The Western community remains in shock less than a week after first-year Health Sciences student Andrea Christidis, 18, died Friday, Oct. 9, as a result of injuries caused by a car crash. As the mourning process continues for many, Western officials are stressing the importance of reaching out for help during this time.
“We need to come together as a larger university community. And we will. But when you lose someone, we are all part of it,” said Jana Luker, Associate Vice-President (Student Experience). “There are no words to alleviate the pain – not for the family, not for her friends. But we want to make sure we take every step to assist students with their grieving.
“Discuss it, talk to your friends, talk to staff. Different people grieve in different ways. I have heard some students say they don’t have a right to grieve. They say, ‘Why is this affecting me so much?’ You don’t know how it will affect you. But there are so many supports around the university, reach out to ensure your health.”
CHRISTIDIS
Christidis’ death came as a shock to the entire campus community on the eve of the Thanksgiving weekend.
Around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, emergency crews responded to the collision on Lambton Drive. Investigators say a vehicle heading northbound on Lambton, down the hill toward the Music Building, lost control, jumped a curb and struck Christidis, who was walking on the sidewalk.
Campus Community Police Services are continuing to seek witnesses to the crash. They are asked to contact Special Const. Scott Hessel at [email protected] or 519-661-3300.
The driver, Jared DeJong, 24, of London, was arrested at the scene. He is not a student at Western. DeJong was initially charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing bodily harm and having in excess of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. Those charges were upgraded Thursday, Oct. 15, to impaired driving causing death, operate motor vehicle over 80 mg of alcohol per 100 mL of blood causing death, and criminal negligence causing death.
His next court appearance is on Nov. 3.
“This is a terrible tragedy and Andrea’s death saddens me deeply,” Western President Amit Chakma said late last week. “I know that I speak for the entire Western community when I say that my heart goes out to her family and friends at this most difficult time.”
A native of Scarborough, Christidis was a resident of Medway-Sydenham Hall.
“Safety on campus is a fundamental right for all of our students, and it’s devastating that an accident like this could have happened,” said Sophie Helpard, University Students Council (USC) president. “There has been an outpouring of support, and we at the USC have been approached by leaders in the community wanting to both honour Andrea and fight to ensure no more tragedies like this occur.
“We have lost a fellow Mustang, and Andrea must be remembered. The USC is currently working with partners across to, with the respect of Andrea’s family, find the best way to do this.”
Housing has taken the lead in providing counselling support to the Western student body, especially for students living in residence.
“From the beginning, when the accident happened, we’ve been providing counselling support. And as of Monday evening, we have had a schedule of counselors and chaplains, available to speak with students across campus, on priority appointments,” said Susan Grindrod, Associate Vice-Provost, Housing & Ancillary Services.
Housing is also working with the Faculty of Health Sciences, and its students’ council, to organize a remembrance event, and possibly a memorial, she added.
On Wednesday morning, Housing sent a bus of students, friends and campus leaders, including Angie Mandich, from Health Sciences, to Christidis’ funeral in Toronto.
“For students, and residence students, this has been very difficult. For all of us, it has been a terrible thing. We are working with students to see what they would like to do,” Grindrod added.
“In any loss, we don’t want to feel alone. When this community comes together, it’s a wonderful thing, and we’ve seen lots of support, all over the place. We’ve been able to provide support, but the students support one another. Even though they’ve only been in residence since September, they’re a tight-knit community and they look out for each other. In Housing, we say, ‘Look after yourself, look after each other, and look after this place,’ and we’ve seen just that this past week.”
“We see the first-year- students coming in – all the excitement, all the potential, all their dreams. Then to see that cut short. That affects us so much,” Luker said. “But sadly, terrible things can happen. And that’s really hard to believe when you are 18 or 19.”
“Students who have never met the victim may be dramatically affected. Life and death issues are unfortunately part of my job – the worst part. We don’t expect people of a certain age to die. There is nothing you can do to take away the pain from the family; the only thing we can do is bring the community together to help others.”
Western reminds its campus community that counseling services are always available to assist faculty, students and staff. Please visit the Health and Wellness website, uwo.ca/health/, for help today. Click on ‘Mental Wellbeing’ in the top bar.
“Remember, there may also be faculty and staff affected the same way,” Luker said. “Make sure if you are reaching out to and assisting students, that you yourself are OK. This happens a lot to caregivers – and faculty and staff think of themselves that way. But they need to make sure they are reaching out as well. Don’t be afraid to discuss this; that is part of the healing.”
