We recently lost a member of our CSU family. Six days ago, Corey Stewart was rock climbing with friends in Rocky Mountain National Park when an accident tragically cut his life short. He was a 22-year old sophomore, studying natural resource recreation and tourism, doing something he loved. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends, who are still healing in the wake of their loss.

All it took was a fall. One fall, and this campus lost a promising young mind, his classmates lost a friend, and his family lost a son.

One fall, that was all it took.

He was someone’s friend, he may have been a friend of a friend, he may have been even further removed from us as individuals, but he was also a Ram, and that unites all of us.

Regardless of what your major is, where you live or how old you are, you are part of this family at CSU. When we lose someone, it affects all of us, whether or not we know them personally. CSU is less for the loss of one of our own.

This upcoming weekend is going to be a busy time for everyone. Like Corey, take the time to enjoy what you love, but at the same time, be careful. We may think we’re invulnerable, free from harm, but harm is always one step away. Take care of yourself, and each other, like the family we are.

And keep Corey, and his family, in your thoughts.

To read about the impact that Corey had on his friends’ lives, click here.