Junior Dies While Studying Abroad in Spain
Memorial Mass Held in Dalhgren Chapel Wednesday Night
Updated at 2:18 p.m. on Oct. 9.
Arielle DaCosta (COL ’11) died this week while studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
University officials were informed of DaCosta’s death by authorities in Spain late Tuesday, according to an e-mail from Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson that was sent to the campus community this afternoon.
DaCosta was studying at the University of Salamanca in a program arranged by Georgetown's Office of International Programs. According to Olson, she was pronounced dead at Hospital Clinico, a hospital located near the University of Salamanca. Olson did not specify the cause of DaCosta’s death.
According to María Torres, secretary to the director of international studies at the University of Salamanca, DaCosta studied Spanish language and culture in Salamanca and achieved excellent academic results.
DaCosta, who lived in Stoughton, Mass., graduated from Dana Hall School in Wellesley, Mass. in 2007.
A memorial Mass for DaCosta was held at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday in Dahlgren Chapel.
Olson advised members of the community to consult Residence Life staff, chaplains, faculty members, Campus Ministry staff, or the Counseling and Psychiatric Service if needed. CAPS can be reached at (202) 444-7243.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid, as well as DaCosta’s family, could not be reached for comment. Magdalena Chica-Garzon, the adviser to study-abroad programs in Spain in the Office of International Programs, declined to comment.
Stay tuned to thehoya.com for updates.
Oct 07 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
The family could not be reached for comment? Are you serious? You already tried to reach the family for comment on this? What the hell, the newspapers at this school are full of morally bankrupt mudrakers
Oct 07 2009 at 4:36 p.m.
I disagree with the post above. This is unquestionably a terrible tragedy and my sincere condolences go out to anyone who knew this young lady (I did not). However, it is fully within the right of a newspaper to attempt to ascertain the facts of case. The article says she passed sometime 'this week,' so you don't even know how long the Hoya waited before trying to contact the family. This is a really sad day for Georgetown and I don't begrudge the Hoya at all for attempting to due its duty to inform the community about the facts in the matter.
Oct 07 2009 at 4:58 p.m.
I think you mean "muckrakers" rather than "mudrakers," even though neither term would apply here.
It is the job of a newspaper to report the news. Part of that job includes contacting the parties involved, even for great tragedies such as this one.
It is a delicate balance, of course, for a campus newspaper when reporting on such tender and emotional issues facing the Georgetown community, and I can understand your reaction.
I am confident, however, that The Hoya was professional, compassionate, and respectful in its attempt to contact Ms. DeCosta's family.
Oct 07 2009 at 5:43 p.m.
The Hoya has always done a good job covering sad events like this. My prayers are with Arielle's family and friends.
Oct 07 2009 at 11:31 p.m.
Hoya2010, it is common and acceptable journalistic practice to contact the family of a recently deceased person to give them an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about the trajedy of the death of a loved one. Reporters are trained to do this in as sensitive and respectful a manner as possible, and I can tell you firsthand that it is one of the hardest things I have ever done as a journalist.
Journalists have an obligation to get all the facts of a story and to contact all relevant parties. In the case of a death, contacting the family is standard practice. Please stop bashing The Hoya for doing its job.
Oct 08 2009 at 12:32 a.m.
Brian, you're not a trained reporter or a journalist. You work for a student paper. asking the family for comment within 48 hrs of death is a bit much.
Oct 08 2009 at 7:51 a.m.
^ Is it? They've done it before. They did it with Terrance's death last year. They did it with the passing of Chris Higgins as well.
Newspapers do it all the time. Just because it is a school newspaper doesn't mean the writers don't understand the sensitivities involved. Look, criticizing the Hoya is a common thing on campus, but that doesn't mean that everything they do is poor. This is a tragedy, undoubtedly, but there is nothing in this article that is not standard journalistic practice. I would assume the Voice has done the same.
Oct 08 2009 at 8:24 a.m.
On behalf of the DaCosta family, please, let them be. This family has gone through unimaginable tragedy over the past 3 years. And now, their 3rd immediate family death, they have now lost their daughter, grand-daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. Stop. Leave them be. Please...
Oct 08 2009 at 8:30 a.m.
Brother-in-law to Arielle. Journalists? Let me know when you think you've found one b/c I haven't seen any signs of one in decades. Had it occurred to any of you that the entire family may not have been informed of the facts yet? You want to contact the family? What for? To get a comment? You make me sick! Come contact me I have some comments for you.
Oct 08 2009 at 9:14 a.m.
Listen, a girl is dead. A student; a daughter; a person.
Whatever comments made here ought to focus on the loss of a life from the world -- Arielle's life -- not on the principles of journalism, regardless of who is right.
