"Any student death is a tragedy," he said. "This is just a terrible loss."

Renzulli also said that Columbia is taking steps to help students deal with Roskot's and Nelford's deaths. He said administrators began the process by informing all students of the murder-suicide via e-mail messages.

"The university has made counselors available throughout the weekend for any students," Renzulli said. "There have also been meetings for people in her dorm, and a hotline has been opened."

Special attention has been paid to Roskot's suitemates and her lacrosse friends, as well as Nelford's friends from his time at Columbia, Renzulli said. Roskot's suitemates have been temporarily re-housed.

"There is a tremendous sense of shock," Renzulli said. "The campus has been in mourning."

Members of the community expressed their grief Sunday during a Catholic mass held in Roskot's honor at a campus chapel. About 450 people attended.

Mikhail G. Shapiro, a first-year at Brown University, was at Columbia on Saturday for a student government function. He described the campus atmosphere as "drab."