Death of a Wake Forest student
The following message was sent to parents and families
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Dear Wake Forest University Parents and Families,
I am very sorry to tell you that one of our students, Bingrui (Zachary) Zhang, a rising junior biophysics major from Beijing, China, has died. Please join me in offering your thoughts and prayers to Zachary’s family and friends during this heartbreaking time.
Even though it is the summer and most of our students are home, there is support available for any student who needs it. Students can contact the University Counseling Center (336-758-5273); crisis counseling is available anytime, anywhere. Students can also contact the Office of the Chaplain (336-758-5210) for support. International students may also want to contact the Office of Global Programs and Studies (336-758-5938). Undergraduate students who find it challenging to meet academic obligations should contact the Office of Academic Advising (336-758-3320). We always want students to know that it is wise to seek help during their grief and that it is a sign of strength. Please encourage your students to ask for help if they need it.
Copied below is the message that your students, faculty, and staff received. As with all campus-wide emails, those are archived on the Family News section of the Parents and Families page.
I know that after the loss of a student, sometimes families have questions about what happened. Please know that we are required to uphold students’ privacy due to laws such as FERPA and HIPAA. However, please be assured that if there were any health or safety risks to your students, we would communicate those promptly. We hope this will allay concerns that extend beyond the unthinkable sadness that comes with a student’s passing.
Please know that we will do all we can to support our students at this difficult time.
Sincerely,
Betsy Chapman (’92, MA ’94)
Executive Director of Family Communication and Volunteer Management
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