The Syracuse University flag flew at half-mast outside Hendricks Chapel the morning of Nov. 5, when a group of students gathered to mourn the death of a friend.

Gleidy Espinal, a junior accounting and finance major in the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, died last week while studying abroad in Madrid. Chancellor Nancy Cantor sent an e-mail to the student body stating Espinal’s cause of death as apparent suicide. Madrid authorities are still confirming that, university spokesman Kevin Morrow said.

As those close to Espinal continue to cope with the tragedy, some reflected on her effect on them and her contribution to the university. Friends described Espinal as the ‘best kind of friend you could have.’ A friend who readily gave compliments and car rides, jokes and words of wisdom. A lover of dance, who fine-tuned her steps. A conscientious student who worked hard for her grades.

Espinal is the fourth SU student to die in the past two months, the second death abroad and the second suicide.

Thomas Wolfe, dean of student affairs, said there is no new information surrounding Espinal’s death and that the university will continue to provide counseling and support services to anyone in need. A support team flew to Madrid Nov. 5, and a memorial service for Espinal was held in Madrid Monday. The date for a service in Syracuse has yet to be announced.

‘If you talk to anyone about her, the first thing you’ll hear is that she was just so full of life. No matter what was going on, she seemed so content with being here,’ said Kenny Hernandez, junior finance major. ‘She seemed to brush off everything that was going wrong.’

Hernandez met Espinal in the summer of 2006, when she arrived at SU. The two became friends through mutual classes in Whitman and through their involvement in the Latino dance troupe, Raices.

‘Gleidy always surprised everyone,’ Hernandez said. ‘She’s a lot more acrobatic than you can tell at first, but she would do cartwheels and splits. She was willing to do whatever it took to improve the dances.’Hernandez said Espinal was one of those girls who could spend time with the girls and then also ‘just be one of the guys.’

‘If you knew her, it’s very difficult to find the words to describe her. Because she was so unique, and you won’t find many people like that who are just so happy,’ he said.

Clint Vasquez, sophomore political science and Spanish minor, also danced with Espinal in Raices. He said her dedication to the troupe and her ability to unite members continues to inspire him.

‘Gleidy was all about bringing us all together,’ he said. ‘Every time we had differences, she was always the mediator between all of us.’

Vasquez said Raices will dedicate its spring show to Espinal.

Zoraima Figueroa, junior writing and communication and rhetorical studies major, moved from Puerto Rico to Syracuse in the summer of 2006. She met Espinal through Summer Start when, on her way to a meeting one day, she heard Espinal speaking Spanish. The two immediately struck up a conversation.

‘At that moment, we just started talking about how we came from Puerto Rico to here,’ Figueroa said. ‘And from that first moment, I felt very comfortable around her.’

Figueroa also spoke of Espinal’s love of dance.

‘When she performed, she kind of stood out from the rest of the people,’ Figueroa said. ‘Her charisma on stage and her ability were so amazing that your eye went right to her.’The last time Figueroa saw Espinal, she was, like the first time, on her way to a meeting.

‘I said hi, and she complimented my outfit,’ Figueroa said. ‘She always had something good to say about you, and I really admire that.’

Hernandez also remembers that quality.’If you were having a bad day and you needed a pick-me-up, if you needed someone to help you see the brighter side of life … I think that’s something that we can all take away from her and try to apply to ourselves. No matter how down you are, if you can just find a way to smile.’

jmterrus@syr.edu

Published on November 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm