2008 Woodie Awards
Snelgrove remembered at memorial protest
Community recalls Snelgrove's smile, drive
Sara Giampolo
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News
Emerson College students, faculty and staff gathered last Friday in the journalism department's newsroom to remember the one-year anniversary of the death of junior Victoria "Torie" Snelgrove.
Snelgrove was struck in the eye by a pepper-spray pellet a Boston Police officer fired into a crowd that had gathered around Fenway Park after the Red Sox' American League Championship Series victory on Oct. 20, 2004. Snelgrove, a broadcast journalism major, died the next day.
Now, a year later, public attention appears to be centered on the six Boston Police officers disciplined after Snelgove's death, the $5.1 million wrongful death settlement awarded to the Snelgrove family and the $10 million lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of the "less lethal" weapon. At the memorial, Snelgrove's friends and teachers gathered to focus on her life instead of her death.
A handful of Emerson students and several members of the college's faculty and staff occupied the 15 to 20 folding chairs set up in the newsroom during the 30-minute gathering.
Though not crowded with masses of people, the newsroom was full of emotion. By the end of the service, there were few dry eyes in the group.
The memorial featured speakers from the journalism faculty and the Center for Spiritual Life, as well as Snelgrove's friends and classmates. It concluded with a musical tribute by Noteworthy, Emerson's a capella choral group.
"We are not here to dwell on or memorialize what was a tragic moment in time," said David Overton, the journalism department acting chair who made opening statements at the service. "[We are here to] remember a period of time, albeit very short, that we were able to spend with Torie."
All those who spoke at the service emphasized Snelgrove's drive for success.
Journalism Professor Bob Clinkscale described Snelgrove as "a front-rower," pointing out that she made sure to sit in the front row of an early morning class despite being a commuter student.
Snelgrove was struck in the eye by a pepper-spray pellet a Boston Police officer fired into a crowd that had gathered around Fenway Park after the Red Sox' American League Championship Series victory on Oct. 20, 2004. Snelgrove, a broadcast journalism major, died the next day.
Now, a year later, public attention appears to be centered on the six Boston Police officers disciplined after Snelgove's death, the $5.1 million wrongful death settlement awarded to the Snelgrove family and the $10 million lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of the "less lethal" weapon. At the memorial, Snelgrove's friends and teachers gathered to focus on her life instead of her death.
A handful of Emerson students and several members of the college's faculty and staff occupied the 15 to 20 folding chairs set up in the newsroom during the 30-minute gathering.
Though not crowded with masses of people, the newsroom was full of emotion. By the end of the service, there were few dry eyes in the group.
The memorial featured speakers from the journalism faculty and the Center for Spiritual Life, as well as Snelgrove's friends and classmates. It concluded with a musical tribute by Noteworthy, Emerson's a capella choral group.
"We are not here to dwell on or memorialize what was a tragic moment in time," said David Overton, the journalism department acting chair who made opening statements at the service. "[We are here to] remember a period of time, albeit very short, that we were able to spend with Torie."
All those who spoke at the service emphasized Snelgrove's drive for success.
Journalism Professor Bob Clinkscale described Snelgrove as "a front-rower," pointing out that she made sure to sit in the front row of an early morning class despite being a commuter student.
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