Connected. 

She reminded me that we are all connected. As I spoke to Amanda Goyer, a Tri-Delt from Rhodes College who had previously attended USC, we talked about the implications of social networking sites such as Facebook and how they bring students together. Regardless of interests, activities, favorite music, or political preference, we all experience life – and death.

As both a journalist and a student, the tragedy has taken a unique toll on my spirit. Which am I first, journalist or student?

If the past few days have taught me anything, it’s that my connection to the student body drives me to be a better journalist. I long to report the truth, the facts, the passion and the stories of my classmates.

I spoke with a close friend of one of the victims Monday afternoon. I dreaded the call. I gathered the phone numbers of all seven families, only with hopes of passing them on to someone else. After a few unanswered phones and polite “no comments,” all handled by my editor, I finally decided to make a call of my own.

She answered the phone. I heard the uneasiness in her voice, yet understanding of why I had dialed. 

“Here, I’ll let you speak with his best friend,” she said.

I graciously waited as the phone was passed from one mourner to another. 

“Hello?”

His voice was shaky. I took a deep breath.

“Hey, my name is Brad Maxwell; I’m a student reporter for The Daily Gamecock. I understand you’re going through a lot right now. I was just wondering if you could tell me a little about Travis, what you remember most about him. We just want the student body to remember the kind of guy he was.” 

The first thing RJ Snyder said, “He had the biggest heart. You can’t really explain it.”

My heart sunk. Although I couldn’t see him, I knew he was crying. The rest of the phone call was difficult, as I began to see a glimpse of just how much RJ was going to miss his friend, his brother. 

I, myself, choked up. The call ended and I sat there silently. My editor was there to console me, and all I could do was lean my head down and shed a few tears.

We are all connected. Greek and non-Greek, Clemson and USC, black and white, you name it.

We belong to a Gamecock Nation, a Tiger Nation, a Hokie Nation. 

“All we can do is support each other,” Goyer said.

I didn’t know any of the seven. I don’t recall ever crossing their paths until this weekend. But we are all connected. We are here to lean on one another and support each other as fellow students and human beings. We have met tragedy before, and we will meet it again. But we must take comfort in and never forget we are all connected.

Brad Maxwell

Staff writer

The hardest thing about death is the living

Now that the names have been released, I want to say that I can not imagine how poor Tripp Wylie is doing. I can’t imagine losing my closest friends and living through that or like that. I can’t fathom what he’s thinking or feeling.

Or Andrew Rhea, who was at the house himself and lost his younger brother William. Thinking about losing my brother in any way, never mind in such a devastating way, makes me physically sick. I thought I was going to throw up through the all of Monday’s press conference.

Emily Yelton’s sister lost her twin. Her mom was quoted in the Greenville News as saying she had lost half of herself. 

I’ve talked with friends who didn’t know the victims, and those who did. Everyone agrees on the fact that as a the loss of a sibling is the only thing close to losing a child—and even that is a distant second.

There’s really nothing that can be said to pay tribute or commemorate the lives of those lost. No words can capture the loss the schools, the families or the friends feel. There is nothing to express the horror of this tragedy. 

My grandmother has said many times over the years, “The hardest thing about death is the living.” My thoughts and prayers are with families and friends.

Katie Jones

Staff writer