by Amie Bressers, Editor in Chief
(As appeared in the 2-27-2003 issue of The Torch)
A somber air fell over Valparaiso University as members of the campus community gathered Monday to mourn the death of sophomore Nate Osterbur. Osterbur died late Sunday night, four days after he suffered head injuries in an accident at the Athletics and Recreation Center. He was trying to jump from the bleachers to the mats below, something he had done before, but the results this time were different.
"Nate wasn't a daredevil," said Dave Martens, president of the Sigma Chi Fraternity of which Osterbur was a member. "He was just a free spirit, excited and spontaneous."
Osterbur's death was caused by swelling within his brain which caused his heart to stop. His family was by his side throughout his stay at the Porter Memorial Hospital, and there were also visitors from the VU community in and out.
"His mother said to me in the hospital that Nate had been playing ball and jumping from things since he was three years old," said Dennis Friesen-Carper, Fredrick A. and Mazie N. Reddel professor of music and one of Osterbur's professors. "I think that's something to show the students that the family doesn't hold them responsible in any way."
Osterbur was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and an active participant in the music department. He was majoring in music performance, and played the cello in the orchestra and various string ensembles.
"Music studies is often a very solitary concentration, but Nate's presence was important to his classmates because of that ready smile that he had," said Friesen-Carper.
It is that smile that is remembered most by those who knew him. Martens described Osterbur: "He was a very positive guy, a joy to be around and always smiling." Martens also said, "He looked you in the eye, and his eyes were always sparkling, dancing almost."
This presence will be missed by those who knew Osterbur, and the organizations closest to him have taken steps to help their members cope with the loss. Members of the campus community gathered in the Chapel of the Resurrection Sunday night after the announcement of his death, and Martens said he was there until 3 a.m. when the last person left.
"This has been one of the toughest things I've ever had to experience," he said.
Sharing Grief
Tears flowed freely Monday and hugs were shared by those who knew Osterbur and those who did not at the regular morning worship service that was quickly altered to accommodate the likely influx of students gathering for comfort and community.
The Rev. Joseph Cunningham, dean of the Chapel, said, "I think that is further evidence of our need to be in community in times of need. Having a chapel like this is such a blessing because we have a sacred space together."
Cunningham said he did not believe an incident like this has ever happened this close to the campus, and as students struggle to make sense of the situation, President Alan Harre praised the outpouring of aid from members of the university.
"In a community like this, we can deal with these sorts of things effectively," he said, citing the pastoral staff of the Chapel, the counseling center and other members of the community as excellent resources for students to turn to.
The members of the orchestra, after an hour of practice Monday night, went to the Chapel to sing together, pray together and remember Osterbur. "It was very hard, but it was an important process," said Friesen-Carper. "We were there for one-and-a-half hours which was longer than expected, but it felt right."
Members of Sigma Chi also turned to their own community and the guidance of Cunningham to help them through the difficult time.
"Monday we had dinner together," said Martens. "It's important to be together for support and to take our focus from Nate. We'll have plenty of time for intense grieving this week."
A Community Joining Hands
The community recognized the needs of those closest to Osterbur and responded accordingly.
"This is a very complicated set of things, and there are a lot of people rising to the call to help," said Harre.
Members of Sigma Chi received this community outpouring as they scrambled to garner the funds to take two buses to Michigan Thursday so students could attend the funeral. Martens said the buses cost more than $3,000, and almost the entirety of that amount was covered by donations from alumni and other Greek organizations.
"It's been absolutely phenomenal," he said.
This monetary support is only a shadow of the greater community support Harre and Cunningham have seen among the students and their turn toward faith.
"Within a Christian community, there really is hope," said Harre. "Christians don't die. They live forever with their Lord. That's the promise, and I hope that message would grab people by the lapels and say it's true."
Services
A memorial service was held in Osterbur's hometown of Clinton Township, Mich., Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the funeral took place today at 2 p.m. Tomorrow, during normal morning worship times, a campus memorial service will be held in the Chapel, and the orchestra will play.
"We're playing as a way to give a tribute to Nate and his love for his music," said Friesen-Carper. Osterbur's favorite cello piece, "The Swan," will be performed, as well as an elegy featuring a cello solo.
Thanks to Valparaiso University's newspaper The Torch for printing the story about Nate and for allowing us to include it
on our site. The link below will take you to The Torch's website.