Letter from the Editor-in-Chief, A.L.Rougier On 24th July, the John Jay College Community lost a student, Frederick Swope. I received an e-mail informing me of his passing from Linda, an ex-student who is now a staff writer for A Home At The End Of The World (http://ahomeattheendoftheworld.weebly.com/student-staff-writers.html) and an active and vibrant member of the Anthropology Café (http://ahomeattheendoftheworld.weebly.com/the-cafe.html). Freddy was not only a friend of hers but they were members of the governing body of ALPFA, a campus group—her its president and him, its secretary. I received the news whilst in my office hosting a meeting with a student to facilitate his midterm paper. I am currently teaching a four-week course entitled Death & Dying. Linda expressed how much she is affected by Freddy’s death and how surreal it all feels. She went to visit him at the hospital immediately after he was hit by a car on Monday 17th July. Freddy spent a week in a coma suffering from head trauma and other damages to his body. He eventually succumbed to his injuries and expired at the tender age of twenty-one. A month ago, anticipating the September Issue of A Home At The End Of The World, I asked the students to write articles about their summer vacation (not discerning death would be part of their time away from the classroom but such is the nature of life and of death—their uncertain time of arrivals). After hearing the news of Freddy’s passing, I am reminded of the simple things in life and how ephemeral time truly is and why it is important to appreciate our friends, our family members and our loved ones—especially those who genuinely care for us and demonstrate their love and affection on a daily basis (either in person, on the telephone, via e-mail, care packages in the mail or simply by a text message that reads: “I am thinking of you. Have a great day”). As I age, my values have changed. The things I didn’t value are now valued and the things I valued are now void of any worth. But one thing remains the same, my attachment to my close-knit family, to my dearest friends and, to individuals I consider my beloved ones.
We are born and then we die—what happens in the middle? Who are we and who do we become as we go along this line from the womb to the grave? What do we hope to achieve during our limited time on this earth? What gives us meaning? What gives us purpose? For me, what makes the passing of Freddy tragic is the simple fact that he was a young adult in his prime striving to make a life for himself—to cultivate meaning by finding a purpose. I read his blog (https://thetryouth.wordpress.com/2017/03/23/there-is-no-place-like-home/) and it is clear that he had vision and drive but now, his goals and dreams will never be actualized: “I intend on moving back to my hometown to raise my family, and I look forward greatly to driving around telling my grandson about all of the unforgettable memories it gave me.” Though he was here for a short time it is luminous how he used his fleeting time on this earth. So let’s remember and celebrate Frederick Swope and the man he aspired to be. As the Academic Year 2017 – 2018 approaches, I wish my students a thoughtful and meditative fall semester and encourage them to work hard and spend quality time with quality people because nothing is as valuable as your time—time is currency and must be treated as such. Here is an article on Freddy’s passing: http://wtvr.com/2017/07/24/frederick-swope-obit/ Sunsets & Sailboats, -Professor Rougier
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