What I Felt At the Vigil For Jeffrey Bordeaux ’12
In this blog post, I do not state any of my personal observation or speculation of what happened or might have happened at the Delta Upsilon house on January 15th 2011. There are news articles online reporting the event and further notices as the case is being dealt at court.
The weekend of 15th and 16th could probably have been the most emotionally challenging and unbelievable times for most people at University of Rochester. At least, it was for me. When I woke up on Saturday morning and read an email from the University President, Joel Seligman. I could not believe that the place I had been earlier that night would have ended with the tragic death of a fellow student, Jeffrey Bordeaux Jr. What struck me more was the report that it was my friend, Daren Venable who was involved in his death. A tragedy.
Saturday afternoon, a notification e-mail was sent out to all students to join in a community gathering at the Interfaith Chapel. I felt obligated to go to the vigil, as later it was called, with my close friends. I personally did not know Jeffrey, but wanted to express my condolences. On the other hand, I knew Daren well and was hanging out with him before going to the party at DU. The place was packed with students, faculty, the victim’s family members and local news reporters.
At the vigil, speeches by the president, religious leaders, Jeffrey’s family members and the student association president were given and it ended with a silent candle light ceremony. I learned a lot about Jeffrey, his accomplishments, whole-heartedness to anyone around him and dreams for his bright future. As his sister was describing her brother in tears, I could not help but cry along with all other members of Rochester community who were present in the chapel. President Seligman said that we need to live our lives as Jeffrey wanted to in his life, spreading kindness and love with people around us. A community exists so each one in it can lean on one another – as one. And on that night, the University of Rochester community has come together as one family to celebrate the life and death of Jeffrey Bordeaux Jr. and to support each other.
During the vigil, I was also reminded of president Obama’s speech after Tucson shooting earlier that week. The main point was that “for our imperfections we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us.” We need to live up to the expectations of the victims, as the President mentioned the youngest victim Christina Green’s positivity and dreams.
As a student at University of Rochester, I would like to express my condolences. I would like to celebrate a life that inspired so many people. I also feel sad that one of my friends was involved in this tragedy, and I hope someday we can find peace in all of this tragedy.