Four bouquets of flowers and more than 300 white candles lined the sidewalk outside Steidle Building on Monday night to honor Joseph "Joe" Dado, hours after the Penn State freshman was found dead.
Kolby Kent Nelson said he was inspired to show his support for the student after he met Dado's tearful sister in the HUB-Robeson Center earlier in the day.
"I was in the HUB and I saw Joe Dado's sister. She was heavily in tears," Nelson (graduate-international affairs) said. "I wished there was something I could do, so I ran to the store and bought 300 candles."
Dado was found at the bottom of a stairwell between the Hosler and Steidle buildings at about 6 p.m. Monday, the victim of what Penn State officials said appears to be an accident. He was last seen at about 3 a.m. Sunday leaving Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity, 319 N. Burrowes Road, headed for East Halls.
Throughout campus Monday night, members of the Penn State community came together to honor the 18-year-old engineering student from Latrobe.
At about 9 p.m. Monday, more than 100 students stood in silence around the Steidle Building on Pollock Road as police searched the side of the building with flashlights. Students took pictures of the makeshift candlelight vigil with digital cameras and cell phones. Three students hugged each other and cried.
Tyler Tressler, who was sitting across from the vigil in the grass, accepted a candle from Nelson, who lit it for him.
"It's hard to imagine something like this happening here at Penn State," Tressler (junior-economics) said. "It could have been someone in your class and you never knew. You don't think it could happen to you or around you -- and it does."
Lauren McCarthy sat on the ground next to Nelson, lighting candles for the growing memorial.
She said she stopped studying and left the library to show her support for Dado.
"I'll be here all night. This is a very monumental moment," McCarthy (senior-psychology) said. "Although I have a test tomorrow, it is more important to support a fellow student. It really puts things into perspective of what's important."
In the HUB Auditorium on Monday night, Vice President for Student Affairs Damon Sims confirmed Dado's death to students, and members of the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) and Interfraternity Council -- all of whom had planned to search the campus and downtown for Dado on Monday evening.
"It is tragic beyond words," Sims said. "I am painfully sorry."
Sims said he hopes the entire student body will double their efforts in watching out for each other and being alert to their friends' needs.
UPUA President Gavin Keirans also addressed the crowd, thanking them for showing their support and adding how saddened he was by the day's events.
"It's really tough to lose anyone, especially in their freshman year," Keirans (senior-business management) said. "It's a terrible, terrible thing."
UPUA Student Life and Diversity Chairman Christian Ragland said even though the search was called off, UPUA wanted to use the time in the HUB Auditorium to squash any rumors and keep the Dado family in students' thoughts. Ensuring safety at Penn State will be an initiative within his committee, he said.
"We can't let this happen on our campus," Ragland (junior-political science) said. "We can't allow tragedy to keep attacking our student body."
At Fisher Hall, tissues were on hand as residents of Tener Hall -- where Dado had lived -- gathered for a building meeting. The floor that Dado lived on had a separate meeting earlier Monday night, said Diane Andrews, director of Residence Life.
Dennis Heitzmann, director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) told students at the meeting where to find help if they feel the need to talk to someone.
As those gathered sat in silence, one student asked to keep Dado's roommate in mind and was assured by staff that he would not be alone Monday night, as his father was staying with him.
"I hope everyone will be well and do the best you can and try to take something meaningful away from this," Heitzmann said.
