by Georgia Kaufman

Humor Editor

On Sun., Mar. 28 in Wall Lake, IA, two members of Iowa State University’s club rowing team passed away after their boat capsized in the middle of Little Wall Lake early in the morning. There were five teammates on the boat when it capsized — a bystander saved three of the five rowers. A dive team began to scavenge for the two missing bodies late Sunday. The diving team recovered both bodies by the morning of Mon. Mar. 29. 

Authorities identified the two men who passed away as Yaakov Ben-David, a second year University student, and Derek Nanni, a first year. Ben-David was a 20-year-old accounting major from Washington D.C., and Nanni was a 19-year-old chemistry major from Normal, IL. Authorities have yet to release the three other crew members’ names, due to privacy concerns. The survivors  were both treated at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, IA. They were released late Sunday.

The President of Iowa State University (ISU) Wendy Wintersteen released a statement on behalf of the university. She stated, “The Iowa State community is heartbroken to learn of this tragic accident at Little Wall Lake. At this time, we are focused on providing support to club members, their families and friends. We ask that everyone keep them in their thoughts during this very difficult time.” She went on to thank a variety of different people and groups for their “response and continued search efforts.”

The ISU Police Department and the Hamilton County’s Sheriff’s Department are working together to investigate what happened on the morning of Sun., Mar. 28. Iowa State University’s News Service reported that, “The university will also conduct an internal review of policies and procedures related to this incident. Additional detail and comment surrounding what happened will not be available until these reviews are complete. Please understand this could take several days or weeks.”

Toyia Younger, Senior VP for Student Affairs also came out with a statement regarding the importance of student privacy and friendly compassion, emphasizing that it should be shown toward all ISU students. Younger stated, “We extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the two students we lost on Sunday. During this time of grief, I ask the entire Iowa State community to show compassion and support for one another… The Student Affairs team is providing ongoing outreach to comfort and support those students involved in the accident, other members of the Iowa State Crew Club, [as well as] their families and friends. We ask that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

(Source: ISU News Service)