A University student was pronounced dead yesterday morning near the Nittany Parking Deck after what University Police Services said was "an apparent suicide."

Centre County Coroner Kerry Benninghoff said he planned to conduct an autopsy early this morning on the student, Chad Marek, 20, of 288 Hamilton Hall, to determine the official cause of death.

Police said Office of Physical Plant employee Kenton Dutrow reported that one of his employees discovered Marek's body around 5:30 a.m. yesterday on the service drive between the east side of the parking deck and Rackley Building.

Benninghoff was called to the scene, where he pronounced Marek dead.

"There does not appear to be foul play, but that does not mean there wasn't any," said David Stormer, assistant vice president of Safety and Environmental Services.

University Police Director Thomas Harmon said circumstances of the death and additional inquiries made by police led University police to believe Marek took his own life.

Police said preliminary indications suggest Marek may have jumped from the top of the six-story parking deck.

Officers investigated the area around Marek's body and the parking deck area yesterday, Stormer said. After securing the scene, they combed for clues and photographed and videotaped the area, he said.

Police said they would not comment on specific findings that resulted from their search because the apparent suicide is still under investigation.

Police said Marek's home was in Trevose, Pa.

Leslie Rauscher (junior-political science) had worked in the past with Marek, who was an officer of Linden House in Hamilton Hall.

"He was funny. He always cracked us up," Rauscher said. "He was a whiz with computers." Marek was often seen in Waring Commons playing video games, she added.

Dane Foust, assistant director for residence life, said residence staff members from West and South halls planned to meet with about 70 members of Linden House last night to discuss Marek's death.

"Some people who might have known Chad are obviously going to have a strong reaction to this," Foust said. "If people want to talk, if they're upset, we'll be there."

Foust said members of Linden House had observed police officers on the floor throughout the day, but that many learned about Marek's death for the first time at last night's meeting.

"This is a real high-stress time for students," Foust added. Residence assistants were told to watch for any early warning signs of depressed or potentially troubled students, he said.

Collegian staff writer Angela Pomponio contributed to this report.