Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU junior dies while studying abroad
By Amanda Allison
Posted: 10/6/08, 12:34 AM EST Section: News
Syracuse University junior Matt Wanetik died Friday morning at the home of his host family in Strasbourg, France, according to an e-mail sent Friday afternoon by Thomas Wolfe, interim senior vice president and dean of student affairs.
Wanetik, an international relations and political science major and member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, was studying in France through the SU Abroad Strasbourg Center.
An official cause of death has not been released, but French police have ruled out foul play, said Kevin Morrow, SU's spokesman.
Brad Orban, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi and a senior history and political science major, was alerted of the news Friday around 10:30 a.m. The fraternity house held a meeting soon after with employees of the Office of Student Life sharing what they knew about the death, Orban said.
"We're not sure how events transpired," he said. "All we know is that somehow, in some order, Matt fell. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no struggle."
Brothers then went door-to-door to campus fraternities and sororities, asking fellow greeks to attend a memorial service Friday afternoon in Hendricks Chapel.
"We have reached out to the greek community and gotten a lot of great greek support," said Matt Abdifar, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi and president of the Interfraternity Council.
In addition to Friday's memorial, the fraternity has a candle burning continuously in the house, and members have black Xs taped over their hearts, as Wanetik's nickname was "X."
"He was a very honest person, and he exuded a lot of faith in the fraternity," Orban said. "He was humble. He was mutually helpful to everyone, always. He was someone who always persevered through anything. Those five words are Matt Wanetik."
Orban and Wanetik attended a Radiohead concert over the summer in New Jersey, the last time they would see each other before Wanetik headed to Strasbourg in August.
Abdifar lived in the room next to Wanetik last year in the fraternity house.
Wanetik, an international relations and political science major and member of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, was studying in France through the SU Abroad Strasbourg Center.
An official cause of death has not been released, but French police have ruled out foul play, said Kevin Morrow, SU's spokesman.
Brad Orban, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi and a senior history and political science major, was alerted of the news Friday around 10:30 a.m. The fraternity house held a meeting soon after with employees of the Office of Student Life sharing what they knew about the death, Orban said.
"We're not sure how events transpired," he said. "All we know is that somehow, in some order, Matt fell. He was pronounced dead at the scene. There was no struggle."
Brothers then went door-to-door to campus fraternities and sororities, asking fellow greeks to attend a memorial service Friday afternoon in Hendricks Chapel.
"We have reached out to the greek community and gotten a lot of great greek support," said Matt Abdifar, a member of Alpha Epsilon Pi and president of the Interfraternity Council.
In addition to Friday's memorial, the fraternity has a candle burning continuously in the house, and members have black Xs taped over their hearts, as Wanetik's nickname was "X."
"He was a very honest person, and he exuded a lot of faith in the fraternity," Orban said. "He was humble. He was mutually helpful to everyone, always. He was someone who always persevered through anything. Those five words are Matt Wanetik."
Orban and Wanetik attended a Radiohead concert over the summer in New Jersey, the last time they would see each other before Wanetik headed to Strasbourg in August.
Abdifar lived in the room next to Wanetik last year in the fraternity house.
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