Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSU campus mourns for grad student
By Al Ortiz
Posted: 11/9/07, 12:07 AM EST Section: News
On Sept. 11, Syracuse University lost one of its alumni, William Liberi, a social work graduate student and former student at Wells College. On Thursday, William was remembered by professors, deans, students and friends during a memorial service of about 20 people in Hendricks Chapel.
All of the those who spoke about Liberi seemed to share the notion that he was a determined, humble and brave human being. Liberi, a female-to-male transsexual, did not let his sex define who he was or what he stood for in society, speakers said.
As the service started, people gathered around pews and shook the hands of others while talking about Liberi and his many accomplishments. Liberi's picture stood next to a vase of full flowers on an alter at the front of the chapel. As people took their seats, "Safe and Sound" by Sheryl Crow played through loudspeakers.
After the opening song, ceremony host Rev. Kelly Sprinkle spoke about Liberi.
"Today, primarily, we are here to acknowledge one's grief. Let us be honest with death, so we can know Will better and know ourselves more deeply," the protestant chaplain said.
Members of the audience nodded in concurrence.
"Some of Will's nobility flows into us," Sprinkle said.
The speakers that followed shared similar thoughts about Liberi, yet they all had their own way of expressing their feelings about their friend.
"He was known as the little guy with a big heart. He had a passion to change things in the world that were oppressive and discriminatory," said Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center, a program Liberi participated in before his death.
Liberi was determined to change the world, Jaehnig said.
She shared a story about how Liberi's facial hair at work turned into an issue with his employers at the dining halls. As Liberi began working, Jaehnig said, he was told to go home and shave off his facial hair before he could come back.
All of the those who spoke about Liberi seemed to share the notion that he was a determined, humble and brave human being. Liberi, a female-to-male transsexual, did not let his sex define who he was or what he stood for in society, speakers said.
As the service started, people gathered around pews and shook the hands of others while talking about Liberi and his many accomplishments. Liberi's picture stood next to a vase of full flowers on an alter at the front of the chapel. As people took their seats, "Safe and Sound" by Sheryl Crow played through loudspeakers.
After the opening song, ceremony host Rev. Kelly Sprinkle spoke about Liberi.
"Today, primarily, we are here to acknowledge one's grief. Let us be honest with death, so we can know Will better and know ourselves more deeply," the protestant chaplain said.
Members of the audience nodded in concurrence.
"Some of Will's nobility flows into us," Sprinkle said.
The speakers that followed shared similar thoughts about Liberi, yet they all had their own way of expressing their feelings about their friend.
"He was known as the little guy with a big heart. He had a passion to change things in the world that were oppressive and discriminatory," said Adrea Jaehnig, director of the LGBT Resource Center, a program Liberi participated in before his death.
Liberi was determined to change the world, Jaehnig said.
She shared a story about how Liberi's facial hair at work turned into an issue with his employers at the dining halls. As Liberi began working, Jaehnig said, he was told to go home and shave off his facial hair before he could come back.
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