Last week was challenging for SFU staff and students alike, as the community began to mourn the tragic loss of student and campus activist Michael McDonell.
McDonell, who graduated from SFU in June with a major in Sociology and minors in Labour Studies and Humanities, was to begin graduate work in September. The 24 year-old passed away in hospital on Sunday after an accident occurred at Sasamat Lake. McDonell was swimming off of White Pine Beach when he got into distress, and was under water for at least five minutes before being pulled out.
Aside from being an excellent student who received first class grades in most of his courses as well, as one of the first granted Hari Sharma student awards in Labour Studies, McDonell was actively involved in the SFU community — in the Sociology and Anthropology Student Union (SASU), the Labour Studies Student Union, and with Left Alternative. He had also been a director at SFPIRG where he helped to produce a “strategic vision for the organization,” while “acting as employer for staff.”
In the short time since McDonell’s death, numerous student groups at SFU have organized events in his honor. Last Thursday in Freedom Square on Burnaby Campus, SASU held a barbeque, with all proceeds going toward helping McDonell’s family with funeral costs. Community members gathered to speak with each other about their memories of Michael and to share in the event that he himself helped plan for a student union that he was heavily involved in.
The McDonell family held a celebration of Michael’s life on Saturday, July 27 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Halpern Centre at SFU Burnaby Campus where friends and colleagues were encouraged to say a few words about Michael.
Warren and the Labour Studies Student Union will be hosting an informal celebration of McDonell’s life at the pub, which will provide food and operate as a fundraiser to help the McDonell family recuperate some of the funeral costs. The day and time are still to be determined, and all are welcome to attend.
Although the pain of the loss of McDonell will never go away, the love and support felt this week by his friends and family are testament to the impact he made at SFU.
“While it pains me to acknowledge that he is no longer with us, I am lucky to have had the chance to know him,” said Gloria Mellesmoen, SFSS education representative and a friend of McDonell’s. “I know that I will never forget him or the way he shared his passion with the world.”
The multitude of comments that McDonell’s family has received since Sunday speaks volumes to his character and influence in the SFU community, and we have included several below.
“His GPA and his organizational involvement were testaments to someone who was comfortable combining academic and activist roles. He succeeded well in both, and was widely respected for his student involvement. As for his potential, well, we all have more potential than is ever realized, but in his case, what he achieved in his short time was admirable.
His contribution to classroom discussions and his involvement in student politics revealed a person who calmly got done what had to be done. He was a model of modesty and quiet assurance that made others feel confidence in him and in themselves. He was highly regarded by his peers and others with whom he studied and worked.”
– Dr. Gary Teeple, Director for the Labour Studies Program, and one of Michael’s Sociology instructors
“After nearly a decade away from full-time studies and wishing to re-enlist in campus activism, I was advised to seek out Michael McDonell as he would be good for collaborating. My first day back we met by happenstance and I soon learned how modest that referral was. Michael became the anchor for the LSSU and, I quickly realized, was literally a hub unto himself for social justice at SFU. His dedication was tireless, his efforts selfless.
A shining example of the quality of character we should all aspire toward. In a troubled world such as ours, humanity is in dire need of more Michael McDonell. I am grateful for knowing him. He will be missed.”
– Joel Warren, Chair, Labour Studies Union
“I knew [Michael] as a member of the SFU community and as a friend. He always had a smile on his face and a social justice issue to advocate for, no matter where we were. He was incredibly intelligent and passionate about almost everything that he spoke about. Michael was an amazing friend and a selfless person. He was a brilliant man who was a valuable part of the SFU community. When I think of the word ‘engaged,’ I think of Michael.”
– Gloria Mellesmoen, Education Representative, SFSS Board of Directors
“Always there and involved, always committed to making the world a better place. Michael was the best of people, a true advocate. The world is lesser without him in it. It’s up to us to take his batons and keep his actions and dreams in our hearts and minds.
I think that if everyone who knew him would join just one of the many causes he loved that were working towards a better world, we could make that world happen.”
– Melissa Roth, TSSU organizer
