Body found in lake near Cornell campus; police believe it is 6th suicide victim

Police believe body is Cornell U. suicide victim

ITHACA, N.Y. — Police in Ithaca, N.Y., say they believe they have found the body of a student who was among a rash of recent suicides at Cornell University.

Police say a body spotted Wednesday by a boater on Cayuga Lake has been tentatively identified as Matthew Zika, a 21-year-old junior from Lafayette, Ind.

Zika was seen jumping March 12 from a bridge into one of the gorges bounding the Ivy League campus, but his body was never found. Waters in the gorge empty into Cayuga Lake.

Cornell officials say six students have committed suicide this academic year, including three who jumped off bridges.

The school has long been haunted by a reputation for suicides. Cornell maintains its suicide rate over time is normal for colleges.