Transito "Tito" Torres

Statement from CU dean of students Deb Coffin

On behalf of the entire University of Colorado at Boulder community, I want to express our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and classmates of our student, Transito 'Tito' Torres, who died last night in Boulder.

Support services are being provided to his CU classmates and faculty in women and gender studies, where Tito was completing his senior year of study. As the onset of finals and the holidays can be a difficult time, we urge any faculty, staff or students who may be strongly affected by this tragic loss, or who are experiencing feelings of depression or hopelessness, to contact our Office of Counseling and Psychological Services at 303-492-6766 or at colorado.edu/.

A University of Colorado senior who was killed Thursday night on U.S. 36 after police said he apparently jumped into traffic from the Table Mesa Drive overpass was an ambitious student who wanted to "change the world," CU officials said.

Transito "Tito" Eduardo Torres, 22, was studying women's studies at CU and was involved in numerous student groups including the Global Studies Residential Academic Program, for which he spent several years as a resident advisor, according to CU officials.

Torres died in the westbound lanes of U.S. 36 after he was struck by a Mercury Mountaineer at about 8:20 p.m. Thursday, according to Boulder police. Investigators say they think Torres jumped from the overpass and was already lying on the ground, severely injured, when the SUV hit him.

Officers suspect Torres jumped based on witness reports and because they found a bicycle and backpack at the top of the bridge with only one set of footprints in the snow -- indicating no one else caused him to fall, according to police.

The Boulder County Coroner's Office hasn't made an official ruling on the cause and manner of his death.

Occupants of the SUV, including at least one child, were taken to Boulder Community Hospital and were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Torres came to CU four years ago from Palo Alto, Calif., and initially was an astronomy major, CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard said. He quickly became involved in the global residential academic program, which connects students with similar interests and goals.

He later transferred into the Women and Gender Studies Program and was on track to graduate this summer, officials said.

"He was well known and well loved by people all over campus who knew him and worked with him for all kinds of causes that he was involved in," Hilliard said. "He came from modest circumstances and wanted to change the world."

Tom Zeiler, director of the global studies academic program, said he spoke with an "upbeat" Torres on Wednesday about his plans to graduate this summer and possibly apply to graduate school. Torres also was planning to have knee surgery so he could continue playing ultimate Frisbee and soccer, Zeiler said.

"He was a really good athlete," Zeiler said.

The CU senior hoped, eventually, to work with underprivileged kids "like he was," Zeiler said. The area of Palo Alto where Torres was raised is very poor, and that inspired Torres to give back, Zeiler said.

"He wanted to go into some sort of helping profession," he said.

After learning Friday that police believe Torres jumped from the overpass, Zeiler said he began thinking more about his time with him on Wednesday.

"I'm wondering now if he was visiting to say 'goodbye,'" Zeiler said.

Torres, who was an RA for at least two years and lived for the first time off campus this fall, had some work-related "problems" with university administrators last year associated with his responsibilities as an RA, Zeiler said.

"That's why he's not one this year," he said. "He made the decision to sort of cut ties with all of that."

Zeiler said he wonders whether Torres was "overwhelmed by personal things."

"But I never thought that Tito wouldn't make it in what he wanted to do in life," he said. "Obviously, he was going to do what he was going to do. He could take care of himself. That's why this is so shocking."

The students in the global academic program are devastated by Torres' death, Zeiler said. Anne Costain, director of the Women and Gender Studies Program, said her staff and students also were overcome by the news.

"Tito was one of the students who was most involved and active in our student group," Costain said. "He participated in most of our events, he arranged events for us, and he was just a very delightful and engaging young man."

She often would come to work in the morning and find Torres already there, studying in the program's cottage.

"He was really someone whose energy and enthusiasm affected everyone," she said. "He was very, very social, and I would say that probably most of our major and minor students knew him, and everyone liked him."

In a 2008 CU parent newsletter, Torres was highlighted as a student who had immersed himself in dorm life as a committed RA. According to the letter, Torres was "determined to make the most of his education and return to his neighborhood in California, where only 5 percent of the youth attend college, to help others achieve their dreams."

On Wednesday morning, Torres posted an update on Facebook indicating that he was "looking for a new home." At 10 p.m., he wrote, "found a home, now i need to buy furniture! does anyone know of anyone selling a bed or dresser????"

Shelley Dahme, a staff member for the Women and Gender Studies Program, said she'll remember Torres for his selflessness.

"He was one of the most generous students that I've come in close contact with here," Dahme said. "He used his own time this summer to help me at an orientation table for freshmen -- he didn't have to do that."