The Voice
Sometimes it seems the age-old adage, “If it isn’t one thing it’s another,” just won’t go away.
In the past four months, the GC&SU community has incurred at least two tragic and unexpected losses. First students were faced with the stabbing death of sophomore Evan Luke in November, and then two Friday’s ago, the apparent suicide of former GC&SU student Allan Duncan followed.
Students are supposed to worry about grades, money and the future. Watching classmates fall to stabbings and suicides is not exactly a situation that most students foresee in real life; instead, it’s more like an event expected to be seen in a movie.
One lesson learned from our fellow student deaths is that it’s never definite when someone’s last day will be. As sad as it is to fathom, the person who sits next to you in Biology could be killed the next day. But it’s reality. It’s something we have to face, whether we want to or not. The lesson should continue on, as teaching us not to have petty arguments with anyone because it’s not worth it. Life is too short.
Perhaps the most difficult part of such losses is that life doesn’t slow down for a period of mourning. When sudden and tragic deaths occur, there are still shifts to be worked, tests to study for, papers to write and life goes on, whether students like it or not. However students must deal with these tragedies at the same time.
Our university has a wonderful counseling facility that can help. GC&SU’s Counseling Services, located in 122 Lanier Hall, offer free, voluntary and confidential counseling by licensed professional counselors every school day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. They can be reached by phone at 445-5331.
When our community experiences times of grief such as student deaths, these counselors provide outreach to entire classes and groups affiliated with the student or affected by the death. However, these counselors can’t possibly get to each individual who is especially affected by these hard times. Grief is a natural process and there is nothing to be ashamed of– having someone to talk to really could make the difference.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Jan 27 2006. Filed under Our Voice.
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