The east side of Beta Bridge was painted white in the early hours of Thursday morning, covering the message that had remained there for over a month: Bring Hannah Home. The rain, arriving and departing before sun-up, washed away some of the paint, leaving the first letter still visible. The resulting partial veneer perhaps represents the struggle to forget a tragedy in the community, knowing that those emotions remain right beneath the surface — they burst through, like the vibrant blues and greens.
At a University that holds its traditions dear, Beta Bridge serves not only as a promotional platform, but also as an expression of support. It has been painted in remembrance of several students who have passed away, and in solidarity for the shootings at Virginia Tech and Newtown. But it seems as though no case has affected the community as much as Hannah’s, likely because of the uncertainty, and in tandem, the long-held hope. The message on Beta Bridge served as a daily reminder that the search for Hannah was ongoing, and that more news was always to come.
The discovery and identification of Hannah’s body is not how the community hoped this case would end. It is difficult to accept that the message which remained on the bridge for so long would not be realized.
But as Hannah’s friend Jenna Van Dyke said about painting the bridge, “I think it’s time.” The decision to paint over the message is not just an act of giving the space back to the students. It is a symbolic indication of how the community is moving from the staunch attachment to hope to the solemn and difficult process of grief and acceptance.
The question of when is the right time to move on from a tragedy is not easy to answer. Second Year Council President Abraham Axler initially said Hannah’s memorial erected next to the Whispering Wall would remain there “as long as it needs to be.” Such a statement reflects how we must wait patiently until our instincts tug at our hearts, telling us we have reached the right time for change. Axler now says the memorial will likely be taken down by the end of the month. Perhaps the request to paint over Beta Bridge has influenced this notion that the right time may be coming soon.
Our recovery process will involve a certain amount of forgetting, for which a constant visual reminder might not be suitable. Distractions in the form of laughter and difficult but fulfilling work aid us in our path back to a state of stability, following a trauma. This does not mean Hannah’s memory will completely disappear from our community. She will be tucked away in a quiet corner of our hearts, and she will return to the forefront of our minds in the moments she is meant to be there.
When you see a peer walking alone at night and reach out to help, when you feel grateful for the community of love that surrounds you — these are moments during which Hannah’s memory might radiate. She will still be a beacon of hope, now for how our community can grow even stronger, and how even in the face of tragedy, the good will always endure.
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