MIT First-Year Dies After 14 Story Fall

An MIT first-year died Saturday afternoon after witnesses said he fell from the 14th floor of his high-rise dormitory.

Michael P. Manley, a native of Tempe, Ariz who lived in MacGregor House, apparently committed suicide, MIT police said in a statement.

One MIT first-year, Damien N. Burke, told the MIT Tech, the university's bi-weekly newspaper, he heard a scream around 2:50 p.m. and immediately called the police.

Students in Manley's dormitory told The Crimson that police arrived "almost immediately."

The Cambridge Fire Department rushed Manley to Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

MacGregor, a 15-story dormitory on the shores of the Charles River in East Cambridge, houses about 360 undergraduates. Manley was a resident of the G entryway's room 211.

The 14th floor houses the A entryway.

Jason Ham, a resident of H entryway, said the university notified students of Manley's death in an e-mail message late Saturday.

"Basically, we were just told that a student jumped off the building," he said.

Matthew W. Lee, an MIT first-year who lived in Manley's entryway, said that MacGregor officials held a dorm-wide meeting to discuss the incident.

Ryan R. Wagner, an MIT first-year, said that he has known Manley since September.

"He didn't seem to be an extremely outgoing person," Wagner said. "I asked him a few times if he wanted to join us. Most of the time, he just wanted to be alone."

Wagner said MIT's notoriously tough first year--so difficult that students are only graded pass/fail--"can easily become overwhelming to people."

Several students who knew Manley through the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students at MIT (GAMIT) group told The Crimson he had been depressed but declined to elaborate.

Damon W. Suden, an MIT senior who met Manley at a GAMIT meeting, said when he last saw the first-year this past Thursday, Manley seemed "stressed, but all MIT students are stressed."

Terrance D. Harmon, co-chair of GAMIT, saidthat Manley had participated in several meetings.

"He attended one of the first orientationsessions for queer students for MIT," Harmon said.

Suden said Manley had only revealed his sexualorientation to a select group.

An MIT press release informed studentsyesterday that a hot line has been set up tocounsel students, and said an MIT dean is onspecial call if students have any concerns.

Even those students who did not know Manleysaid his death has made an impact.

"If you don't have any real connection, youfeel detached, but at the same time, I feel likeit could happen to anyone I know," said Kedra N.Newsom, an MIT first-year.

MacGregor's family was notified Saturday and isexpected to travel to Cambridge.

Kristine Tsian, who was Manley's entrywaytutor, declined to comment when reached lastnight.

Muther A. Dahleh, the master of MacGregor Houseand an MIT associate professor of engineering, wasnot available for comment yesterday

Terrance D. Harmon, co-chair of GAMIT, saidthat Manley had participated in several meetings.

"He attended one of the first orientationsessions for queer students for MIT," Harmon said.

Suden said Manley had only revealed his sexualorientation to a select group.

An MIT press release informed studentsyesterday that a hot line has been set up tocounsel students, and said an MIT dean is onspecial call if students have any concerns.

Even those students who did not know Manleysaid his death has made an impact.

"If you don't have any real connection, youfeel detached, but at the same time, I feel likeit could happen to anyone I know," said Kedra N.Newsom, an MIT first-year.

MacGregor's family was notified Saturday and isexpected to travel to Cambridge.

Kristine Tsian, who was Manley's entrywaytutor, declined to comment when reached lastnight.

Muther A. Dahleh, the master of MacGregor Houseand an MIT associate professor of engineering, wasnot available for comment yesterday