BU Community Honors Talented Grad Student Killed in Cycling Accident

Photo by Noah Eberhart
Students gathered at Marsh Plaza. | Photo by Noah Eberhart

At approximately 8:30 Thursday morning, Boston University lost a dedicated student and a brilliant talent because of a road accident. Families of victims of deadly accidents like this can seek legal aid from a personal injury attorney.

Christopher Weigl (COM ’14), a photojournalism graduate student, was riding his bicycle down Commonwealth Avenue when he collided with a 16-wheel tractor-trailer as the truck made a right turn onto St. Paul Street.

The 23 year-old moved to Boston on September 1 of this year. Over the course of one semester, Weigl proved a talent behind the lens and a dear friend in and outside the classroom. The Southborough, MA native graduated from Skidmore College in 2011 and took a year off of school to participate in a volun-tourism program, volunteering, traveling, and documenting his experiences in the Far East through photography. Weigl’s photos tell the story of someone who enjoyed travel and cultural diversity, and believed in the beauty of humanity.

The College of Communication held a remembrance ceremony for Weigl at 5 p.m. Thursday evening in the lecture hall COM 101. Director of the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center and crisis counselor Maureen Mahoney spoke about the resources on hand for the grieving Boston University community, and about the senselessness of the passing of a young man with such a promising future.

“This is just wrong,” Mahoney said, echoing the thoughts of those present in the auditorium and of the BU community at large.

At the COM remembrance ceremony, Dean Fiedler and Weigl’s professors spoke, and a video produced by one of his multimedia journalism classmates was showcased. In the video, a profile of Weigl, he described the journey that brought him to us at BU.

Following the ceremony, at 6 p.m. the Center for Gender, Sexuality and Activism held a candlelit vigil at Marsh Plaza. Swanson Ninan (CAS ’15), public relations coordinator for the CGSA, introduced the evening’s program.

“The goal for tonight is to build community,” he said.

Photo by Noah Eberhart

The Center organized the vigil in a matter of hours in response to the tragic death. “We decided to have some sort of community event early this afternoon,” Ninan said. “We felt that it was necessary to have this so the community feels secure and safe and we have others to share our experience with.”

Some members of the crowd were moved to speak.

“We’re like flowers,” one young woman said, her face illuminated by the glow of the candle she held. “We bloom and we fade away very quickly.”

“When I learned the news, it was troubling to hear another member of our community had been lost. […] Because so many students live off-campus and use bikes as a way to get to school, it’s important that we come together and think of ways to keep safe,” said CGSA volunteer Chelsea Schwalm(CAS ’14). “It’s needless loss. It’s very sad.”

Weigl’s tragic passing marks the second death of a Boston University cyclist in the past month, and the fifth cyclist death in the city alone this past year. The city of Boston held a town hall meeting on noon at Thursday to discuss the safety of public biking, the current system of bike lanes, and potential improvements.

A crowd gathers in community support at Marsh Plaza candlelit vigil Thursday evening. | Photo by Noah Eberhart

In an e-mail to the Boston University community, President Brown said, “We are very concerned about the dangers faced by members of our community who must navigate the streets on and near our campus, especially bicyclists and pedestrians. As we identify ways in which education and changes in practice can reduce risks, we will take all necessary and possible steps to do so.”

Counseling for the BU community can be found through the Dean of Students Office, Marsh Chapel chaplains (617-353-3560), Student Health Services Behavioral Medicine department (617-353-3569), and the Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center (617-353-7277).

About Ingrid Adamow

Ingrid Adamow (COM '14) is Editor-in-Chief and also a writer for The Quad. Ingrid is an advertising major and enjoys reading, writing, good music, fashion, coffee, and adventures around the city of Boston. But mostly coffee.

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