For most students in their twenties the thought of losing a parent is unimaginable, but unfortunately for some Ole Miss students this thought becomes reality. During times of loss and grief, case managers with The University of Mississippi’s Office of Leadership and Advocacy reach out to students. These case managers meet with students who are faced with any number of concerns that could impact their ability to persist at the university.
Libby Weyel, a Houston, Texas native and sophomore at Ole Miss, had began preparing for her mothers death at a very young age. Weyel found out her mother had cancer when she was two years old. The cancer went away and came back metastatic when Weyel was thirteen. Weyel’s mother recently passed away on January 7, 2019, just two weeks before Libby was to return to school for spring semester. “I thought it was going to be a difficult transition coming back to school. […] I thought I was going to feel lost, alone, and not know who to turn to; however, I feel so fortunate to have such sincere friends and a loving family who have reached out to me consistently since her passing”, Weyel said. According to Weyel, the university has served as a source of support, making her feel as if they sincerely wanted to help her during the recent loss of her mother. Weyel said she is fully aware of the recourses offered to her by the university and thanks the university for being so understanding throughout this time.
For another student, Freshman Barton Brigham, the loss of his father was unexpected. On move-in day, Brigham was told that his father was hospitalized for a routine bacterial infection. As weeks went on his condition worsened and Brigham’s father passed away on September 13, 2018. “The toughest thing about all of it was the realization that no matter how bad I felt, life still goes on. Even though I was going through a lot of pain in my personal life, I was still enrolled in school and I had to tough it out that semester to ensure that my GPA did not suffer, ” Brigham said. Like Weyel, Brigham ensured that the University was very understanding in the weeks following his father’s death, allowing him to make up any assignments he had missed. Two counselors also reached out to Brigham during this time.
Though their circumstances were different, both students were contacted by a case manager from The University of Mississippi’s Office of Leadership and Advocacy, upon losing a parent. Kate Forster, a case manager for the university, said that if aware of the loss the case management team will offer outreach to students. “I believe that the university approaches each situation sensitively. A significant loss can truly turn a student’s world upside down, and having the support of university faculty and staff during this time is critical,” Forster said. “My hope is that our office can provide a safe space for a student to talk through next steps, options, and other supports that may be beneficial. […] I hope that this connection will allow the student to not worry as much about their absences, but to focus on taking care of themselves and connecting with family,” she said.
To both Weyel and Brigham the love and support received from The University of Mississippi, has been simply overwhelming. Through times of grief and tragedy, the Ole Miss community offers resources to students who are experiencing loss. Brigham details how much the Ole Miss community has impacted him since the loss of his father stating, “[w]hile losing my Dad was undoubtedly the worst thing I have ever gone through, the one positive was seeing the outpouring of support from friends and family. I received countless texts from people offering their support and telling me they were there for me. Almost everyone I knew from high school that attended Ole Miss reached out to me in some sort of way, and that meant a lot to me.”
Anna Margaret Foster 