NEWS RELEASE, 2/8/99 STATEMENT FROM UC BERKELEY CHANCELLOR ROBERT BERDAHL REGARDING THE DEATH OF STUDENT MALCOLM RUSSELL HART

Public Affairs

BERKELEY-- "On behalf of the entire University of California, Berkeley, community, I wish to express our profound sadness at the tragic death of Malcolm Russell Hart, a UC Berkeley senior majoring in Italian who was killed in a Sierra avalanche this past weekend. To his parents and family in New Hampshire and to his friends at UC Berkeley, we on campus offer our deepest condolences and sympathy. Amid this great sadness, I also wish to express enormous gratitude for the heroic efforts of those who saved the lives of three other young people also buried for hours in the snow. I especially wish to extend my gratitude to Cal students Harry Eichelberger and Derek Lerch, both of whom showed great courage in their attempt to save themselves and their friends. To all who came to the assistance of these young people - their rescuers and the medical staff in Truckee - the campus community sends its heartfelt thanks."