Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

COLUMN: Band together to mourn victims lost
By Darren Price
The Daily Gamecock (U. South Carolina)
10/30/2007

(U-WIRE) COLUMBIA, S.C. — For me, and for the rest of the students at the University of South Carolina, the past two days have been very saddening. I did not know any of those lost at Ocean Isle on Sunday, and I have very few friends who lost friends.

Even without a personal connection to the fire, I, like many others, still feel the sting of loss, and have trouble wrapping my mind around what happened. How could seven families have lost their sons and daughters? It is hard to comprehend, and even harder to begin to understand what those who lost friends and family feel.

For some touched by the tragedy, it may be easier to just go about their day as usual, and now, at least, detach themselves from the tragedy. Sometimes it is easier to go to class or to stand in line for Florida tickets as if it was a normal day than to attempt to juggle school and mourning. It can be difficult to grieve when there is so much to do.

For others, especially those closest to the tragedy, it can be hard to even function in the blaze's wake. As someone who was personally connected with last year's tragic shooting at Virginia Tech and a resident of Blacksburg, Va., I personally know how it feels to have to attempt to go about my day as news coverage plagues my home, all the while knowing nothing about the welfare of my family and friends.

To say it is difficult is quite a gross understatement. It is impossible.

SAEs and Tri-Delts have it the hardest of all. They've been plagued by national and local media attempting to get a perspective from the students closest to the fire, having not only to cope with the loss of their brothers and sisters, but they have to dodge media frenzy in their grief.

Everyone deals with the tragedy differently, but it is important to remember that everyone must deal with it somehow.

Now is an important time to remember that we are all members of a community. Each member of the University has been hit by this tragedy and everyone is trying to find his or her own way to cope. In this time, remember even during grief and tragedy, it is important to lean on one another.

Pray for those who were lost and be there for those who are most affected. Reach out to friends deeply affected by the loss of friends, be a shoulder to lean on or a friend to lift spirits. Listen to them if they need to talk. If they want to be alone, leave them be. But make sure make yourself available to each other in the coming days.

After a tragedy such as the one that occurred on Sunday in Ocean Isle, it is important that everyone in the University band together in grief. A college campus is, above all else, a community, and that needs to be remembered in times of grief.

By being there for the other members of the community, we can help each other cope with the tragedy and deal with Sunday's loss.

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