It will be a difficult time as Carroll College students return to class next week after fall break, Carroll President Thomas Trebon said Wednesday.

Many students will be returning to campus to find a classmate dead. Narles Yde-Layne, a freshman football player and Capital High graduate, committed suicide Monday, less than a day after charges were filed in justice court alleging he raped a fellow Carroll student Sept. 10 after meeting the woman at an off-campus house party.

"The Carroll community is deeply saddened by the tragic events of this past month. Because of those events there is not only a family who has lost a son, but also a family with a daughter who has suffered as well," Trebon said. "Our sympathy and support goes out to both of these suffering families."

Trebon said he did not know whether or not the young woman who was allegedly raped will continue to attend classes at Carroll. He said he hoped she will feel safe enough to return to campus life next week and take advantage of counseling opportunities offered to all students.

Several group counseling sessions were held Monday and Tuesday, and Trebon said that as the students return, the sessions will continue with assistance from Carroll priests, other clergy, and the college's on-site counseling staff. One-on-one counseling is also available to students.

"We must remember that the events of this past month have left many victims in their terrible wake," Trebon added.

In the previous week, a Carroll College hearing panel absolved him of wrongdoing in a closed-door decision made by three college staffers and two students. The decision was released by Yde-Layne's attorney.

While Trebon declined to comment on the outcome of Carroll's hearing board, he said that he believed all the college's policies and procedures were followed in the process. As a matter of course, Carroll's administrators plan a careful review of all applicable policies and procedures, Trebon added.

He said he hopes that the outcome of Carroll's hearing board process doesn't discourage young women who believe they're victims of sexual assault from filing complaints with the college.

"In any event there's always the concern as to what the impact will be in the future," Trebon said, adding that administrators are working together to encourage students to address their concerns with faculty and staff and come forward if they feel they've been violated.

Reporter Laura Tode can be reached at 447-4081 or laura.tode@helenair.com.