IU Junior Remembered After Falling From Fourth-Floor Balcony

IU junior Jacob Schleinz died after falling from a fourth-floor balcony at Urban Station apartment complex early Friday, April 2. He was 20 years old.

Police arrived near the corner of Washington and Smith just before 5:45 a.m. and found Schleinz on the sidewalk. He was transported to a nearby hospital with significant injuries and later died. Local officials ruled the fall and accident.

Schleinz was from Urbana, Illinois and a student in the Kelley School of Business.  He was also an active member of Sigma Chi fraternity and Indiana University Dance Marathon.

“He was always a person to make people feel comfortable no matter what circumstance they were in,” IUDM director of entertainment, Tom Werner, said. “His big smile would light up every room and make everyone in a better mood.”

Those who knew Schleinz the best say he was not only a successful hockey player and ambitious student, but also a genuinely happy person.

“He just wanted everyone to be happy and he would sacrifice his own happiness for that,” IU junior Stephanie Schervish said. “I think that Jacob went to every event, everything with all of his energy.”

Schervish said Schleinz was the love of her life in an emotional Instagram post last Saturday.

She had gone home to Michigan over Easter weekend when a sorority sister called to tell her about the accident. Schervish was driving when she got the call and quickly pulled over to the side of the road.

“I got out of the car and sat on the ground and just cried,” Schervish said. “Some random lady was running, and she just took one look at me and threw herself over me.”

Schervish said friends can show support by donating to the Jacob Schleinz Memorial Scholarship set up by Jacob’s roommates. The GoFundMe page has raised over $140,000.