A challenge to the Rose-Hulman community

Without a doubt, the Rose-Hulman community has been struck by tragedy over the past few months. The hospitalizations of Jeff Trune, Drew Christy, and Adam Effinger and deaths of Nick Lee and Brandon Couch have been tragic blows to our campus community which will have lasting effects on many lives.

The recent outpouring of love and generosity on the behalf of Drew Christy has been an impressive statement of the Rose community’s dedication to supporting its own. The donations of many caring individuals and organizations on campus have not only undoubtedly made a difference in the lives of Drew and his family, but have proven that Rose is more than a college: it is a tight-knit community of people who genuinely care about their own. We should all be very proud of our actions in response to the calamity that has befallen Drew and his family.

We should all be very proud of our actions in response to the calamity

Sadly, our trials have not been limited to Drew’s accident. Four other Rose-Hulman students and their families have been struck with tragedy who are no less deserving of our love and support through this difficult time. It is important that the overwhelming response that the Rose-Hulman community made in assisting Drew and his family is repeated as many times as necessary in order to properly care for our own: for Jeff and Adam who are still hospitalized, and for the families of Nick and Brandon, who are still in mourning.

What we can offer these families is not necessarily restricted to financial support: our time, emotional support, and prayers can speak just as loudly and are just as important to those struck by tragedy – a simple phone call can be priceless; a visit to a hospital room can speak as loudly as a check.

We also must not allow sudden and shocking tragedies to eclipse those which have come on more quietly, yet are no less devastating. While what has befallen Jeff and his family has been less abrupt and dramatic than what has happened to Drew, Adam, Nick, and Brandon, they are just as entitled to our love and support.

We must be wary of complacence: it is easy to let our empathy wane with repeated use and the zeal with which we originally pursued the assistance of Rose families in need can diminish with time. When confronted with such sudden and repeated tragedy, it is often all one can do to keep from curling up and turning inward in order to cope with such horrific events. However, the temptation toward such behavior must be actively resisted: there are those among us in desperate need of our help and we must not hesitate for a moment to freely give it.

Over the last few months, our community has been struck with repeated tragedy. Despite this fact, we are still that: a community. It is our duty to lift up those of us who have been hurt most by these events in their time of need, or we will cease to be what we claim. We have proven, in the case of Drew Christy, what we are capable of in terms of providing financial and emotional support. It is paramount, both to these families and to ourselves, that we continue to do this for the most recent victims of tragedy in our Rose-Hulman family.