March 18, 2004

Fellow members of the Cornell community,

I write to you as we are all still experiencing the shock and pain of yesterday's death of George Boiardi.

The loss of any life is always a profound blow. And the circumstances of George's death give it a particular meaning for our community.

Team sports are a unifying element for a campus. Athletes who participate in intercollegiate competition represent us publicly. We often identify with them, feeling that we somehow know them even if we have never met them. They visibly embody personal qualities -- dedication, skill, commitment -- that we value, and they represent those qualities on our behalf to the outside world.

George's sport took his life in a freak accident, on the field of play. Such a tragic incident exposes our shared vulnerability, whether we are in the midst of playing hard or in altogether different circumstances. The very qualities that lead us to identify with our teams in victory and in defeat now lead us to identify with our team in a moment of tragedy. We mourn together, and we collectively extend our sympathies to the Boiardi family and to all those who knew and loved him.

We will each come to terms with George's death in our own way. As we do, I want to remind us all that Cornell has a range of support services available for anyone who needs them. Whether you use the University's services or seek comfort with your friends and colleagues, please know that Kathy's and my thoughts are with our community on this very sad day.

President Jeffrey S. Lehman