"Nora Moore's death is as tragic an event as one can imagine," Marx said. "She had a great life and great promise and we will all miss her and miss the fulfillment of that promise."
In a campus-wide e-mail Sunday, Marx discussed the impact of Moore's death on the College community. "There is nothing more devastating to a small and close community such as ours than the death of one of its members, particularly one so young and with such promise," he wrote.
Moore's advisor, Professor of History and American Studies Frank Couvares, reflected upon her personality. "She was a bright and amiable person," he said. "She was very happy here."
Couvares was also Moore's first-year seminar professor last semester. "She was a good student and a good person," he said. "This was a horrible horrible event and we are all very sad. There are many people who are going to miss her."
Moore's friend and fellow riding team member Sarah Long '07 first got to know her during a first-year orientation trip. "She was always full of energy and fun. She knew how to keep herself in good spirits," Long said. "One thing that I will always think of when I think about her is her story-telling ability. Her stories were hilarious."
Moore was a resident of Stearns Hall, and administrators, resident counselors (RCs) and members of the Counseling Center staff met with Stearns residents Sunday afternoon to discuss counseling options for students. "Some students shared their experiences with Nora and in some ways introduced her to the rest of us," said Director of the Counseling Center Jacqueline Bearce.
For Stearns residents, the meeting Sunday was a time to grieve together. "The students talked about Nora and shared memories," said Amrit Amirapu '05, an RC in Stearns. "Dean Boykin-East was very helpful, I think, in getting the students to share openly."
RCs in Stearns are working with the entire RC staff. "This is the kind of thing I think the RCs are magnificent at handling. ... [They've] been doing a terrific job with the residents," explained Dean of Students Ben Lieber.
Students have a variety of grief-counseling options at the College. "The community will have to come together and support each other through this time; though we will all remain touched by these events for the rest of our lives," said Marx.
In addition to turning to their RC or to dean's office staff, students can seek guidance from the Counseling Center and the religious advisors.
"Here at the Counseling Center ... [we] provide an opportunity to talk about what is going on. We make sense of the situation as much as any of us can," said Bearce. "Grieving is a very personal experience and we all go through it at our own pace."
Paul Sorrentino, coordinator of religious advisors, said students can call the Cadigan Center for Religious Life to schedule an appointment with a religious advisor. "All of the religious advisors are available to meet with students at any time to talk or pray," he said. "We are eager to be helpful." Students who want the opportunity to reflect personally can do so in either the Chapin Chapel or the Cadigan Center.
Amirapu also said that the deans told students not to worry about their academic concerns. Lieber explained that while students grieve they should not be concerned with their class assignments. "The last thing [students] should be worrying about is their academic work," he said. He explained that the dean's office will help students get extensions on their course assignments.
Moore's friends and acquaintances, along with the RC staff from Stearns, plan to gather tonight at 8 p.m. in the Cole Assembly Room in Converse Hall to share their memories of her. The discussion is open to all students and faculty members.
Funeral plans are incomplete, but will be posted on the College's Web site upon confirmation. The College will hold a formal memorial service in Moore's honor after funeral arrangements are completed.