Karlie Hall remembered

February 19, 2015

Dear campus community,

I, together with Karlie Hall’s family, invite you to attend a celebration of life service in her memory on Sunday, February 22.   The campus community and invited guests (no media please) are welcome to attend the service in the Student Memorial Center Room 24 at 5 p.m.

A freshman at Millersville University, Karlie died February 8 on campus.  While this has been a time of shock and grief on campus, the service will be a time to bring us together to honor Karlie and rally around her family, who have suffered an enormous loss.  We will celebrate the joy that Karlie brought to her friends and family and help our campus community bring closure to this tragic event.

Students personally impacted by the loss are encouraged to seek support.  Counseling services as well as spiritual guidance through campus ministries are available to all students.  For more information on counseling services, contact 717-872-3122 or visit the 3rd floor of Lyle Hall.  For information on campus ministries, visit the University website at: www.millersville.edu/campusministries/on-campus-ministries.php.

Michelle

Michelle Pérez ­ Interim Vice President

Student Affairs

 

February 12, 2015

Dear Campus Community,

I wanted to inform you of the funeral arrangements for Karlie Hall, the Millersville University freshman, who died Sunday on campus.  The funeral will be held in her hometown on Saturday, February 14. You can read the entire obituary here.

Visitation will take place at Willowdale Chapel, 675 Unionville Road, Kennett Square, PA 19348 (Corner of Routes 82 and 926, one mile north of Route 1).  Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. followed by the interment at Valley Forge Memorial Gardens.  Arrangements are being handled by the Kuzo & Grieco Funeral Home Inc., of Kennett Square.

The Center for Student Involvement & Leadership (CSIL) is sponsoring transportation to the Willowdale Chapel on Saturday morning.

–        The buses will be leaving from in front of the SMC at 9 a.m.

–        Students are asked to arrive no later than 8: 45 a.m. to board the bus.

–        To confirm your intent to board RSVP HERE by noon on Friday, February 13th.  Please use your university login and password to enter the RSVP link.

–        The buses will return to campus at approximately 1:00pm

In addition, tomorrow Friday February 13th, the campus community is asked to wear purple to promote awareness of dating violence and honor Karlie.

We wanted to let you know that friends, parents and alumni have been the catalyst to start a Karlie’s Angels fund that will support the continued campus education, services, resources, and support directed at eliminating dating violence.  You can read more here.

 

February 11, 2015

To: Members of the Campus Community

As our campus community continues to grieve and reflect on the passing of Karlie Hall, we want to share with you ongoing support initiatives that are taking place this week.

The remembrance banner is located in the SMC between the Fitness Center and Information desk to share written words to remember Karlie through Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

On Friday, February 13 at 3:30 p.m., in SMC 24 the Center for Health Education and Promotion and the Presidents Commission on the Status of Women will be gathering students, staff and faculty with interest in helping our campus community to utilize our joint energy and passion to discuss educational initiatives relating to dating and other forms of violence.  We have received numerous suggestions for ways that we can continue to remember Karlie Hall through ongoing violence education and this opportunity will enable Marauders to come together to address these important topics.   We will discuss national initiatives, ideas from the campus and community that have been offered, ideas from participants, and layout a framework for action.  Our action plan will not only look to provide programming for the remainder of the semester but how we continue well beyond this semester to address preventing dating violence on our campus and in our communities.

Students are encouraged to contact the Counseling Center in Lyle Hall for continued support, 717-872-3122.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all who knew Karlie.  Please join us at any one of these opportunities.

 

February 10, 2015

To the Millersville University campus and our surrounding community,

On Sunday, February 8, Millersville University freshman, Karlie Hall, died tragically. It has been a time of shock and grief on our campus and beyond. The depth of the University’s collective sorrow, however, pales in comparison to the unfathomable heartache experienced by Karlie’s family, loved ones, and friends.

Our campus community has come together to support each other, and our students have shown a level of strength and maturity far greater than their years.  They’ve had to endure what no one should have to go through – the unnecessary death of a young woman.

