October 29, 2007

• Video: Dennis Pruitt, VP for student affairs (1:43)
• Video: Lauren Hodge, Delta Delta Delta president (0:44)
• Video: Jay Laura, Sigma Alpha Epsilon president (0:52)

University joins in grief: ‘These students will never be forgotten’

A remarkable silence.

In a place where University of South Carolina students and alumni have gathered since the 1960s for parties, dances, dinners and celebrations, the Russell House University Union was a place of quiet reflection Monday (Oct. 29). Approximately 600 students, faculty, staff and university friends filled the ballroom, with at least another 400 filling the theater and second floor hall.

Joined in sorrow, all had come to pay their respects to the six Carolina students and a Clemson University student who died in a house fire in Ocean Isle, N.C., early Sunday.

No one could miss the Delta Delta Delta sorority sisters in their blue and yellow jerseys or the fraternity brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, dressed in their jackets and ties, who were there on an autumn evening to mourn their lost friends.

The program, followed by a candlelight vigil on Greene Street, was the first opportunity for the university community to gather as a community and pay respects to the lost students.

“A tragedy of this magnitude affects us all,” said Zach Baker, president of the fraternity council.

While the fire acted swiftly, so did the outpouring of love, compassion and affection.

"These students will never be forgotten,” he said.

Alex Wysocki, the university’s Sorority Council president, said her father reminded her earlier in the day that even in times of greatest sorrow “the day of peace, the day of rest will come.”

Nick Payne, president of Carolina’s student body, said everyone had questions about the tragedy: “Why those people? Why now? Why here?”

Tragedy took the place of happiness, he said, but offered students an opportunity to become closer.

“Say ‘hello’ to those whom you’ve never said ‘hello’ to before,” Payne said. “Make others a part of your family.”

Lauren Hodge, president of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, said the tragedy claimed “daughters, sisters and friends … beautiful young women who were in the prime of their lives as college students,” and she called on the Carolina family to “steadfastly love one another.”

Jay Laura, the Sigma Alpha Epsilon president, said the university had lost a part of its family. “This is the time that we need fraternity most.”

University President Andrew Sorensen urged Carolina’s family and friends to “reach out to one another … don’t let anyone suffer in silence.”

Sorensen, who talked earlier in the day with the families who had lost their sons and daughters, also discussed the calls he had received, including one from Dr. Charles Steger, president of Virginia Tech.

“He was very grateful for the expression of support that we had offered earlier, and he offered his support for our university,” Sorensen said. “We are joined by other family who want to let us know that they are part of our circle of concern.”

At the candlelight vigil on Greene Street, six garnet wreaths decorated with dark red roses and black ribbons were joined by a purple wreath adorned with orange flowers and a purple bow.

Students placed bouquets of flowers in remembrance of their friends, reminded by the words that they had heard earlier: “We are in this together.”