A Death in the University of Idaho Vandal Family

By Nicole Hindberg on September 20, 2018

A couple of times throughout my time at the University of Idaho there have been emails about deaths in the Vandal family. It’s a very sentimental thing for the university staff to extend their condolences to the loved ones to those who were close to the person who passed away.

This week we got another one of those emails. Her name was Katherine Grogget. Many knew her as the president of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. She passed away due to a car accident over the weekend.

University of Idaho students are supporting each other during this tragic time.
Image via Pexels

This is a hard time for the Vandal family. Earlier in the year, we received an email about a missing student who was later found a few weeks later. The university continues to update us as new information comes out. The school graciously reminded students of their services for grief counseling and any other type of assistance.

I would also like to include the services they offered in their emails. The number to make appointments for the Counseling and Testing Center is (208) 885-6716. The Counseling and Testing Center is located next to the music building near the tennis courts in Mary E. Forney Hall (room 306). There are many services offered in this building and on the same floor that are offered so no one will be able to tell what you are there for if you need the services offered. Some students are embarrassed to seek help especially if their peers see where they are entering or leaving. The staff specifically made the location that way so students would be more inclined to seek help.

I am in my second year at the University of Idaho and I have never seen such support from a community that I have from the Vandal Family. Most colleges call their student body a “nation” or some other name for a group of people. When I toured colleges this stood out to me that they called the student body a family. I thought this was a ploy to get more people to the University of Idaho to enroll. But I can testify that the student body is a family. I’ve had numerous professors take a moment of silence or a moment for a prayer this week out of respect for Katherine. If the student body support is of any indication of the services for the Counseling and Testing Center, I know that they will be very helpful for any students struggling with any issue. Other services offered there are career counseling, individual counseling, couples counseling, drug and alcohol counseling and so many more. There is even an Emergency crisis number that is available 24/7/365. That number is (208) 885-6716. I would also like to leave the number for the National Suicide prevention hotline. 1-800-273-8255. If people are uncomfortable speaking over the phone they can test HOME to 741741 for free 24/7 support.

We are lucky to be able to have these services available to us for free so I encourage all who are struggling with any issue to seek out help. All the staff are accredited psychologists and counselors.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format