safety.
University Police responded and the student, whose name has been withheld out of respect for his family, was transported via ambulance to Erie County Medical Center and spent time in the intensive care unit in critical condition.
University Residence Halls and Apartments officials sent an e-mail to Porter Quad residents on Saturday explaining the incident.
"One of the reasons that I sent out the e-mail to all Porter residents is for rumor control purposes," said Kevin Ahuna, senior associate director of Residential Life. "We are trying to respect the family's privacy, but it's also important to dispel rumors. We don't want rumors to go unchecked and have them become 'fact,' so to speak. We're just trying to be responsible about it."
Incidents like this are rare, and Grela said University Police are working to figure out how it happened.
"If you're wondering if there's a history of this happening with a lot of students, the answer is no," Ahuna said.
Ahuna declined to comment as to whether drugs, alcohol or mental health issues were factors in the incident.
As of Tuesday evening, the student was listed in stable condition at the Erie County Medical Center.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
