Students mourn together

On-campus events memorialize students

Mike Engh - enghmw@plu.edu

mast news editor

Members of the PLU community gathered at several events last weekend to remember and to grieve the loss of PLU students Jocelyn Denham and Brady Freeman.

Representatives from various organizations throughout campus helped with the implementation of a student reflection event and a prayer vigil, both of which were designed to help the community come to terms with this tragedy.

The Cave was open the night of April 26 for students to reflect, remember and express emotions. Students filtered in and out during the evening to sit with friends and fellow students at the tables and couches in the Cave. Student staff members from the offices of Residential Life and Student Involvement and Leadership attended the event to listen to students and help them with information about on-campus counseling resources.

Several gold posters with the names of Jocelyn and Brady written in black rested on the stage area where students were able to sign messages of hope and remembrance to Denham and Freeman, to their families, and to the broader PLU community. An additional gold poster was set aside to send wishes of healing and strength for Freeman’s twin brother, Boone.

A public candlelight vigil outside Olson Auditorium the night of April 27 drew a crowd of more than 400 community members, including members of Boone Freeman’s football team at the University of Puget Sound. Students presented prayers and scripture readings before the friends and housemates of Denham and Freeman approached the microphone to give anecdotes. A small choir of students and staff sang a set of hymns, and members of the audience joined in on the final hymn of “Amazing Grace.”

The housemates, friends and teammates of Freeman told the crowd about his dedication to football and to life. Junior Aaron Murphy said that Freeman’s housemates had given him the nickname “Data” because he knew the answer to any random question, and he devoted so much time to his academic pursuits.

PLU alumna Liz Chase grew up in Bend, Ore. with Denham and encouraged her to attend PLU. Chase spoke about Denham’s encouragement toward following dreams, telling her friends to “buy that plane ticket, get that tattoo.” Chase provided a quote that defined the events of the weekend and demonstrated the positive effect that Denham and Freeman had on the PLU community: “You can’t always have happiness, but you can always give happiness.”

Photo by Jordan Hartman

Jocelyn’s Denham roommates Jackie Wall, Abi McLane and Christa Ledesma (from left) remember her Sunday, April 27 outside of Olson Auditorium. The candlelight vigil was the second of two memorial events.