Message from President Denise M. Trauth

June 16, 2018

We received heartbreaking news today that a Texas Tech University graduate student, Elmer Arrieta, died in a tragic accident while participating in a University of Texas at Austin study abroad program in Irkutsk, Russia. On June 16, Elmer and 19 other students were hiking on Olkhon Island. Elmer was injured in a fall. A Texas State University student, Theodore Warner, was also on the trip but is confirmed to be safe.

On behalf of the Texas State community, I share my deepest condolences with the family of Elmer Arrieta and with the entire Texas Tech community. Our thoughts are also with the UT faculty and staff in Russia, and all those affected by this tragedy.

I am grateful to all the UT faculty and staff that are coordinating support services and counseling for the students involved. I encourage students who are affected by this loss to contact the University Counseling Center at counselingcenter@txstate.edu or 512-245-2208.

Denise M. Trauth
President