Students to dedicate lounge to Sharangpani this weekend

To commemorate the life and spirit of Arati Sharangpani, a University student and resident adviser who was killed in the crash of Comair flight 3272 last year, Mary Markley Residence Hall's Concourse Lounge is scheduled to be renamed and dedicated in her honor on Sunday.

More than 200 students, family members, friends, Markley staff members and University administrators are expected to attend the 5 p.m. dedication of the Arati Sharangpani Lounge.

"To see a lounge dedicated to her makes me nothing but happy," said Chad Bailey, a resident director at Markley who worked with Sharangpani for two years. "She was a really exuberant sort of person."

Sharangpani, who was finishing undergraduate degrees in German and organizational studies before the crash, was active on campus during her time at the University. She was a 21st Century Program Facilitator at Markley, a teacher's assistant for the American culture department and a member of the Indian American Students Association.

Members of the Mary Markley House Council, Markley staff and students who lived on Sharangpani's hall came up with the idea of dedicating the lounge last year as a way to commemorate her death.

"We considered planting a tree in her memory, but we thought the lounge would be a better tribute to her and her spirit," said LSA junior Phil Randall, president of the Markley House Council.

T. Rose Roane, coordinator of residence education at Markley, said she was happy to be presented with the lounge proposal.

"I thought it was fantastic," Roane said. "The fact it came from the students is significant."

Officials from University Housing, whose approval was necessary to dedicate the lounge, also received the proposal favorably.

"Housing is very supportive of this endeavor," said Dana Fair, public affairs and marketing adviser for Housing. "It is a great way to remember her. Arati obviously had a great impact on the Markley community."

Roane said a plaque bearing a picture of Sharangpani and a description of who she was will be unveiled at Sunday's dedication ceremony and will remain in the lounge.

Dedicating the lounge to Sharangpani "eternalizes her," Roane said.

03-13-98