Sydney Monfries, a 22-year-old Fordham University student, who was about to graduate, died on Sunday after falling inside the bell and clock tower as she was trying to take some pictures for social media with a group of friends. Students are not allowed in this area, but they still go there late at night and early in the morning as a form of rite of passage.
An entire community is still shocked by what has occurred, and Monfries’ death has sparked some serious conversations online about the way the rise of social media pushes some to put themselves in harm’s way to get great photos.
Monfries, who will be honored with a posthumous degree from The Bronx university, had posted a Snapchat video moments before her fall around 3 a.m.
After falling close to 40 feet, she was unconscious with trauma to the head and body. She died on Sunday evening at the St. Barnabas Hospital. Her parents — Wayne and Susan Monfries — had rushed to be by her side.
Ms. Monfries was studying to become a journalist, and her parents live in Oregon. They have not released a statement after the tragic incident, but people close to them are talking to the media.
David Barfield, a college friend of the grieving father, told ABC News: “They are heartbroken. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever had to witness. Right now they’re just trying to process this tremendous loss. Fortunately, they were able to spend her last moments with her.”
Friends and relatives insist that Monfries’ death was a “freak accident” and it was not because she was taking pictures.
A witness, who heard Monfries and her group of friends talking before going to the tower, shared this with the New York Post: “They were like, “We’re seniors, let’s go!”. She was with a group of friends. My roommate was with them. He told me some seniors [wanted to go] to the tower to take some pictures and have a good time before graduating.”
Students at Fordham University often do three things before leaving. One of them spoke to the New York Times and said: “There are the three things you have to do at Fordham. You have to ride the ram. You have to go into the tunnels underground, and you have to go into the bell tower.”
The university is offering some counseling.
