Drexel student falls 13 stories from Grad B

The student was in critical condition at HUP last night. She fell while trying to rappel down Grad Tower B. An 18-year-old female Drexel University student was in critical condition late last night after falling 13 stories while rappelling down the outside of Grad Tower B, police said. The woman and another classmate were visiting a third Drexel student who lives in the building. All three Drexel students were rappelling from the resident's 15th floor room last night. Twenty Drexel students moved into the 15th floor of Grad Tower B this fall in a pilot housing program. The woman "lost control" outside the 13th floor and fell, landing on a grassy area at 7:40 p.m., University Police Captain John Richardson said. She was conscious and answered questions from Philadelphia Fire and Rescue workers who took her to the emergency room of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he said. As of late last night, doctors at HUP had not operated on the woman and were still evaluating her injuries, Nursing Administrator Nancy Williams said. Drexel spokesperson Philip Terranova said last night he was still trying to confirm the student's identity and contact her family. After the accident, Penn expelled from the building the Drexel student who was living in Grad Tower B, said Larry Moneta, associate vice provost for university life. "This behavior is not in any way something we tolerate," he said. "We are going to respond very seriously and very harshly." VPUL Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said last night that she asked University Police and Drexel officials to take the strongest possible action against the three Drexel students. Any Penn student caught rappelling from an on-campus residence or building would face expulsion and criminal charges, McCoullum said. The University's residential lease allows it to expel any students who present "a threat to the order and safety of the Penn community," she said. Philadelphia Police have charged individuals who participated in similar incidents with disorderly conduct, Richardson said. McCoullum said the University will now reconsider the pilot program that provides living space for Drexel students in Grad Tower B. "We did this to be a good neighbor to Drexel," she said. "We're seriously going to have to reevaluate our agreement." After the incident, University Police investigators interviewed the other two Drexel students who were rappelling from the building and witnessed to the accident. University and Drexel officials held emergency meetings with students who live on the 15th floor last night to discuss the incident, Moneta said. McCoullum said she was outraged that University Police had to leave their normal patrols to respond to such an "unconscionable, idiotic [and] appalling" incident.

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