A University student died this weekend while on vacation in Mississippi, according to the president of the LSU Indian Student Association.
 
Joseph Smiles Gotham, a 24-year-old computer science graduate student from Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, was on a rafting trip Saturday evening in Tylertown, Miss., when he drowned in a nearby river, said Narender Kumar, president of ISA at LSU.
 
Kumar said about five or six people were on the trip with Gotham. He said the boat overturned, and the people on board attempted to swim to the side of the river. Lifeguards found Gotham on the bottom of the river about 10 minutes later, Kumar said.
 
“It is a tremendous loss to his family and friends,” Kumar said in a message sent to ISA members.
 
Students are encouraged to donate to www.tana.org/donate to help Gotham’s parents. Those donating should select the option “other” in the “make my donation to” section and should mention “Joseph Smiles” in the comments box.
 
 
 
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