Hundreds of students, faculty, and community members gathered at MacLean Field for the official opening of the Vandal Healing Garden on Wednesday.
The speakers and attendees praised the efforts made to construct the garden and highlighted its value for all Vandals, past, present, and future.
The Healing Garden is a project to memorialize and remember all the Vandals who have passed away while enrolled at the University of Idaho, spurred by the murders of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves, and Madison Mogen on Nov. 13, 2022.
After three months of construction, the previously empty MacLean Field has branching walkways, a diverse plant garden, and a gazebo-type structure in the middle. The structure in the middle houses a sculpture and four plaques with the names of the four vandals who died in November 2022. There are also several spaces in the structure where students can leave letters to students who have died. The UI Library will be collecting these letters and archiving them. Above the field is a tall silver beacon on the hill that lights up the garden at night.
Blaine Eckles, the Dean of Students and Vice Provost of Student Affairs for UI, spoke during the ceremony. He explained what the purpose of the Vandal Healing Garden is and why it was built.
“It’s about coming together in moments of grief and reflection, to share the burden of sorrow that we all experience, and about taking time to reflect on those we have lost and communicate with them in meaningful ways. That is what the essence of the healing garden is about: to be a bridge to those that are no longer with us,” Eckles said.
Eckles also shared that the idea for the healing garden was not a new one. He said that since his time he started at UI in 2015, that he has known 37 Vandals who have died while enrolled at UI. He named a few Vandals that passed away while enrolled at UI, such as Katy Benoit, Michael Bonar, Hudson Lindow, and others.
“The thing that unites all of those students and many more is that they were Vandals enrolled here at the University of Idaho,” Eckles said.
Eckles also thanked students and community members for their help and support with the garden. He revealed that the 19 students who worked on the garden over the summer were not paid and earned no credits.
“What you see behind me is the work of student effort. I told our students, when they began on this project last fall, just about a year ago, that they held the heart of the university in their hands and to take care of it, and they have completely honored and followed through with that truly, our students were the leaders through this project, and they are the reason we are standing here today, dedicating this healing space.” Eckles said.
President Scott Green congratulated the Department of Art and Architecture students who worked over the summer to build gardens and sculptures. He highlighted how the garden is a community response to tragedy.
“Today, we consecrate this ground as a place where all can reflect, honor their memories and heal. It’s a reminder that even in moments of sadness and darkness, we can always find light in the wake of tragedy. I take great inspiration from the response of our community and the amazing resilience of the families involved.” Green said.
Drew Giacomazzi, a member of Sigma Chi, the healing garden committee, and a friend of Ethan Chapin also spoke at the ceremony. He thanked all of the people involved with the healing garden committee, and to all of those who donated money to it. He concluded his speech with a commemoration of each of the four fallen vandals.
“Do more of what you love to honor Kaylee, spread love with random acts of kindness for Maddie. Be silly, and do something spontaneous and fun to honor Xana, and tell stories with an abundance of laughter to live life like Ethan.” Giacomazzi said.
Shauna Corry, the Dean of the College of Art and Architecture, thanked all of the people involved with the technical side of construction, as well as the students who dedicated their summer to building the garden.
“They worked with material suppliers, local businesses, and numerous facility shops here on campus to make this happen. They worked a split shift to avoid the record heat, and whenever I visited, I was impressed with their positive attitude and willingness to take every step and every extra effort to ensure the success of this project.” Corry said.
Martha Smith, the ASUI President, concluded the ceremony with a reading of names of Vandals who have passed away since November 2022, followed by a minute-long moment of silence: Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, Ethan Chapin, Rajit Raut, Caden Young, Jayson Gray, and Rhayman Freiburger.
Scott Lawrence, the lead advisor for the Vandal Healing Garden construction and an Associate Architecture Professor, attended the event alongside the team of students who built the garden over the summer. He shared some experiences he had while working on this project.
“When we took on the project, it was an honor, and it was daunting as a possibility even to be doing something like this. And I don’t think we had any idea at the time how this would change all of us.”
Lawrence explained that he finds himself reflecting on how much change he has seen in himself and the students participating in this project.
“I think I’m honored to work with students who do this for all the right reasons because they knew that they might be able to help. And so, I feel gratitude for everybody who’s helped on this, making it possible.” Lawrence said.
Aaron Magalsky, an architecture major who worked on the garden, shared: “Real blood, sweat, and tears went into this project in a way that I never truly understood that phrase until now.” Magalsky said.
Magalsky also recalled a stand-out moment while constructing the garden.
“I remember when we first plugged the beacon in, it was sundown, and the lights were off. We were working until 9 p.m. That’s when someone plugged in the beacon, and everyone dropped their tools to turn and look at it. I remember it being pretty amazing.” Magalsky said.
Former Moscow Police Chief James Fry also attended the ceremony and commented on the garden.
“It’s a great, great tribute to all Vandals,” Fry said.
Jazzmin Kernodle, Xana Kernodle’s older sister, also attended the ceremony.
“Everyone involved with this project has done an amazing job. It’s been a privilege to be a part of the planning process. It’s a really beautiful thing to see all of these people coming together to make this happen.” Kernodle said.
She also commented on the future of the garden.
“This garden will be here on campus for many years to come. People will gather here to feel grief, loss, and all of the emotions in between. But what I think is really beautiful is that people will come here to heal.”
Ben DeWitt can be reached at [email protected] or on X @BenDeWitt321