Archived Edition: April 11, 2007 | Back to Current	Sep 10, 2010

On remembering Katie Craig ’08 in print
Editorial Board

To say that the Williams community was shocked at the passing of Katie Craig ’08 would be an understatement in the truest sense of the word. The outpouring of grief, condolences and remembrances shared at vigils, mountaintop services and informal meetings among friends speaks to her death’s impact on this campus. Amidst an almost palpable sense of communal heartache, we as journalists came to a challenging question: how much can, or should, these pages say?

Nothing at all, some may argue, as issues of such gravity call for solemn, private reflection, not the reportings of student journalists. But as both students and journalists we would be remiss in our obligations should we chose this alternative – remiss, because as journalists we’re obliged to provide public record of significant events at the College; and remiss, because as students, we would be doing a tremendous disservice to a fellow classmate and friend in staying silent on her passing.

After careful deliberation we chose to print a news article about the circumstances surrounding Craig’s death, in part because any death of a member of this community is extremely important to the community as a whole. We are part of a close-knit College and, as such, community death naturally resonates. In her Friday e-mail regarding Craig’s passing, Dean Roseman referred to the “Williams family.” As a community newspaper we must acknowledge the death of one of our own. Omitting it would be tantamount to labeling this death un-newsworthy.

What’s more, as a public record it is imperative that we thoroughly report this event. Choosing not to report on it would deprive readers of the ability to assess its consequences at a later date. Prevention of future suicide starts with understanding past cases.

Finally, suicide, while always a personal gesture, is also a significant public health issue. In failing to acknowledge mental illness or suicide we would only perpetuate a taboo that prevents so many of us from openly discussing these hugely important issues. Not covering suicides would further contribute to the stigma that surrounds mental illness. While at times, especially in the immediate wake of such tragedy, discourse may seem a daunting task, it is necessary.

That said, to simply report the cold facts of Craig’s case would be to neglect her personal influence on this campus, the essential aspect of her Williams legacy and the reason her death has been met with such widespread grief. This understanding is why we decided to run a front-page obituary in conjunction with the news article. In recent vigils and services, students and faculty have been able to verbally celebrate their friend’s life and lament its loss. An obituary provides a means of putting these significant feelings in print, helping to ensure that her legacy remains in the form of a tangible memorial.

The fond recollections of her friends, teachers and coaches expressed in the obituary make public a rich and meaningful life. It is important to remember that Craig she was an active participant in many aspects of campus life and an integral part of the College community. Talented academic, artist, athlete and environmentalist, she embodied some of the finest virtues of the Williams student. Her suicide casts a long shadow on a life of accomplishment. But by remembering her life we lift up a candle to drive back that shadow.

The third piece published on Craig is the op-ed eulogy, a memorial written by two of her closest friends. While the obituary attempts to address her positive impact, it lacks the depth of an extended narrative. In conjunction with the obituary, the eulogy helps illustrate that this tragedy did not just scratch the surface of the community, but that it cut bone deep. The collection of quotes presented in the obituary offers a window into the profound sentiment existing in the aftermath of this tragedy. The eulogy, as an expanded and highly personal piece, extends and deepens this remembrance.

In this atmosphere of mourning in which emotions still run raw, some may question our extensive coverage. However, we are reminded that the printed word is a powerful tool, and we are dealing with a tremendously significant event. While we could shelve the serious issues circulating around Craig’s suicide and defer to the view that some matters are simply too sensitive to address in a college newspaper, such inaction would waste an opportunity for positive discourse.

Craig’s death has shown us that the mountains flanking our Purple Valley do not reach so high that tragedy cannot enter. It has entered and it has stripped Williams of one of its finest. Now, as students, faculty and friends we begin the healing process. For some it may be private, while for others, public. But for us all it consists in the acknowledgement of one simple fact: Katie Craig led a vibrant life, and that life deserves to be remembered and celebrated. We do this through vigils, services, informal gatherings and through the printed word.