Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With Karlijn’s Family
July 21, 2014
This is a profoundly sad time for the department and our graduate student community. Our thoughts and prayers are with Karlijn's family and with Mookie Baik and members of his group.
“I’m not an overly emotional person,” says Steve Peterson, the head women’s rowing coach at Indiana University.
But late Friday afternoon, while talking about Karlijn Keijzer (pronounced Kar-line Kite-ser)–a former Indiana University rower who was killed on Malaysia Airlines Fight 17 on Thursday–Peterson reached his breaking point. She was 25. “One of my favorite memories that keeps popping into my head, and it makes me so sad to say this,” Peterson says, unable to continue his words. Between several pauses to let the tears pass, he explains why he can no longer hide his grief. It was such a small thing, really, but it meant so much.