Photo Credit: Xavierite Staff
On Jan. 24, the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders held a candlelight vigil for graduate student Hanan Kassem, who was murdered on Jan 21.
The vigil was held in the Smith-Morris Quad. Over forty students came to mourn Kassem, filling the southeast part of the quad. During the service, faculty members prayed for Kassem and her family, who were killed by her father Maher Kassem.
Kassem had a master’s degree in speech therapy and was further studying speech pathology here at SXU. Professor Lisa Osier M.S. and Dr. Giselle Núñez from the Department Of Communication Sciences and Disorders organized the vigil to honor Kassem, who had been a student of theirs.
During the vigil, Osier said a few words for Kassem “In the midst of grief, it’s really heartening to see all your faces here together, united in support and a lot of love. Now we gather today to celebrate and honor the light of Hanan. A person that was very dynamic, intelligent, kind. She touched us all in so many unique and profound ways,”
Osier also had this to say as the candle lighting began.
“As I share my light, pass it along, I want you to keep in your mind and your heart that each flame represents a story. The story of a life lived, the story of a life lost. The story of all the memories that we have of Hanan in our community,”
As the flame made its way around the group, Osier continued, saying “My hope is that this light will guide us through the sorrow we feel, and the light will carry us forward, and radiate comfort for our community.”
During the vigil, a few students shared words about their departed classmate. They say that they wished they had gotten to know Kassem better, and had done more than exchange kind words in passing.
On Jan. 21, at their home in Tinley Park, Kassem’s mother, Majeda Kassem, was shot by her husband, after a dispute among the family escalated. He then shot Kassem and her twin Halema, as well as their younger sister Zahia.
Mourners gathered at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview to honor the four deceased women, and to call for acts of violence as such to be addressed in their community. A funeral service was also held on Jan. 23, where mourners buried the four women, and held a vigil for hours afterward.
The Muslim Student Association (MSA) posted a statement on Instagram mourning the loss of Kassem, as well as her mother and two sisters.
The statement had this to say about Kassem, “Hanan was a graduate student getting her degree in speech pathology. She was always a helping hand an held her family, friends, and classmates close to her heart. She was always very thoughtful and considerate. Hanan was loved by many at SXU as well as in our community. She will be deeply missed.”
In the caption of MSA’s post, they asked for people to “consider donating to build a Masjid & water well in honor of their lives”. The construction of the masjid is said to have been a dream of the families.
The donation page also said that they hope the construction of the m “May Allah grant them the status of shuhadat and shower them in good deeds that this masjid will bring.”
The campaign has nearly reached its goal of $60,000 as of publication date. 1,085 donors have contributed to the goal.
The donation page reiterated that Kassem was known as a helping hand, and said that she “had her special way of making people feel like they belong. She was always so thoughtful and considerate with her supportive words. Her heart held a special place for her family, and she will be deeply missed.”