Utah
University of Utah announces $5M settlement for international student who was killed
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SALT LAKE CITY — The College of Utah introduced it reached a settlement and pays $5 million to the dad and mom of a global scholar who was killed final 12 months.
Zhifan Dong was a first-year scholar from China who was allegedly killed by fellow scholar and boyfriend Haoyu Wang on Feb. 11, 2022, at a downtown Salt Lake Metropolis resort. Police say Wang injected his girlfriend with a deadly dose of medication as a part of a suicide pact.
Wang is presently incarcerated awaiting trial within the case, the college mentioned in a press launch. Wang was charged final 12 months in third District Courtroom with homicide, a first-degree felony, along with two counts of drug possession with intent to distribute, a second-degree and third-degree felony.
Dong’s dad and mom criticized the college in July and mentioned the college failed “to guard her when she wanted it probably the most.” Earlier than her demise, Dong was endangered, lacking and an alleged sufferer of home violence.
In July 2022, the college launched the outcomes of a evaluate of how its Housing and Residential Training staff, Utah International workplace and public security division dealt with the times and weeks main as much as Dong’s homicide.
“It’s our hope that Zhifan will likely be remembered and that her reminiscence will encourage others to assist forestall intimate companion violence and save lives on campus and in all our communities. We hope she’s going to encourage different victims to hunt assist and to depart their abusers,” Dong’s dad and mom mentioned in an announcement.
A joint assertion from the college and Dong’s dad and mom mentioned Tuesday the settlement — pending legislative approval — will honor her reminiscence and resolve any “excellent authorized claims in opposition to the college.” The varsity pays $5 million to the household and a memorial will likely be established on campus in Dong’s reminiscence.
“Though her life was brief, in these brief 19 years, she lived a wealthy and fulfilling life,” Dong’s dad and mom mentioned in an announcement. “She had lived, had cherished, had been completely satisfied, and had been blessed. Her brief life on earth was not in useless.”
The settlement is not going to embody any state appropriations or funds from scholar tuition, a press launch mentioned.
“Our campus continues to mourn the demise of Zhifan Dong,” College of Utah President Taylor Randall mentioned. “In the present day’s settlement demonstrates our seriousness in honoring Zhifan Dong and reaffirming our dedication to the continuing work of addressing all elements of scholar security.”
“Her homicide is a reminder that intimate companion violence is a societal downside that transcends borders and cultures, and manifests in some ways,” Randall added. “Nobody ought to must endure the loss of a kid to violence and our college will stay diligent, proceed to enhance, and advance the well being and wellbeing of our college students.”
The settlement has been permitted by Gov. Spencer Cox, and within the subsequent few days the Utah Legislature is predicted to vote on a joint decision to approve it as nicely.
Brian C. Stewart, of the legislation agency of Parker & McConkie, attorneys for the Dong household, mentioned the household is grateful to shut this chapter of their journey for justice for his or her daughter.
“The loss makes us very unhappy, leaving us solely limitless unhappiness and longing, and too many regrets. Once we shed tears and choked up over the images of our daughter, her pretty smiling face and acquainted voice replayed in our minds again and again,” the Dong household assertion mentioned. “We all know that she has by no means gone far, and he or she is in our hearts.”
Contributing: Pat Reavy