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Memorial Service Remembers Those Students Who Have Passed On

By Andy Elder, Student Affairs Writer

In a community as large as that of Penn State’s University Park campus, often only the truly remarkable are remembered. And, with more than 40,000 lives intertwined by the Penn State thread, even the end of one of those lives is lost to all but a small circle of friends and loved ones.

At a multi-faith memorial service at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center in April, Penn State Student Affairs endeavored to keep alive the memories of those students who have died.

In a ceremony featuring music, singing and words of remembrance and encouragement, 27 students were memorialized in a simple, elegant service attended by hundreds of family and friends.

Attendees were greeted by the soothing musical renderings of pianist Phillip Torbert. And, before the service started, three minutes of chimes in remembrance were heard.

Dr. Vicky L. Triponey, Vice President for Student Affairs, opened the service with a short welcoming message. Then, after the Penn State Glee Club sang “Song of  Peace,” a member of the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs Student Advisory Board read words of loss and remembrance.

In the truest sense of the multi-faith ceremony, readings from five different faith traditions – Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim – were read.

Steven Coraor read a passage from The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. In part, it said: “What is born will die; what has been gathered will be dispersed, what has been accumulated will be exhausted, what has been built up will collapse, and what has been high will be brought low.”

“Marinna” Moran He read from Romans 8 of the Bible. In part, it said: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Saurabh Mishra read part of a Hindu passage by Bhagvad Gita. In part, it said: “One who is born will definitely die. One who dies will definitely be born again. Hence we should hot grieve for the inevitable.”

Andy Hagen read part of  Jewish selection by Joshua Loth Liebman. In part, it read: “Judaism proclaims that God has arranged our journey so that in years brief or many we can find love, joy and the fruits of fulfillment (partial and relative thought they may be), and that when our day is finished, we should accept its final note with the same calm trust that we greet the skylark’s song at sunrise.”

Khadouja Harouaka read from 2:155-157 of the Quran. It read: “And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient. Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: Truly, to God we belong and truly, to Him we shall return. They are those on whom are blessed and will be forgiven from their lord, and they are those who receive His mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.”

After a musical interlude by Torbert, three students – Bridget Daly of the Council of Commonwealth Student Government, Abid Kazi of the Graduate Student Association and Galen Foulke of the Undergraduate Student Government – read the name of each student. After each name was read, Davin Carr-Chellman, the assistant director of CERA, rang a hand bell.

Following a moment of silent remembrance, Terri Dowdy of the Unity Christian Campus Ministry, led all in attendance in the singing of the song “Come And Fill Our Hearts.”

Penn State Hillel Executive Director Tuvia Abramson offered words of hope and celebration leading up to the Penn State Glee Club’s rendition of “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand.”

Sharon Mortensen, Director of the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs, drew the proceedings to a close and, as Torbert played another musical selection, all in attendance were directed to an outdoor patio where a large circle was formed. All stood silently as the Old Main chimes rang once for each of those who had died.

After that touching tribute, one person stepped forward into the circle and simply said, “Go in peace” to disperse the reflective crowd.

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