On Wednesday night, Active Minds hosted an event during EspressoUP to provide support for the University of Portland community following the death of freshman Owen Klinger.
Students wrote letters to Owen’s family and put down words of encouragement on strips of paper to create a chain of supportive messages. They also placed their handprints on a banner using green paint, showing their solidarity with the UP community.
“We are hoping to create some visual displays that allow us to show that we are a community that stands together during times of struggle,” Rachel Mehlman, president of Active Minds said. “We have our poster where you add a hand and it's kind of like a pledge to show that you are a part of this community and you pledge to support others and to be there and to really participate in this community space.”
Owen’s body was found in the Willamette River on Oct. 20, two weeks after he went missing from campus.
