These two mourners listened to Annie Le’s roommate tell a hushed crowd of 1,000 people on Yale’s Cross Campus that the murdered graduate student was “as good a human being as you’d ever hope to meet. She was also tenacious … and tougher than you’d think by just looking at her.”
The vigil took place Monday night, after news emerged that police have a “serious” suspect in the case. Police found the remains of Annie Le, a 24 year-old pharmacology PhD. student, inside a mechanical chase at a Yale medical building Sunday, the day she was supposed to get married.
Natalie Powers, a third-year grad student in genetics, said she and Le lived together since both arrived at Yale just over two years ago. It was she who reported Le missing when she didn’t return home last week to their East Rock apartment.
Powers began her short talk in a quiet, hoarse voice. “Please bear with me. I’m going to get through this as best I can.”
Click “here to listen.
“She was as good a human being as you’d ever hope to meet,” Powers said. “She was always kind, generous, honest, caring … the list just keeps going.
“She was also really tenacious and had a sense of humor that was never far away. And she was tougher than you’d think by just looking at her.”
The stars shone overhead, and candles glowed in the windless, balmy night. The Yale carillon played a quiet tune as mourners gathered. All those elements made the reason for the gathering even more jarring.
Yale President Rick Levin (shown after the 15-minute service with his wife, Jane) spoke of the values that bind the Yale community together. “As scholars, as learners, as seekers, and as human souls with empathy and compassion,” he said, “we find it incomprehensible that life can be so unjust.”
The vigil to honor Annie Le was conceived and publicized by students, then sponsored by Yale’s chaplain’s office and the president’s office.
After the formal service ended, most of those present stood on the grass still holding their candles. A group (pictured) quietly hummed the tune to “Amazing Grace.”
Freshman Christina Bui was comforted by her friend, junior Austin Baik (pictured above). Asked if she knew Le, Bui said no, but added, “As part of Yale’s community, I feel this affects us at all levels. It’s not just Annie’s close friends and family. It’s everyone here at Yale — we care for her, and so I think it’s our responsibility and just out of respect, and out of love, we should be here.”
She said her parents were worried when they heard about Le’s disappearance. “They called, but I just assured them that Yale’s going to keep me safe. There’s a lot of resources here to keep me safe, and we just have to be aware.”
She said she did feel a little less safe now. “This event would shake anyone up, but I’m not too terrified.” She said she’s become much more aware of her surroundings, and will take precautions like using Yale transportation to get around campus at night.