A Community Mourns

Yesterday Valparaiso University hosted a memorial for the two visiting scholars who passed away August 24, 2007 on their way to Valpo. There was a horrible storm that night and the car they were riding in hydroplaned crashing into a truck. Professors Xiangyang Xu and Wei-min Liu were killed. A Valpo professor was seriously injured. Representatives from Zhejiang University, Valparaiso University and even the Deputy Consul General of the People's Republic of China spoke. The service was conducted in both English and Chinese.
It was terribly sad. We mourn for the lives lost. These were two up and coming men with much to offer. Their lives were cut short since both were only in the upper 30s. We mourn for what we never knew. We never got the opportunity to know these men. We mourn for their families and the loss they are experiencing. We mourn for the loss of innocence as we are reminded of how fragile our lives are and that this could happen to anyone of the people Valpo sends abroad annually. It is sad how closely this touches our lives. A week before these scholars largely were unknown to our community.
A ray of hope was how the Valpo community came out to show their support. I estimate that over 500 people were in attendance. VU's international community, faculty, staff, students, folks from town were all unified in grief. One of the blessings of being part of the Valparaiso University community is how we can come together in both joy and sadness.