By Eleni Himaras

The Center for Spiritual Life and the University Chaplains held their annual memorial service on Oct. 27 at noon to commemorate the 13 members of the Northeastern community who have died this past year.

“I hope for many people this will give them a chance to enter a new stage of their grief, of more acceptance,” said Shelli Jankowski-Smith, director of spiritual life. “There is a message of hope that’s part of this service.”

Joyce DeGreeff, the Lutheran chaplain at Northeastern, has been with the school for eight years and said this event typically brings in 30 to 50 people. Even though this was a particularly tragic year for the Northeastern community, only two mourners came to the event.

Event organizers sent out a global e-mail, posted the event information on the MyNeu Web site, put up signs around campus and sent flyers to every organization and department, as they do every year to publicize this event, DeGreeff said.

Though the event was during activities period, it was at the same time as a politicial forum with speaker Michael Dukakis, which may be a reason why the turnout was so small.

“If people are already excited and happy about something that is going on, such as the World Series, they may not want to go to an event that is going to bring down the mood or burst their bubble,” said Judy Hall, a Northeastern psychology professor.

The service included the different chaplains reading inspirational passages from their respective religions and songs with messages of hope.

“The event went beautifully, it was a lovely, touching service,” Jankowski-Smith said.

The people at the Center for Spiritual Life who were part of the service were visibly moved as the faces turned into somber expressions as the chaplains asked the crowd to reflect upon those they had lost and remember the good things.

Hall suggested other reasons for the small turnout might have been people simply being too busy or feeling their presence was not necessary because other people would go.

Despite the efforts to get the word out about the event, many students did not know that it was happening.

“I had no idea that it was going on,” said Erin Santos, a senior criminal justice major. “I had a group meeting during activities period that day but I don’t know that I would have gone since I didn’t know any of the people who had passed away.”

DeGreeff and Jankowski-Smith agreed that even if the event only helped one person through a difficult time, they would consider it a success.

“When pain is with you, philosophy is not enough to make it go away,” said Imam Abdullah Faaruuq, the Muslim chaplain. “We just have to be with those who are grieving.”

The faith groups will co-sponsor a Thanksgiving service on Nov. 17 at noon, DeGreeff said.

“There are many things that you can do interfaith, but grief and Thanksgiving are two things that all religions can relate to,” DeGreeff said.