I'm sure many can relate to the confusion and sadness that I felt as I discovered the news of Robin Williams' death, whille channel surfing from my couch. Williams was discovered in his California home on Aug. 11, dead from apparent suicide. Authorities later revealed that it was due to asphyxia and that Williams likely hung himself.
The Loss of an Icon
Williams was born on July 21, 1951 in Chicago, Ill. He studied political science in college, before enrolling in the theatre department of the prestigious Juilliard School in New York in 1973. He was one of only two students accepted to the advanced department that year, the other being Christopher Reeve. Williams left Juilliard in 1976 and received his big break in 1978 playing Mork in the television series Mork And Mindy, which ran for five years.
From 1978 to the time of his death, Williams warmed the hearts of millions through his variety of roles, including childhood favorites and adult dramas such as: Aladdin (voice of Genie), Mrs. Doubtfire (Daniel Hillard/ Euphegenia Doubtfire), Jumanji (Alan Parrish), The Birdcage (Armand Goldman), Dead Poets Society (John Keating), Robots (Fender), August Rush (Maxwell Wallace) and Night At The Museum (Theodore Roosevelt). Williams will also appear in several films posthumously.
Williams won many awards during his life, the most prestigious being an Oscar for best actor in the 1998 film, Good Will Hunting. He won the Golden Globe Special Achievement Award for his 1993 performance in Aladdin, as well as the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award which is awarded for outstanding contributions to the entertainment world. Williams may have been voted “least likely to succeed” by his high school classmates, but he has forever changed the hearts and minds of everyone directly reached by him or his films. Williams will continue to live on in the hearts of millions.
I will always remember the sassy demeanor of Aladdin’s genie, as well as the caring Doctor Patch Adams. It is my sincere hope that he is now forever surrounded by the smiles of each and every person he ever affected.
The tie that binds us
No matter the feelings we experience for our fraternity brothers or sorority sisters, there is no denying that there will always be an important tie that binds us together. Whether we are best friends with a certain member, or simply wave on the quad, our ritual binds us.
Each fraternity and sorority chapter has a ritual created by the chapter’s founders. These rituals contain sacred secrets pertaining to their respective chapter. These ceremonies are only to be revealed to those who have pledged their loyalty to a chapter and are deemed by that chapter as a good fit to go through the ceremony.
These rituals stay the same, year after year, and are experienced by each chapter member. They are what tie fraternity men and sorority women together as “brothers” and “sisters.”
So, what does this mean? This means that we, as Greek members, are not alone. We have dozens of people directly tied to us, on campus, at any given time. And it’s time that we realize it.
No more bystander behavior
Bystander behavior occurs when someone sees a situation happen, or continue to happen, and chooses not to take action. This can have long-lasting effects on those involved in the situation.
It’s no secret that the Greek system has a reputation for substance abuse issues, namely alcohol and drugs. I won’t dispute that assumption, but I won’t support it either.
According to a 2011 study by the National Mental Health Institute (NMHI), about 30 percent of college students reported feeling so depressed in the past year that they found it difficult to function. The NMHI also found that students with depression had a higher tendency to drink for the sole purpose of getting drunk, but not necessarily higher quantities of alcohol than other students.
Of course, it is safe to assume that among the 30 percent of college students who have experienced depression, some portion are Greek. This statistic can quickly turn deadly -- and with the media appeal of the Greek system -- can quickly foster poor reputations for Greek systems and Greek students everywhere.
We recognize that depression leads to the deadly outcome of suicide. However, many times we don’t stop to think about the varying levels of depression that people experience and the ease with which depression can be alleviated, thus reducing the rate of suicide everywhere.
Dr. Drew Pinsky, MD, called for citizens to begin thinking of depression in the same way as any other medical condition. He stated that Robin Williams’ brain disease took him in the same way that one could be taken by cardiac disease or cancer. He states that depression patients can often be treated by adding structure to daily life and that it takes a village to recognize the illness and pull patients from the rut they find themselves in.
Depression has many symptoms. Here are a few: Isolation from others; loss of interest in activities one once found enjoyable; increased irritability; and decreased energy.
It’s time to quit bystanding. If you see these signs in anyone who is close to you, don’t assume that someone else will step up to the plate, because it may never happen.
Although those experiencing depression often become annoying to people around them, due to the change in behavior, don’t lose patience. You may never know how large of an impact a simple lunch date or walk on the quad can have on someone; it could be the difference between life and death.
If you are experiencing severe depression, or know someone who is, please seek help.
Call: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to speak with a crisis counselor.
