Suicide stuns Discovery Canyon again Young Life leaders provide support, but critics question Christian group’s connection BY DEBBIE KELLEY
[email protected] — CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE Young Life staff associate Jessica Mycoskie, center in black jacket, says a prayer with students and parents Thursday while remembering a Discovery Canyon Campus student who took his life this past weekend. Young Life representatives handed out hot chocolate and helped the students cope. Another family from Discovery Canyon Campus will bury their child on Saturday, one week after he took his life. Henry Rodriguez, in the backstretch of his junior year of high school, was a gregarious guy, say those who knew him. A rugby player and outdoors lover, the 16‐year‐old had no qualms about crowd surfing — having his body jutted over many outstretched arms — or eating a raw sweet potato, just because. “I was confused more than anything,” Matt Chaudhary, a junior at Discovery Canyon Campus in northern Colorado Springs said Thursday about the death. “Henry was always the strongest kid I knew. Strong mentally, physically, spiritually. It was really hard news.” Although The Gazette does not typically name those who commit suicide, Henry was the sixth Discovery Canyon Campus student to commit suicide in the past 13 months. And at least half, including Henry, were involved with Young Life. CAROL LAWRENCE, THE GAZETTE The nondenominational worldwide Christian youth organization was founded in Six Discovery Canyon Campus students have committed suicide in the last 13 months. At least half, including the most recent this past 1941 and is based in Colorado Springs.