Search continues for missing Branford senior

While concerned Branford students wait for news, Yale Police are still trying to find Gregory Norris

By Julia Paolitto

COURTESY BRANFORD COLLEGE FACEBOOK Branford Senior Gregory Norris has been missing since Sun., Oct. 31.

Despite the closeness of the residential college community at Yale, Branford students coping with the disappearance of Gregory Norris, BR '99, learned this week that it is disconcertingly easy for a student to simply vanish from the Yale campus without a trace. A search that began on Sun., Oct. 31 has turned up no evidence of the missing senior, and as of Thurs., Nov. 4, had nothing new to report.

Norris has been missing since the afternoon of Sun., Sept. 31, after an unsettling call to his parents in Nebraska prompted them to call the Yale Police Department (YPD). The YPD has referred all inquiries to Tom Conroy, deputy director of public affairs. Conroy said that the YPD is "handling Norris' disappearance as a missing persons case." When asked whether the YPD is considering contacting police departments in surrounding states or appealing to national agencies such as the FBI to help Norris, Conroy declined to respond, saying "we don't know exactly how the police who are pursuing this investigation are handling this, but the Police Department is trying diligently to locate him." New Haven Police Department (NHPD) spokesperson Judy Mongillo explained that while the NHPD "plays a support role" in the current investigation, the YPD is "the lead agency" in the search for Norris. Conroy said that Norris' family is "in constant contact with the YPD." Norris's father has been in New Haven since Monday.

For Branford students used to lively e-mails from their Master, Steven Smith, advertising Yankees outings and rallying IM athletes with the battle cry "bFa," Smith's e-mail on Mon., Nov. 1, simply titled "SOS," was a sobering alert to Norris's disappearance. On Tues., Nov. 2, other college Masters appealed to students for any information concerning Norris' disappearance. As it became clear that Norris would not turn up, a Branford community sobered by the seemingly inexplicable disappearance of one of their own began responding with concern. Smith and Dean Nicole Parisier have held a series of meetings for seniors, and an e-mail sent out by Parisier and addressed to seniors thanked students for "taking such good care of each other, and especially [Norris' roommate]." Parisier also opened her house informally to concerned students the evening of Thurs., Nov. 4.

Branford students themselves, still stunned by the disappearance, are making efforts to provide a supportive and more subdued college atmosphere. Branford Viva's night was postponed in favor of a pizza study break. Branford College Council Chair Jada Yuan, BR '00, explained in an e-mail to all students, "We thought in light of recent events it might be nicer to have a calmer type of gathering." Additionally, a Branford Mellon Forum session, at which seniors are given an opportunity to share senior essay ideas, originally scheduled for Thurs., Nov. 4, was cancelled. Dan Cohen, BR '00, announced in an e-mail, "Given the current situation, and given the fact that the Mellon Forum is intended as a joyous occasion for the senior class, I have decided to postpone tonight's session."

For many students, the hardest aspect of Norris' disappearance is the complete lack of information or explanation. "A lot of people just don't know what's going on, and that's what bothering them,"Alexandra Zoueva, BR '02, said. It is just a disturbing thing here."

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