Lincoln University grieving after second student death of semester

Lincoln University officials are planning another vigil after the death of a second student since classes began last month.

Ariel Perkins was driving on Interstate 70 near Kingdom City from her home in Illinois when her car was hit by another vehicle as she used an emergency turnaround.

Thompkins Health Center director Jamie Smith said unlimited grief counseling is available to students who need it.

“All services that we provide here at Thompkins student health center for our students are free to them. We don’t bill insurance, they don’t have to pay for them,” Smith said. “They can come here and it’s unlimited so they can come here as much as they need to in order to get the help that they need.”

Charon Session, who would have been a senior at Lincoln University this year, was shot to death Aug. 7 and a vigil was held on campus the next day. More than a hundred people attended.

Vice President for Student Affairs Marcus Chanay is waiting on approval from Perkins’ parents before school leaders plan a second vigil.

Perkins was staying in student dorms and although she was there for only three weeks, she made friends, Chanay said. Perkins is from Washington Park, Illinois, near East St. Louis.

“We have a number of students that are from East St. Louis here on campus so we know that she has friends here on the campus,” Chanay said.

Graduate student Ronica Otey said she’s been using counseling services after Session’s death and will continue after hearing of Perkins’ death.

“Here it is we’re only in our third week, going into our fourth and it has been so hard,” Otey said.