Student Found Dead In SMU Barr Pool Confirmed As Suicide

Two weeks ago on September 29th a body was found in the SMU Barr diving pool. The death has been confirmed as suicide by drowning.

The SMU (Southern Methodist University) swim team had practice that morning, but since the swimming and diving pools are separated, the body wasn’t recovered until after morning practice.

Just before 1 PM on the 29th SMU released a statement saying the body was recovered around 9 AM and has been identified as a SMU student. According to the press release the student was found dead in the diving pool. The statement included the fact that it didn’t appear any foul play was involved: “Preliminary indications are that no foul play was involved, but an investigation is being conducted by SMU Police with assistance from the Dallas County Medical Examiner.”

Later that evening around 5 PM the student was identified as Jaein “Jaime” Shim, according to the Student Affairs Office.

He was a 21 year-old senior, studying English and Political Science through Dedman College and was a President’s Scholar, and a member of the SMU Honors Program. He was from Seoul, Korea.

Just yesterday it was confirmed that Shim’s death was suicide by drowning, according to the Dallas County Medical Examiner.

Read the full story with updates throughout the investigation on the SMU Daily Campus website here.

 

 

 

 

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G.I.N.A
8 years ago

The poor guy .Imagine how terrifying it would be to be truly studying English AND Pol Sci in the current election . There’s more than a few ppl who feel it is the worst manipulation of both ever. He probably had such dreams after a lifetime of Anti PRK language he thought he was goin gb to a paradise of expression & poltical freedoms .

This & poor Mikey of LSU – martyrs for the America n dream .

Big Time
Reply to  G.I.N.A
8 years ago

What is wrong with you…

RIP and condolences to the family

Rookery
Reply to  Big Time
8 years ago

It’s a joke. Some people cope this way. Some might also say it’s a better coping mechanism than offering meaningless and tired platitudes like “RIP” and “condolences” that the family will never see or hear about cuz they don’t frequent this website. Lighten up.

Big Time
Reply to  Rookery
8 years ago

Suicide is no joke.. thanks for your advice but on that topic I won’t “lighten up” GINA is not coping with his/her grief… so let him/her and you cop on to yourself why don’t you. Well, duh, I know his folks won’t see it… doesn’t stop me wishing them well when they are suffering something unimaginable – like a normal human being.

Tiger
Reply to  Big Time
8 years ago

BIG TIME, I agree with you. And I hope I never get to the point where I understand such callous and insensitive comments. This is a difficult and devastating situation for the family as well as for the SMU student body and swimmers. Very sad.

Rookery
Reply to  Big Time
8 years ago

Okay, get yourself in a tizzy over something that has nothing to do with you and pat yourself on the back for your “normalcy” then. It’s your life.

Big Time
Reply to  Rookery
8 years ago

No one is patting anything Donald…????

Rookery
Reply to  Big Time
8 years ago

I don’t recall anyone mentioning politics

Q-TIPPING
Reply to  G.I.N.A
8 years ago

lay off the wine gina

G.I.N.A
Reply to  Q-TIPPING
8 years ago

Suicide in Korea ( no 2 in the world ) is a central conversation piece .There are anti suicide messages everywhere yet the rate keeps rising . Jumping off a bridge is very popular as is throwing oneself under a train ( newly designed anti suicide platforms are in place in Seoul) . I don’t think there are any trains near SMU or a river so the diving platform may have been the next best thing .

Wine? On the contrary I know quite a bit . The other danger here was the intense Korean evangelical movement . Maybe SMU was not the place of the kind caring God he was hoping for . Its just a name & a… Read more »

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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