'When any one member of our family is lost, every one of us is diminished'
Six students from the University of South Carolina and a seventh from Clemson University died in a house fire Sunday, Oct. 28, in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
The names of the South Carolina students were:
- Cassidy Fae Pendley, 18, a freshman chemical-engineering major from Chapin
- William Robert Rhea, 18, a freshman from Florence
- Allison Christine Walden, 19, a sophomore exercise-science major from Chagrin Falls, Ohio
- Lauren Astrid Mahon, 18, a freshman from Simpsonville
- Justin Michael Anderson, 19, a sophomore from Greenville
- Travis Lane Cale, 19, a freshman from Greenville
The seventh fatality was Emily Yelton, a Clemson student.
The students were remembered at a university memorial service Nov. 7 at Koger Center, bringing together the families of the victims, the survivors, members of the Carolina community, and emergency personnel and city officials from Ocean Isle Beach.
"The ache we are feeling will never really go away," Dennis Pruitt, university vice president for student affairs, said in making the opening remarks of the memorial service. "Instead, that ache eventually becomes condensed, tucked away in a corner somewhere in the recesses of our hearts. ...
"Over time, our memories will prompt not only grief, but--more comforting--a deep and profound gratitude for the lives of each of these outstanding young people, for the gift that each of them was to us. ..."
Six students, also from the University of South Carolina, survived the fire:
- Fallon Marie Sposato, 19, a sophomore from Orlando, Fla.
- Eugene Ray Charles, 19, a freshman political-science major from Tampa, Fla.
- Katherine Elizabeth Auman, 18, a freshman from Hartsville
- Fredrick “Tripp” Marion Wylie, 20, a sophomore economics major from Greenville
- Ashley Nicole Perdue, 18, a sophomore from Florence
- Andrew Edward Rhea, 19, a sophomore from Florence
As news of the fire reached campus that afternoon and evening, University President Dr. Andrew Sorensen expressed his grief by quoting a famous verse—"no man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent"—from 16th century Anglican priest and poet John Donne.
"If I may adapt that observation to the 21st century and the University of South Carolina," Sorensen said, "no Gamecock is an island. When any one member of our family is lost, every one of us is diminished. I'm profoundly saddened, as are all members of Gamecock Nation, by these tragic deaths."
He also expressed his sympathies to Clemson. "I want to extend our care and compassion to President James Barker. They too must be feeling the loss."
Among those who lost their lives were members of Carolina's Delta Delta Delta sorority and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
"In times like these I am reminded how lucky I am to live in the state of South Carolina, to attend the University of South Carolina and be a part of Sigma Alpha Epsilon," chapter president Jay Laura, from Greenville, S.C., said a day after the fire.
"Most of my mind is currently dominated by grief, despair and sympathy for the victims' families, but there is a small part of my soul that is smiling today as I witness the spirt of our community as it comes together to support all those in need."
The University of South Carolina Alma Mater
"We Hail Thee Carolina"
We hail thee, Carolina, and sing thy high praise
With loyal devotion, remembering the days
When proudly we sought thee, thy children to be:
Here's a health, Carolina, forever to thee!
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