Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

Page 22 text:

t f . JL t Friends cope with loss of loved ones 18 There vKcrc topics ihal could not be discussed in public, making people tee! uneasy and uncomfortable in their safe world. The feelings brought forth were not shared and were considered to be taboo. Perhaps the most hushed topic was death. Everyone, however, had to cope with a loss in their life .sometime. Stress from classes and isolation from family intensified nonnal grie ing for many students. Each indi idual had ways of handling the grief death left in its wake. ■ When my best friend Kris was killed in a car accident, right after I heard the news. I went to church. Tommy Miller said. Going to church helped a lot for me. Others found escaping from society was how they could cope. The hardest death I had to handle was my grandfather ' s. Michelle Roseman said. When I heard Ihe news, I just wanted to be alone. It was my way of thinking it didn ' t happen. Basically. I was afraid I would look like a fool in front of everyone. The most important way for a person to help a grieving friend was to be ready to talk or offer emotional support. Be there for a friend w ho is grieving and do not avoid them. Liz Wood, counselor, said. Recognize that some people want to withdraw and give them space and time. Student Life By Michelle Murphy Most importantly. Wood said, was to work through the emotions and not hide them. My advice when it came to grieving was to ir not to hold back your tears; just let your emotions go, Wood said. Releasing tears was just one way of coping. Wood also suggested talking to others. Talking to people, knowing what stages were involved-it was helpful because so many people who were grieving or coping felt like they were going crazy, Wood said. Students on the Silent Walk dealt with grief in a different way-by not talking. More than 500 people met at the Bell Tower and participated in the event. It was an overwhelming feeling of peace, Kerry Wells said. The Speak Out for Stephanie foundation walk was dedicated to the memory of Karen Hawkins, a Northwest student murdered in April 1995. and other sexual assault and rape victims. Stephanie Schmidt, for whom the foundation was named, was a Pittsburg State student and Sigma Sigma Sigma new member who was sexually assaulted and killed. As the line of people made its way through campus, every person ' s opinions and thoughts were heard without speech being necessary. To look back and everyone was quiet — it was the best feeling to know that these people supported you. Wells said. colli inued to page 21 THE GRIEr L

Page 21 text:

Mirrored balls, Winnie the Pooh and unique styles accent creative living spaces IN STYLE W iilking into a residence hall al the beginning of a year could have been depressing, but a little creativity and the smallest splash of craziness turned a room into a daily party. Jason Duran and Jeremy Farrow did Just that. Wanting to be different, they decorated their Perrin Hall room after two days of procrastination by throwing glow-in-the-dark posters on the walls. When people walked by, they always stopped to take a look. Duran said. The two said everyone thought their room was great and that it was an easy way for them to meet people. Roommates Brian Diamond and Kyle .Scholz agreed. Diamond, who works as a DJ on weekends in Omaha, Neb., brought his stereo equipment with him in hopes of doing a show in Maryville. Since his equipment was already here, he added it to his room for decoration. The Perrin Hall room men were not the only creative residents, however. Stephanie Raymond and Darl Brickhouse spent a lot of time in their Phillips Hall room as well. A gigantic Pepsi sign covered with private jokes dominated the room. While Farrow and Duran took the lime to decorate. Raymond and Brickhouse created replicas of their rooms back home. Pictures of their friends covered the room and the matching Winnie the Pooh bedspreads reflected their personalities. B Beckx Mellon Other people thought our room was creative and had a homey feel to it. Brickhouse said. A lot of money went into these rooms to make them appear home-like. Diamond estimated a total of $2,000 spent on stereo and lighting equipment, while Duran and Farrow figured around SI, 000 was spent on their room, including television. Nintendo, stereo and couch. It was something that made them individuals, Resident Assistant Greg Cole said. It also established a community on the floor. Most of Duran and Farrow s friends enjoyed hanging out and relaxing in the bright neon lights. Black lights hung from each of their lofts along with cactus lights strung from one end of the bed to the other. Orange, yellow and green fluorescent paint splattered on the base of their loft gave the room its own twist. Raymond had glow-in-the-dark pullv paint on her side of the wall, and Brickhouse hung empty beef jerky packages on hers. The two stN les met in the middle with tropical fish hanging tfoni the ceiling and orange cones everywhere. In Scholz and Diamond ' s room, or mood room as their neighbors called it. a mirror ball, strobe lights and multicolored laser lights allowed Diamond to set any mood. The Perrin residents thought Diamond and Scholz s room was pretty wild, neighbor Charles Bass said. Personalizing rooms made them seem more homelike and a better place for students to return to when the needed to rela.x. Creativity and craziness helped create a home. Residence Halls 17

Page 23 text:

Tracy Wilson hugs Sigma Sigma Sigma sister Tracy Sibbemsen as they comfort each other after an emotional night. The silent walk made many of the women desire a supportive hug. Showing their support for victims of rape and sexual assault, more than 5(J0 people silently walk through campus. Sigma Sigma Sigma sponsored the walk in memory of Karen Hawkins, a Northwest student murdered in .April Coping f 19