又有一个滑大CS二年级女生病故, 叹息啊。
Last week, Monday February 26th, a friend from my highschool passed away. She was in her 2nd year in CS. From what little I know of her, she was a stellar student - straight As all of her life, intricately involved with student societies - Student Council President, Mathlete, Sports Councils - you name it, she was a part of it. Tragically, she passed away last week due to illness that took her in her sleep. Her death was astronomically unprecedented and honestly knocked everyone who heard about it off their feet. At first, I was devastated ... that a young 20 year old who just recently celebrated her young life 6 short days before her death would have died so young. I was angry, in disbelief and just sad about the entire situation. After this horrific incident, I did what I knew to do - talked about it. I talked to anyone who would listen. I cried with people who cried and I shared happy moments to those that had any to share. What I slowly realized was that nobody had even reached out to her parents, to the extent that they had to contact all of my friend's professors in order to explain to them that she had died.
Not knowing whether the school was informed or not, I emailed UW Counselling Services and specified the details of my friend's death. I eagerly waited the next couple of days for a response - but nothing. Feeling sad and defeated, I convinced myself that the faculty responsible probably have more on their hands than to reply to every single student email, so I told myself I'd be patient. This morning however, sitting in my classroom I decided I would search once more to see if the school had offered any condolences to her death. Nothing. Instead, I saw a post about another young man who had taken his life far too short early in the morning. My heart sank. My eyes welted up and my stomach turned inside out.
I reached out to others who were very close to my deceased friend and told them I had emailed the administration. Their responses were even more frightening. One student, in trying to notify her professor about her future absence from this week's labs was told that she would receive a 0 for the lab unless she provided a death certificate.. Another, attempted to ask for help from UW Counselling and wasn't able to make it to the appointment they had set for him. When he asked to walk-in, they told him that they don't do walk ins...even though they specifically market themselves as if they do. Whats worse? My dead friend's dad had to contact her teachers to let them know of her death. No condolence from the University.
I am not trying to bring down any of the professors/faculty who are just doing their jobs and asking for proper verification but are you fucking kidding me? A student loses their childhood companion and you ask them to show supporting evidence instead of a consoling response? You couldn't have asked the student to repeat the lab? Possibly move the marks around to the final? Give them another task to make up for it? Or even ask them in a humane manner for their bestfriend's death certificate?
And the administration: YOU couldn't put your time aside for grieving parents of a 2nd year CS student at YOUR school? Shame on all of you.
Rest in utmost peace, to the students who had their lives taken away. I wish from the bottom of my heart that I could have done something for any of these young, so-much-to-live-for individuals. I don't know why you left us but we all miss you. Whoever you are, Rest in peace.