To the Editor:

People often ask me why I chose to attend such a small school like Buena Vista University (BVU), which has an on-campus population of around 900 students. My typical response to their question is similar to, “our class sizes are small, the professors know who you are, which leads to what I believe is the most important trait of all: people here care about you.”

This response holds especially true with regard to the events of the past week: on October 3rd, 2015, Brett Heitkamp, a 2015 BVU graduate, passed away unexpectedly. Brett made a lasting impact on our campus as a role model, a member of the BVU basketball team, and an active leader in BVU spiritual life. It came as shock to many when news of his passing spread throughout campus. A young person like Brett shouldn’t be taken from us so soon—God works in mysterious ways, ways that our mortal selves cannot predict, nor understand. A candlelit memorial to commemorate Brett’s life took place on Sunday, October 4th, at BVU. Students gathered together at the BVU Victory Arch to celebrate Brett’s life—this loss, felt by the entire BVU community, is tragic.

Proponents of the small school atmosphere tend to focus on the positives that I’ve listed prior—it isn’t until a tragedy of this magnitude occurs that one fully appreciates how a small school can impact the individual. BVU has come together in its most genuine form to support one another in this unfortunate time. I will be forever grateful that I chose to attend Buena Vista University; not only to educate myself to a higher degree, but to also meet these wonderful people that I call my family.

“You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”
-Desmond Tutu

Chase Werden