I ashamed to have to point this out to my fellow students.
Oct 08 2009 at 9:15 a.m.
Hoya2009, do not belittle me because I don't work for the Washington Post. Yes, I work for a student newspaper, but do you think we have no idea what we are doing? Do you think we get no training at all and don't hold ourselves to the same standards as professional papers? Are you aware of the training that reporters go through? We receive journalism training, ethics training, we will be receiving diversity training shortly as per the sanctions imposed by the Media Board, we have a media advisor (a former Washington Post reporter and editor), etc. The Hoya would not be doing its job if we did not try to report the story as fully as possible.
Oct 08 2009 at 9:37 a.m.
Condolences to Arielle's family and friends.
Oct 08 2009 at 9:45 a.m.
Eric,
I think everyone feels great sympathy for your family. But I hardly think that student journalists are the right target for your anger. The student author was trying to gather information so that Arielle's classmates (some of whom were friends) might know what happened also. Granted, the Georgetown community might not be as personally close to someone as immediate family is, but it is still a community that cares about its members. It is not unreasonable to want to know what happened. I'm sure whoever attempted to contact the family meant no harm.
Oct 08 2009 at 10:05 a.m.
And just to add (and my sincere condolences to the family), for all we know the Hoya was not looking for the cause of death, but just a comment about Arielle from her family. Just a message to the community which includes her friends.
There needn't have been any prying, if it occurred at all.
May she rest in peace.
Oct 08 2009 at 11:39 a.m.
Thanks. I'm not angry. I'd just prefer the "ethics of journalism" discussion be held elsewhere. Also to say that the whole family should hear the facts before it "hits the wires" in my opinion. And lastly, technology has brought us beyond the need for so-called journalism to a great degree. Thanks.
Oct 08 2009 at 12:08 p.m.
You people are fools. Contacting the family (and all involved parties) is standard operating procedure for a newspaper in a situation like this. It is not "insensitive" it is called fact checking.
Here is an article from the Mirror a UK paper in which they talk to the Husband of a deceased woman after they identified her body
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/08/motorway-remains-are-missing-mel-115875-21731267/
Some of you may want to read a real newspaper because they line "The family could not be reached for comment" is so common they might as well add it to every story. That is what you do, you call the family, you call the police representative, etc.
Get off your high horses and let the Hoya do its job.
Oct 08 2009 at 1:09 p.m.
agreed with the comment above. let the hoya do its job.
Oct 08 2009 at 2:55 p.m.
Hey all,
I appreciate everyone's comments on this story — this may not be the best forum for dispute over specific journalistic practices, however. Out of respect for Ms. DaCosta and those close to her, I would suggest that anyone with concerns or opinions — positive or negative — about how this or other stories have been written and reported write to me at editor@thehoya.com in this case.
Of course, I encourage people to continue offering feedback and posting on this page — but I do think it would be better if the tenor of discussion changed. Thanks everyone.
Kevin Barber
Editor in Chief
The Hoya
Oct 08 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
I never met Arielle, but I am praying for her and especially her family.
Eternal rest grant unto Arielle, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Oct 09 2009 at 6:17 p.m.
Kevin, thank you.
Arielle, everyone is praying for your family.
Oct 10 2009 at 11:38 a.m.
Reading these comments just blows my mind. You're right-it is the "right" of the newspaper reporters and the press in general to be selfish and insensitive, so that curiosity can be quelled today, rather than at a later date when the family is not trembling with angst and sheer shock. Is this what Georgetown is pumping out...a bunch of book smart idiots?
Oct 10 2009 at 10:37 p.m.
You know what's insensitive Mike? Using this article to post inflammatory, hostile comments. Like Kevin said, if you have something to say, email the paper and rant all you want-- but this is very clearly not the place for it.
Rest in peace Arielle. You're in my thoughts.
Oct 13 2009 at 1:18 a.m.
So when exactly are the details surrounding this death going to be made public?
Oct 13 2009 at 9:41 a.m.
When Mike says they can.
Oct 13 2009 at 7:25 p.m.
To good times, to memories, to your smile.
To your family's will and strength. I will continue to think of you fondly.
Oct 13 2009 at 8:01 p.m.
A member of my family died tragically during his sophomore year of college. Our family was grateful that the student paper reached out to us and gave us an opportunity to talk about what a wonderful young guy the world has lost.
While you might believe that it is insensitive to reach out to the family, you should at least be aware that many families want and even need to talk in a moment like this. To each their own. For families that don't a simple "I'm sorry, I'd rather not talk about this" is all that's needed. But it is perfectly (and obviously) acceptable for the newspaper to ask.