Family, friends and the entire Greek community gathered together for a few moments of silence to respectfully recognize the alumni who passed away this year at Golden Silence. Golden Silence is an event that that takes the time to honor our deceased Alumni from the previous year. Prolific members of Southeastern such as Dr. Marvin Yates, Wendy Lauderdale, Stacey Neal and Kathy Pittman called out the names of 236 perished alumni in remembrance this year.

Golden Silence is an annual event on campus. The event started as a way to give students proper closure. Kathy Pittman, the Alumni Director says the ceremony is a good way to honor Southeastern.

“We began this event eighteen years ago, and the reason we began the event was because we had two student deaths on campus in a short period of time and we realized that we needed a procedure for closure because a lot of our students, as well as our faculty and staff were upset,” said Pittman. “Since one of our core values [at southeastern] is caring, this was the right thing to do.”
Golden Silence took place in the Pottle Performance Circle on April 3 at 6 p.m.  There was a ceremonial candle lighting, a flag ceremony performed by Ponchatoula High School ROTC and the Southeastern Alma Mater was sung by senior music major Jeremy Lloyd.
For many people attending, this was a time to reunite and reminisce in honor of lost loved ones. Some people attend every year to pay their respects, and for others it is their first time. Like Pamela Carlisle husband passed last year and came to the ceremony to support him.
“Well, this was the first I ever heard the event because my husband died during last year,” said Carlisle. “I think it’s very significant for us as a family. It’s giving us a time to get back together and honor his memory. He was a Southeastern alumnus, and he played on the football team when he was here and we had a lot of fun memories here. We got married, we made some tremendous lifelong relationships with folks, even some former friends are here tonight.”
Additionally, this event gave some people a second chance to honor their loved one’s memories, and it helped reunite people. Many people felt a sense of togetherness with the others who attended the event because of shared memories, and even shared loved ones.

Carlisle went on to say “Allan, one of Bubba’s [Pamela’s husband] former teammates was not able to make his funeral service, so he was able to be here tonight, it was good seeing him and we were reliving some old fond memories.”

This event holds great value to the people the people that attend.

“It makes them know that we really care about them and that they didn’t just pass through here; that they weren’t just a number,” said Pittman. “We really do remember our Alumni and that they have made a difference because of what they have learned here and what they brought into the communities they live in. Everybody who passes through here leaves a part of themselves and it makes it a better place for all of us.”
There is an eternal chapter online with all of the names announced at any Golden Silence event at selu.edu/alumni.