An article in The Scotsman, an Edinburgh-based Scottish newspaper, reported that Lavender fell from the fourth-floor balcony of one of the university's residence halls. Paramedics from the Scottish Ambulance Service responded to students' calls to the building at around 1 a.m. Lavender died from his injuries at the scene, The Scotsman reported.
"Everyone was devastated and shocked," Michael Chen '11, who was on the FSP with Lavender, said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth.
The individual authorized to speak to the press at the Lothian and Borders Police Department, which patrols Edinburgh, was not available for comment as of Jan. 2.
Lavender was alone at the time of the incident, according to Chen, but had joined other students for dinner a few hours earlier and was planning to visit Paris with several FSP students the following Tuesday.
Police are not currently treating Lavender's death as suspicious, Dean of the College Tom Crady said in a Dec. 15 interview with The Dartmouth.
"Obviously, we're very concerned about not having more information than that," Crady said in the interview. "At some point, there may be a formal statement made by the police, so that's what we're waiting for right now. They're going through their processes."
Crady said the College has made counselors and psychologists available at Dick's House for students. He has also been in contact with Lavender's family about a possible memorial service during Winter term, he said.
"[College President James Wright] called Cody's mom as well," he said. "They're very distressed, and we're trying to provide as much support from the College as possible."
Lavender, a 20-year-old native of Tucson, Ariz., studied religion and women and gender studies at the College, according to his Facebook page. He was co-chair of Gender Sexuality XYZ, formerly the Gay-Straight Alliance, and served on the staff of Aporia, the College's philosophy journal.
"He always struck me as being someone so full of life -- forceful in his views and open in his emotions," Nathan Bruschi '10, a classmate and friend of Lavender's, said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth. "I think the appropriate way to feel about Cody's untimely death is thankfulness for the light he gave during the brief time he had."
Alyssa Lavender, Cody Lavender's sister, said her brother had hoped to move to the East Coast to attend college since childhood. In an e-mail, she said Lavender sought to return to Gallup, N.M. and teach on the Navajo Reservation after college.
"Cody was and still is very influential," Alyssa Lavender said. "He was always there to stand up for what he believed in. He fought for everything that he felt was right."
The Lavender family has asked Cody Lavender's friends to send them memories or stories about him. Alyssa Lavender said the family has received about 60 notes so far.
"We've had a large response to it," she said. "It's from a lot of people -- everyone that knew him and were friends [with him]. He gave advice to so many people, including his family."
Lavender was buried in Klagetoh, Ariz., on Dec. 23 and a mass was held the same day in Gallup, she said. The religion FSP students also held a memorial at the University of Edinburgh's New College on Dec. 16, Chen said.
"We're just deeply concerned and saddened by the news of this," Crady said. "Our heart goes out to Cody's family."
Nathan Bruschi is a member of The Dartmouth staff.