We’ve been buoyed by the outpouring of love and concern from the Lancaster community and from around the nation.  We’ve received emails, calls and Tweets from friends, family, alumni and even total strangers who are sending their prayers and thoughts to Karlie’s family and the entire Millersville campus.

I thank all of our students, faculty and staff who have shown courage and sensitivity during this difficult time.  I also thank the community for wrapping your arms around us at this very sad, difficult time.  The thoughtful expressions and many kindnesses mean a lot to us.

The candlelight vigil last night in the freezing rain was a chance for the campus to come together as one. There will be other opportunities for us to work together as a community to ensure that Karlie’s brief life has meaning.  Though she is no longer with us, Karlie’s smile and her caring spirit will forever be a part of Millersville University.

John Anderson, Ph.D.
President
Millersville University

 

February 9, 2015

To help the University community cope with the recent and tragic passing of Karlie Hall, the following services will take place over the next few days.

1.     Today (2/9), the staff at the Center for Health Education and Promotion will be available in the Montour House (across from the bookstore) from 2 to 5 p.m. for students needing to talk about the recent passing of Karlie and to provide recommendations on available resources for additional support.  A counselor from the YWCA will be available in the Montour House from 2 to 5 p.m.

2.     A remembrance banner will be placed in the SMC between the Fitness Center and Information desk where students can share written words to remember Karlie starting at 3pm today (2/9) through Friday afternoon at 4pm.

3.     A Candlelight Vigil will be held this evening on the promenade of the Student Memorial Center (near the Marauder statue) to bring the University community together and offer comfort to each other following the sad passing of Karlie.  Please join us at 7 p.m.

4.     KPETS therapy dogs will be in the Student Memorial Center Atrium today, Tuesday and likely on Wednesday afternoon.

5.     Tomorrow (2/10), Pet Partners crisis dogs will be in Bard Hall from 7 to 8 p.m.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all who knew Karlie.  Please join us at any one of these opportunities.

 

 

February 8, 2015

To the Millersville University Community,  

It is with profound sadness that I write to you this evening.  Our university community has suffered an unfathomable loss, the death of one of our students, Karlie Hall, of Chadds Ford, Pa.   I ask that you join me in sending our thoughts and prayers to Karlie’s family and friends.  If you personally knew Karlie, please accept my heartfelt condolences at this most difficult time.  

Students personally impacted by the loss are encouraged to seek support.  Counseling services as well as spiritual guidance through campus ministries is available to all students.  Counselors have been on campus all day and will be available throughout the coming week.  For more information on counseling services contact 717-872-3122 or visit the 3rd floor of Lyle Hall.  For information on campus ministries visit the University website at: www.millersville.edu/campusministries/on-campus-ministries.php.

We will do our best to keep the Millersville University community informed with accurate information as we receive it.  That being said, the below statement was just received from the District Attorney’s Office regarding the investigation.

In deepest sympathy,
John Anderson
President
Millersville University

 From the Lancaster District Attorney’s Office:
At approximately 5 a.m. on Sunday, February 8, 2015, members of the Millersville University and Millersville Borough police responded to a call at Bard Hall on the Millersville University Campus for a cardiac arrest. Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive, female student in her dorm room.  Millersville University and Millersville Borough Police, in conjunction with the Lancaster County Forensics Team and Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office began an investigation into the student’s death.  The student has been identified as Karlie Hall (DOB: 10-3-1996), a freshman from Chadd’s Ford, PA.  Ms. Hall’s death is under suspicious circumstances. The exact cause of death is not immediately apparent so law enforcement officers will await additional information from the autopsy before further actions are taken.  An autopsy is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Karlie’s boyfriend, Gregorio Orrostieta (DOB:6-3-1995) of Kennett Square, PA, has been charged with Aggravated Assault as a result of the investigation showing there was a physical altercation between the two in the early morning hours.  More information will be provided tomorrow afternoon after the autopsy is conducted. Mr. Orrostieta is in custody at Lancaster County Prison.  There is no evidence that anyone else is involved and law enforcement officers are confident that there is no danger to the campus community.

Mr. Orrostieta is not a student at MU and is presumed innocent. 

Police are encouraging anyone who may have information related to this investigation to contact the Millersville University Police (717-871-4357).