2008 Woodie Awards
Survivors need support from those who understand
The Traveler Editorial Board
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Opinion
2008 has started off on a very bad note for several university campuses across the country. In the past month, four U.S. universities, including the UA, have experienced the violent deaths of students.
On Feb. 14, a gunman opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns in a classroom at Northern Illinois University, killing five students and wounding 16 more before taking his own life. The event left NIU students and officials in a state of shock, and the university shut down for several days while the campus community mourned and university officials tried to find ways to help everyone cope with the situation.
Then, last week, the student-body president at the University of North Carolina was found lying on a street about a mile from the UNC campus after police received two 911 calls reporting gunshots. Eve Carson had been shot multiple times, including one shot to the head. The Chapel Hill Police Department is currently searching for a suspect who used Carson's ATM card after her death.
Auburn student Lauren Burk, 18, was found wounded by a gunshot near a highway and later died in a hospital. She had been abducted, forced into a car at gunpoint and was shot when she tried to escape.
Sunday, tragedy struck the UA campus when senior Katharine Wood was found dead in her apartment at Colonial Arms Apartments after police responded to a 911 call about a disturbance. Wood's ex-boyfriend, Zachariah Marcyniuk, has been arrested in connection with the murder.
Horrific events such as these can be devastating for the victims' friends and families, and we offer our sincerest condolences to all those who knew and loved Wood.
Wood's friends and family will not be the only ones affected by her death, however.
Unfortunately, Wood's death, and the others in the last month, will bring up a mix of sadness, anger and other emotions for others who have suffered from such tragedies in the past.
The shooting at NIU was all-too-reminiscent of a similar incident at Virginia Tech University last spring, in which 32 people were killed.
Likewise, Wood's death will undoubtedly bring up painful memories of the 2005 murder of 20-year-old UA political science major April Love and the 2000 shooting of associate English professor John Locke.
Those who were close to Love and Locke might be experiencing the pain of losing their loved ones all over again after hearing the news of Wood's death.
For this reason, we have a request of those on our campus who have experienced such a loss before: reach out to those who are experiencing it now.
Nobody but you can fully grasp the multitude of emotions - the anger, sadness, confusion and other feelings - Wood's friends and loved ones are experiencing. Why not share your experiences, and give them a chance to talk about their own with someone who understands?
Counseling and Psychological Services at the Walker Health Center is offering counseling to anyone who needs help coping with Wood's death. Contact a counselor there and give them your contact information to share with those who might want to talk to you.
If you don't feel comfortable with direct contact, write a letter to the Traveler editor to let these people know you are thinking of them. Offer advice on support groups or counselors that helped you deal with your own loss.
In short, be there for them in any way that you can. Surviving your own loss has, no doubt, made you a stronger person; there are many who could benefit from that strength right now.
For those who need assistance coping with the tragedy or need someone to speak with to gain perspective, serve as an outlet, or maybe some other provision, the staff in Counseling and Psychological Services can assist.
You may always phone ahead for an appointment, but they offer walk-in services as well. CAPS Walk-In Clinic is open Monday through Friday. Check-in time is 1p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Patients should be prepared to stay 2 hours.
Those who are unable to come at 1 p.m. on any day should contact CAPS at 575-5276. CAPS will see as many students as possible based on current staffing levels.
On Feb. 14, a gunman opened fire with a shotgun and two handguns in a classroom at Northern Illinois University, killing five students and wounding 16 more before taking his own life. The event left NIU students and officials in a state of shock, and the university shut down for several days while the campus community mourned and university officials tried to find ways to help everyone cope with the situation.
Then, last week, the student-body president at the University of North Carolina was found lying on a street about a mile from the UNC campus after police received two 911 calls reporting gunshots. Eve Carson had been shot multiple times, including one shot to the head. The Chapel Hill Police Department is currently searching for a suspect who used Carson's ATM card after her death.
Auburn student Lauren Burk, 18, was found wounded by a gunshot near a highway and later died in a hospital. She had been abducted, forced into a car at gunpoint and was shot when she tried to escape.
Sunday, tragedy struck the UA campus when senior Katharine Wood was found dead in her apartment at Colonial Arms Apartments after police responded to a 911 call about a disturbance. Wood's ex-boyfriend, Zachariah Marcyniuk, has been arrested in connection with the murder.
Horrific events such as these can be devastating for the victims' friends and families, and we offer our sincerest condolences to all those who knew and loved Wood.
Wood's friends and family will not be the only ones affected by her death, however.
Unfortunately, Wood's death, and the others in the last month, will bring up a mix of sadness, anger and other emotions for others who have suffered from such tragedies in the past.
The shooting at NIU was all-too-reminiscent of a similar incident at Virginia Tech University last spring, in which 32 people were killed.
Likewise, Wood's death will undoubtedly bring up painful memories of the 2005 murder of 20-year-old UA political science major April Love and the 2000 shooting of associate English professor John Locke.
Those who were close to Love and Locke might be experiencing the pain of losing their loved ones all over again after hearing the news of Wood's death.
For this reason, we have a request of those on our campus who have experienced such a loss before: reach out to those who are experiencing it now.
Nobody but you can fully grasp the multitude of emotions - the anger, sadness, confusion and other feelings - Wood's friends and loved ones are experiencing. Why not share your experiences, and give them a chance to talk about their own with someone who understands?
Counseling and Psychological Services at the Walker Health Center is offering counseling to anyone who needs help coping with Wood's death. Contact a counselor there and give them your contact information to share with those who might want to talk to you.
If you don't feel comfortable with direct contact, write a letter to the Traveler editor to let these people know you are thinking of them. Offer advice on support groups or counselors that helped you deal with your own loss.
In short, be there for them in any way that you can. Surviving your own loss has, no doubt, made you a stronger person; there are many who could benefit from that strength right now.
For those who need assistance coping with the tragedy or need someone to speak with to gain perspective, serve as an outlet, or maybe some other provision, the staff in Counseling and Psychological Services can assist.
You may always phone ahead for an appointment, but they offer walk-in services as well. CAPS Walk-In Clinic is open Monday through Friday. Check-in time is 1p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Patients should be prepared to stay 2 hours.
Those who are unable to come at 1 p.m. on any day should contact CAPS at 575-5276. CAPS will see as many students as possible based on current staffing levels.
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