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MIT community mourns the death of junior Brian G. Anderson

An investigation is under way.
Around noon today, MIT junior Brian G. Anderson was found deceased in his room in the Next House dormitory. Anderson, 21, was a native of Redwood Falls, Minn.

The Massachusetts State Police and the Middlesex District Attorney are conducting an investigation, which is standard protocol with a sudden death. The MIT Police are assisting in the investigation, and report that there is no imminent danger to the MIT community. The state Medical Examiner’s office has not yet given its determination of the cause of death; that process typically takes days or weeks.

“This is a painful time for the entire MIT community as we grieve for Brian,” said Chancellor Eric Grimson. “Our thoughts are with all those who knew and loved Brian. And as we mourn for him, I want to ask all members of the MIT community to be proactive in seeking and offering help. This is not the first student death of this year, and so it is even more important than usual that we all come together and take care of each other.” Read the letter to students from Chancellor Grimson

“Questions will naturally arise about the circumstances of this death,” Grimson continued. “In order to get complete answers, we must allow time for the authorities to conduct their investigation. I encourage everyone to refrain from speculation. At this early stage, there is no strong indication that Brian’s death was the result of suicide.”

Anderson was a Course 15 (Management) major at MIT. He was an active member of MIT’s wrestling team and a member of the formerly active Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

MIT’s full range of student support and mental health services is being made available to the residents of Next House and all members of the MIT community. Barbara Baker, the senior associate dean for students, says students can also turn to their housemasters and graduate resident tutors (GRTs) for support at this difficult time, as well as resident advisors in the Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Groups (FSILGs).

All members of the MIT community who feel affected by this death are encouraged to contact Mental Health Services at 617-253-2916.

The News Office will update this piece as more information becomes available.

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