ISU Police are investigating the death of an ISU student who was found dead in his fifth floor Friley Hall room Thursday morning.

Police discovered the body in a room in Niles-Foster House after they responded to a call from residence hall officials, said ISU Police Capt. Gene Deisinger.

“A call came in from residence hall staff that a person had not been seen for several days, and there was concern for him,” Deisinger said.

The male student’s name will not be released until his family positively identifies him, Deisinger said.

Robert Shumaker, sophomore in sociology, lived on the deceased’s floor. He said he noticed a smell by the deceased’s room several days ago, but never suspected anything.

“The dorms kind of smell,” Shumaker said. “But this morning on my way to breakfast, it was very, very pungent.”

The cause of death has not yet been determined. The State Medical Examiner’s Office in Des Moines will conduct an autopsy.

Deisinger did not speculate on a cause of death. Investigators found “no sign of trauma or a struggle.”

Shumaker said he did not know the deceased but his roommate did.

“[My roommate] said he just kept to himself, he didn’t really know anything about the guy,” Shumaker said.

Mattie Hawley, Upper Friley hall director, said residence hall staff has already started working with the floor to help students grieve.

The staff called a mandatory floor meeting Thursday night. Hawley said staff from the Student Counseling Service would speak at the meeting.

She also said both the Upper Friley and Lower Friley hall directors and counselors will continue to be available for students who want to talk.

Terry Mason, director of student counseling, said each student will react to the death in his or her own way. He said it is important for all students to talk about the death.

“People should talk, share thoughts, share feelings with friends,” Mason said.

Some students might have a harder time coping than others, he said, and there are warning signs to look for such as changes in sleeping or eating habits, lack of concentration, crying for no reason, guilt or even anger.

“It is a perfectly natural reaction to get angry at the victim,” Mason said.

Many students may feel guilty for not being close to the victim. He said people sometimes feel they could have done something.

Mason said any student having problems coping or wanting to talk to a professional should make an appointment with the counseling center.

An after-hours phone line is also available for students who are having a crisis and need to speak to a counselor. The number is (515) 233-5811.

— Anna Holland and Jyni Ekins contributed to this story.