by Early last week, a university facility worker found a dead body in Appleby Hall. University of Minnesota police determined that person was neither a student nor an employee of the University.
“You matter, and you are loved in this plane and all planes going forward,” said Will O’Berry, the Interim Director of President’s Emerging Scholars housed in Appleby.
On Tuesday, April 18th, a body was found lifeless, alone, and out of place in room 270 in Appleby Hall. Students were left with reactions similar to Hani Kahlid.
Khalid, a Sophomore, said, “I was very surprised to hear that. Because it’s not a place I would expect to hear someone dies.”
O’berry added, “I imagined a person passing on in one of these rooms and alone. There is a certain sadness to that, and there’s a sadness you’re on your own.”
This unidentified individual, apparently unsheltered, died in a lounge on the second floor, a few doors down from a counseling center and classroom.
“Not only do we have to celebrate the people in our communities, but take a step and help the people in our communities,” said Khalid referring to the University’s lack of publication of the incident.
However, even though that individual wasn’t a part of the community we usually see, the community still came together to honor them.
“I am so glad they are being celebrated. Because there wasn’t really any information about who died, it is nice that people are acknowledging that this is a person, and their life should be celebrated,” said Khalid.
On Wednesday afternoon Nina Beithon and other Appleby staff came together in an honoring ceremony to help the spirit continue its journey to the afterworld.
“Sometimes I think we need to slow down and get back to ritual and do how we grieve,” said O’Berry. During that ceremony, they built an altar to honor the dead.
The altar consists of spiritual offerings and colored flowers symbolizing the four directions and elements-water, air, fire, and earth.
O’Berry had attended the event, saying, “The message that I want that person to know and receive is that they matter. That they mattered, and they will matter.”
Appleby Hall is a busy place, and this is an especially busy time of year, but not too busy to take at least a few minutes to remember the life lost there.
The altar will remain in Appleby Hall until further notice, and staff welcomes anyone to visit and add to it. We still don’t know the identity and name of the person who died, and there’s no indication any crime was involved. The body was turned over to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
