Rutgers holding vigil for late student who committed suicide after sex encounter went online

Rutgers holding silent vigil for late student

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — Rutgers University has planned a silent vigil to remember a student who committed suicide after his sexual encounter was secretly streamed online.

The tribute to 18-year-old freshman Tyler Clementi will be held Sunday night on the steps of Brower Commons, on the school’s College Avenue campus in New Brunswick.

Prosecutors say Clementi’s roommate and another student used a webcam to broadcast on the Internet live images of Clementi having an intimate encounter with another man.

Clementi, a promising violinist, jumped off the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River three days later. His body was identified Thursday.

Rutgers President Richard McCormick says the vigil will be an opportunity for students and staff to come together and “reaffirm our commitment to the values of civility, dignity, compassion, and respect.”

The vigil is the latest in a series of remembrances for Clementi at the university that included the establishment of a Facebook group, In Honor of Tyler Clementi.

On Friday, students wore black and were encouraged to leave flowers or mementoes at a makeshift memorial for Clementi. The Rutgers Glee Club also marched down to the memorial and performed a rendition of “Rutgers Prayer,” which is traditionally sung when an important member of the Rutgers community dies or a tragedy happens at the university.

On Saturday, the school had a moment of silence for Clementi before the start of Rutgers’ homecoming game against Tulane.

Clementi’s death was one of a string of suicides last month involving teens believed to have been victims of anti-gay bullying. On Friday, more than 500 people attended a memorial service for Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old central California boy who hanged himself after enduring taunts from classmates about being gay.