Berkeleyan
HOME | SEARCH | ARCHIVE

Berkeleyan
Berkeleyan

Responding to the death of a student
Following a tragedy, the dean of students directs the campus's response

 

karen kenney

Karen Kenney Noah Berger photo

By D. Lyn Hunter, Public Affairs

In the hours and days following a tragic incident involving a student, many people across campus - chief among them the dean of students - become involved in coordinating the campus response and extending support to the student's family. During the week of Jan. 28, Dean of Students Karen Kenney took the lead in gathering information, keeping campus units updated, and offering condolences and assistance to the family of Brad Evans, a senior killed in an Oakland house fire. This is a chronicle of her response.

Sunday, Jan. 28
Dean of Students Karen Kenney hears a news report about an Oakland fire involving Berkeley students and begins making phone calls to find details.

"I'm the 'connect-the-dots' person," says Kenney. "I gather information, transmit it to key campus contacts and help organize support for the students, their families and campus community."

Kenney calls Victoria Harrison, campus police chief; Marie Felde, director of media relations; and Assistant Chancellor John Cummins, to find out what they know. She learns that a Berkeley student died in the fire.

Kenney calls the Oakland Coroner's Office, which confirms that 23-year-old Berkeley student Brad Evans (a senior majoring in psychology) perished that morning.

Kenney calls local hospitals for information on others reportedly involved in the fire. Highland and Summit hospitals say they are treating victims, one of whom is in guarded but stable condition.

With the information she has gathered so far - one student dead and other possible students injured - Kenney sends an update on the incident to key campus contacts, among them the registrar's office, Housing and Dining Services, University Health Services and financial aid.

Explains Kenney: "Depending on the circumstance, students may need assistance with their classes, a place to stay, psychological counseling or an emergency loan. We try to cover all the areas in which they may be affected."

Monday, Jan. 29
Kenney learns the names of all those involved in the fire. She calls Registrar Susie Castillo-Robson, who checks the records and reports that Evans is the only current student. Two others are recent graduates. One of them, Brent Steele, sustained serious injuries after jumping from the roof to escape the fire. Kenney calls Highland Hospital and leaves a message for Steele, offering assistance.

The Tang Center's counseling services and the student housing office offer their services at no charge. Kenney asks campus police to post a notice at the scene of the fire, offering assistance to the victims and their families.

Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Affairs Genaro Padilla calls Brad Evans' parents in Southern California to offer the campus's condolences. At their request, Padilla arranges to have a diploma made for their son, who was set to graduate this spring. The parents want to hang it beside the UC diplomas received by their two other sons.

Another parent of a victim, after seeing the note posted at the fire scene, calls Kenney and provides more details about the incident. Kenney provides information to the media relations office, which produces a press release.

One of Evans's psychology professors seeks advice on how to handle the subject of his death with classmates. Renato Almanzor, associate director in the Office of Student Life, offers guidance.

Tuesday, Jan. 30
The essential facts confirmed and sent to key campus contacts, Kenney focuses on details - such as calling the library to see if Evans has any books checked out and the Recreational Sports Facility to see if he has a locker.

"We don't want the library contacting the parents about overdue books," said Kenney. "And if he had belongings in a locker at the gym, we want to make sure his parents can get them."

Kenney learns that Evans was a community service officer with UCPD, rode with the Berkeley AIDS Ride team, was a Regents' Scholar, worked at Zachary's Pizza on College Avenue and was an aspiring rock musician.

Kenney updates Chancellor Berdahl, just returned from out of town, so that he may send condolences to Evans' parents.

Wednesday, Jan. 31
Kenney makes plans to attend Evans' memorial service, scheduled for Friday in Newport Beach. Arrangements are made for Berdahl to meet with the parents when they come to the Bay Area for their son's belongings on Monday.

Friday, Feb. 2
Kenney prepares notes about Evans during her flight to the memorial service.

On campus, flags on Sproul Plaza fly at half mast in honor of Brad Evans. Arrangements are made for his brothers to walk across the stage during the Department of Psychology commencement.

Just before the memorial service begins, Kenney is asked to speak. Addressing the audience, she says this is the hardest part of her job.

"Bradley was the consummate Berkeley student," Kenney says. "He was a true son of California."

 


Home | Search | Archive | About | Contact | More News

Copyright 2001, The Regents of the University of California.
Produced and maintained by the Office of Public Affairs at UC Berkeley.

Comments? E-mail berkeleyan@pa.urel.berkeley.edu.