信中的Ge Weiwei 算是我的同学，虽不是一个班，当年却总一起上课，还曾经作为基础学院的选手一起参加过辩论赛。如今忆起来，音笑宛然。后来我标新立异改行读了文学，他选了化学，研究生毕业去了香港科技大学。

前些天在北京才听说一个本科同学自杀的消息，想，无论在什么时候，无论有怎样的压力和悲惨的遭遇，都要坚忍地活下去，即便是为了别人而活——因为我知道作为父母，培养子女花费了多少心血，也寄托了怎样的希望，而这希望的破灭，会给他们带来怎样的不幸。选择死亡，是艰难的，也需要勇气，可是艰难地活着，或许更不容易，也要忍受更多更持久的慢性苦楚的咬啮。这时候我时常会想起《罪与罚》中的索尼娅，一个为了受难与屈辱而坚忍地活着的妓女，希望朋友们在遇见大不幸的时候都能够读读这苦难的书，选择坚强，选择活下去地——我们连死都不怕了，还怕活着吗？

Dear students, colleagues, and members of the HKUST family: 

It is with profound sadness that I write you concerning a tragic incident on this campus.  Yesterday evening, Ge Weiwei (27), a postgraduate student in chemistry, was found dead in his dormitory room.  The police has determined the cause of his death was suicide. He had been suffering from depression and had been under medical care.

The University has taken immediate steps to address this most unfortunate incident.  I have asked the Head of our Mainland Students Office and the student's supervisor to fly to the student's hometown in Jiangsu to convey to the parents the University's deepest condolences, to offer assistance, and to accompany the parents and close family members to Hong Kong.  Our Student Affairs Office has arranged post-traumatic counseling for the deceased student's room-mates and classmates.  We call on those who might be traumatised by this tragic incident to utilize the University's professional help.  In consultation with the family members, we will hold a memorial service to grieve and remember Weiwei and to galvanize our collective sorrow into renewed commitment to students' holistic care and education.

I can feel the deep pain of the parents of Weiwei, who came from a village near Nanjing and who came to HKUST as an outstanding student. I share the shock and agony of all our students and colleagues as we search for an explanation for this heartbreaking loss of such a young and promising life, and as we ask ourselves how to prevent a recurrence of such woeful loss in the future. Roland and all our colleagues join me in appealing to our students to treasure our lives. We cannot overemphasize the importance of balancing academic pursuits with a healthy mind and an optimistic attitude.  We urge you to talk to your classmates, your teachers and mentors whenever you have a problem.  You are welcome to talk to me anytime. In our collective grief, let us find new strength, wisdom, and courage to face the future.

Paul Chu

President, HKUST