Students gather to remember Cantor

Hundreds of students gathered on the Diag in a candlelight vigil last night to pay tribute to Courtney Cantor, who many remember as vibrant and compassionate.

"The grieving process will continue. We hope this will bring some kind of closure - we just want to help," said Rackham student Kimberly Haynes, the hall director at Mary Markley Residence Hall. Cantor, an LSA first-year student, died Friday morning after falling from her sixth-floor window Markley window.

Haynes, along with others at Markley, helped organize the vigil to commemorate Cantor.

More than 200 residents from Markley walked to the 9 p.m. vigil together carrying candles, joined by others from the University, many of whom did not know Cantor.

LOUIS BROWN/Daily LSA first-year student Nicole Siegel watches a speaker at last night's candlelight vigil on the Diag for LSA first-year student Courtney Cantor, who died Friday after falling from her Markley window.

"I didn't know Courtney," Education senior Rakiba Mitchell said. "I just came out to pay my respects."

Haynes opened the ceremony with a prayer and introduced the featured speakers.

Director of Housing William Zeller said Cantor's life "made a tremendous difference. I am truly saddened by her death, and we will continue to work for all of Courtney's positive goals and dreams."

Rich Kirschen, a rabbi at Hillel, recited an Aramaic prayer, which was about life and God's presence. Cantor's given name in Hebrew means beautiful life, Kirschen said. "We are here to remember a beautiful life," he said.

Marita Inglehart, director of Markley's 21st Century Program - of which Cantor was a member - spoke on what Cantor's death means to the program. Cantor's application, with which she sent a photo, was the first received for the program, Inglehart said.

"We looked at the photo, and we got excited," Inglehart said. "She was the beginning of the new year ... and we are deeply saddened that she was the first to leave us."

Many of Cantor's friends shared their memories of her. Cantor's roommate, LSA first-year student Marni Golden, spoke of how Cantor affected her life.

Golden told the story of how she and Cantor came to be roommates. Golden wanted to find a roommate herself rather than being assigned to a random student. She said a friend gave her Cantor's phone number as a prospective roommate.

Golden said she was reluctant to call the number because of her shyness. Cantor "had the initiative to call me," Golden said.

Golden said Cantor profoundly affected her life.

"Courtney, you did. You have taught me so much," Golden said. "The sun woke me up this morning. I'm not very spiritual, but I thought that it was Courtney."

Kinesiology senior Bradley Holcman, president of the Interfraternity council and LSA senior Mary Gray, Panhellenic president, offered their sympathies on behalf of the Greek system.

Cantor accepted a bid to the Chi Omega sorority last week.

Cantor's death "has definitely affected (the Greek system) and shows what we need to change at this campus," Gray said.

Dean of Students E. Royster Harper shared her thoughts on Cantor's death.

"My wish for you tonight is not to understand the details of her death, but to understand the details of your lives, so we don't have to stand here again," Harper said.

Haynes encouraged the crowd to sign a remembrance book that will be given to her parents.

Counselors are available to anyone who needs help dealing with Cantor's death, Haynes said.

Cantor was at a party at Phi Delta Theta Thursday night, where she is said to have been drinking. Alcohol was found in her blood and urine samples, according to a Washtenaw County Medical Examiner's preliminary report.

10-20-98