Week 14 in Russia: Our Hearts Were at Wesleyan

Last Wednesday, a life was taken at our small, quiet liberal arts university in Middletown, Connecticut. Johanna Justin-Jinich was a friend, a daughter, a classmate, and a student, whose life ended tragically in a brutal shooting on the Wesleyan campus. Those shots were heard around the world, echoing in the minds of students on campus and abroad, alumni, faculty, staff and the surrounding community.

When I heard the news, I wanted nothing else but to be on campus, supporting and embracing friends during this terribly tragedy. These events consumed not only my thoughts, but the thoughts of each person connected with Wesleyan. For this reason, I forego my usual update, and instead ask that you say a prayer or take a moment of silence for Johanna and her close family and friends. There is a wound in the heart of each person connected to this too short of a life which will only heal with time, support, and loving remembrance.

If you have not yet heard about this in the news, I recommend that you follow the link to a New York Times article, which outlines the events well, and I believe, does Johanna's memory justice.