An accident is just that, an accident. And the one that occurred Nov. 19 took the life of a girl who was more than a University of Idaho student, but a part of its family.
Sarah Asmus, 18, a freshman from Blackfoot, Idaho, was a passenger in a car driven by fellow UI student Katherine Bulcher when their vehicle slid on the slush-covered road and was struck by a truck traveling in the opposite direction. Both were taken to the hospital where Asmus died the next day from her injuries.
Bulcher and Asmus were both wearing seat belts and there was no alcohol involved. These girls did nothing wrong — some accidents just can’t be prevented.
Asmus, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority along with Bulcher, is not the first UI student to die this year. It is important to remember that the people we have chosen to surround ourselves with during college are more than classmates. They become our best friends, spouses and family members.
Accidents like this prove that sometimes unexpected misfortunes happen to undeserving people and that we’re all human. In this time, we must look around and appreciate the people who help us get through today, because no one is guaranteed a tomorrow.
As with every tragedy, there will be a time for mourning. The UI Counseling and Testing Center is open and available for all students who need to speak with someone about this situation or any other. The worst way to cope during a time like this is to hide emotions.
In her short time at UI, Asmus put herself in a situation that surrounded her with new friends and experiences. She made the decision to dive headfirst into the world that is college life, which will make this loss even harder for her friends, family and sisters.
UI tells every new student that it has “A Legacy of Leading,” but after an accident like this we are reminded that our school also has a legacy of learning and loving. Take this time to join your fellow students in remembering the life of Asmus, and you will see the tight-knit community that makes us all Vandals.
–MM