New College to Hold Vigil Remembering Student Taizo Pocsy

The Office of Student Affairs has announced that a candlelight vigil will be held on the New College of Florida bayfront on Friday evening, April 5, at 5:30 pm in memory of student Taizo Pocsy. All members of the New College community are invited to attend.  A first year student, Taizo died while visiting his parents in Naples, Florida, during the spring break.

Earlier this week, President Donal O’Shea announced that the College also is working with Taizo’s family to arrange a small memorial service to be held on campus in the coming weeks. The exact date for that ceremony has yet to be determined.
To help support Taizo’s family, Student Affairs also announced that they will host an event in the Gender and Diversity Center (GDC) from noon-1 pm on Thursday, April 4, which all students, faculty and staff are invited to join and to write messages of condolence to Taizo’s family. Paper, pens and markers will be provided. Student Affairs will bind all of the messages collected during the event and send them to Taizo’s family.
“Death is hardest on those left behind,” said President Donal O’Shea in announcing Taizo’s death to the campus community on Tuesday. “It is especially hard for Taizo’s family and friends and those of us who knew him best. Our thoughts, our hearts, and our prayers go out to them.”
In another show of support for Taizo’s family, students from New College and Ringling College of Art and Design announced that they will hold a moment of silence in Taizo’s memory following the national anthem at this Sunday’s football game between the two schools.