Dear students, faculty and staff, 

As our university community continues to mourn the recent tragic loss of two of our students, I encourage everyone to remember that at the center of this are two grieving families, who are processing the unimaginable loss of a child. 

We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources. Until now, we have upheld their wishes not to release the names of their students. Today, the families of Aidan Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colo., and Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta, have given us permission to share their names. The families have asked for privacy as they grieve.

We offer heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and classmates of Aidan and Robert. While there are no words that can alleviate the tremendous sorrow they are experiencing, please keep them close in your thoughts and prayers during this time of immense grief.

We are grateful to our University Police and law enforcement partners, who are committed to upholding the safety and well-being of our community and are working swiftly to investigate these cases. We know there is heightened media attention and that you may be eager for answers. We also recognize that inaccurate information is being shared by individuals who do not have access to the facts. We can all help by not repeating information that has not been officially confirmed and by avoiding public speculation about what happened or why, especially as the causes of the two deaths are still under investigation. 

The University of Mississippi is a close, supportive community. I encourage anyone in need of support to reach out to those around them, or to seek assistance from university support services, including the University Counseling Center and UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy.

We are grateful for the care, understanding and support being shared as our campus community navigates this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Shawnboda Mead, EdD

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs