By: Janiyah Gaston
On Oct. 22 students gathered around Parkinsons Laboratory to remember first-year student Lyric Irby who passed away in a car accident this past weekend. The candlelight vigil was organized by the Registered Student Organization (RSO) Share the Bread.
Daniyah Tate, president of Share the Bread said Irby joined the organization at the start of this semester. Tate said even though Irby was in the organization for a short time she made an impact during her time there.
“She definitely stuck out. She made sure her presence was known. She introduced herself to all of our [executive board]. She was making those steps to make sure that she was making connections here [...] She wasn't scared to put herself out there,” she said.
Tate said she was grateful to have her as a member of her organization and that she was grateful to be able to spend time with Irby before she passed away.
She said hearing the news of her death was a shock and that when it comes to situations like this, student leaders are not taught how to navigate properly.
“When I read the email. I had to make sure that it was her, so I went back to [...] make sure that it was her,” Tate said.
To start the vigil, Tate expressed her gratitude to students and Black organizations for coming out and showing support for Irby. She then went to talk about how involved Irby was and how passionate she was about giving back to the community.
After Tate spoke, she then opened it up for people to share any memories they had about Irby. Dr. Renada Greer shared how thankful she was that students were able to come out and support Irby today.
“I don't think Lyric was here for a long time at the university. I think she's a first-year student. So just seeing the support that students came out, even not knowing her very well, but just knowing she was a part of the Saluki family, they came out to support,” she said.
Greer said she commends the students for coming together during this difficult time and it means a lot that they are showing support for Irby.
Demetrius Lovejoy, president of the Black Affairs Council said while he had few interactions with Irby, he remembers her as a kind person who was always willing to help.
"She always put the needs of others before herself. She did everything she could to help, with Carbondale cleanup she always made sure she could give a helping hand any type of way she could,” Lovejoy said.
He said that seeing a lot of people come out and show support is refreshing and shows how people can come together for a fellow student.
“With the black community being so small here, I feel like it's really important that we show up for one another because it's not a lot of us out here, so with the community, being so small. I'm very grateful that they've shown up and showing us that they care about her,” Tate said.
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