SGA hosts “Rowan Remembers”

Everyone walked silently, each with a lit candle in one hand and carnations in the other. They walked past the Campbell library and stopped in front of the lawn area and cater-cornered to the 9/11 memorial in front of Savitz Hall. A new October glory red maple tree was resting there, not yet planted, with cement blocks around it to hold it in place.

SGA held “Rowan Remembers” candlelight vigil on Monday night in an effort to unite the Rowan University community and commemorate the the university’s lost lives.

Beth Kolakowski, Public Relations Director of SGA, said this is the third annual candlelight vigil held at the university.

“Two years ago, it was geared towards Donnie Farrell,” Kolakowski said. “This year it’s open to everyone, so as not to leave anyone out.”

Yellow t-shirts, adorned with the words “Rowan United,” were given to those who attended the event. Long white candles were handed to the crowd, as students helped ignite each others wicks for the procession. Brown and yellow carnations were also handed out.

As the crowd reached their destination and surrounded the unplanted tree, Chief Financial Officer of SGA, J.J. Vogel, and Vice President of SGA, Wilmer Castro, read the names out loud of deceased faculty, staff, administration, students and alumni of the university.

Kristen Conner, a sophomore journalism student, attended the ceremony to honor the memory of her friend, Shannon Elizabeth Newell. Newell, a former student at Rowan, died last summer in a car accident.

“I was in Women’s Choir with Shannon,” Conner said. “I wasn’t good friends with her but I knew how good her voice was. Everything about her radiated beauty.”

The SGA chose to plant a tree that will eventually have a small clock tower next to it. The tree was planted on Tuesday morning.

“We decided to plant the red maple to signify the legacy of the lives lost in the Rowan community,” Kolakowski said.

According to Jill Steier, the alternate student trustee on the Board of Trustees, the preparations for the clock tower will begin in the spring and benches will be constructed around the area so students will be able to sit and reflect.

Vogel explained the significance of the event in a much broader sense.

“It was great experience for the Rowan family and community…to help us remember the past and where we came from, and the people who worked hard to get us where we are today,” Vogel said.