Oct. 28, 2007.

On Sunday, my University lost six students. Clemson lost one, as well.

Seven young, intelligent, bright young people with seven families and numerous loved ones that now mourn their passing. It seems to be hitting our community pretty hard, even those that did not know them personally. For one person to pass is hard. But for a group to pass, it truly is a tragedy. No words seem to convey how everyone is feeling. It has been a solemn week so far here at USC.

Our past few football games have not been so great, but I am proud to be a Gamecock. It is times like these that we show our true colors. We have come together and have had numerous memorials already with more to come. Although six of the victims are from our school, we also recognize the seventh victim from our rival, Clemson. We are no longer rivalry schools... just people mourning the loss of great people that we knew or will never get the chance to know.

I believe what has struck me the most is the fact that I've seen at least a couple of these students walking around campus before in passing. I never knew them, and it is sad that I only learned their names through their deaths. Maybe it's something to do with how these students lost their lives, to a fire, that makes us all feel helpless. We know that their friends were helpless in the situation and are lucky to be alive. We feel for them, too. A brother lost his brother in the fire. Friends lost friends. We all begin to realize that we are not invincible although we are young. All we can do now is offer condolences to the friends and families of the victims and help each other move on, though never forgetting.