<p>Terribly sad news this morning.</p>
<p>[Michele</a> Dufault '11 dies in Sterling Chemistry Laboratory accident | Yale Daily News](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/apr/13/student-dies-accident-sterling-chemistry-laborator/]Michele”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/2011/apr/13/student-dies-accident-sterling-chemistry-laborator/)</p>
<p>Indeed it is VP. My condolences to her friends and family. Gone too soon.</p>
<p>More about Dufault below. What a loss for the world.</p>
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<p>[Yale</a> senior from Bay State dies in ‘terrible’ lab accident - BostonHerald.com](<a href=“http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1330488&srvc=rss]Yale”>http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1330488&srvc=rss)</p>
<p>Dear Parents of students who may be attending Bulldog days -</p>
<p>Many current Yalies are struggling with their feelings right now. In addition to be a brilliant student, Michele was involved in the YPMB, concert band, etc. Many of her friends are trying to figure out how to welcome your students - when their hearts are breaking. Usually, Yalies take Bulldog Days very seriously - they plan lots of events to give prospective students a taste of all that is Yale. This year, it is going to be pretty difficult to be happy and outgoing when one of their friends is no longer with them.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this message, work. I’m heading to Yale this weekend to spend time with my Junior daughter. It’s a difficult time.</p>
<p>I just sent a message to Dean Miller. I wish there were something we could do as parents to extend our sympathies to Michele’s parents. As I said in my note, I don’t think it would be appropriate to reach out as an individual, but I know there are many of us who would love to do something in her honor. I kept thinking today - what would be meaningful to me. I am not sure, but I believe we should extend our collective sympathy. Even if we didn’t personally know Michele, our children did, and for this period of time, we are an extended family of sorts. </p>
<p>Give my girl a hug for me. I really wish she were here tonight.</p>
<p>work, that is a lovely thought.</p>
<p>Worknprogress2 Thanks for the post. Its such a tragic event, I am sure the mood around Yale is very solemn. Hopefully our kids will sense the solidarity among Yale students and understand the feelings of loss that they are feeling and be sensitive to that! My heart goes out to the Yale Community, the students and of course Michele’s family and friends. What a tragic loss.</p>
<p>It is such a tragedy, such a terrible accident. I am sure with her residential college and the tight knit commmunity of Yale, that many are feeling the loss.</p>
<p>I agree EA–for those at BDDs…I hope they see the closeness of the community and are sensitive.</p>
<p>such an awful, awful event. I can only imagine with her family and friends are going through.</p>
<p>for what it’s worth, my GF (well, fiancee now) worked in the architecture shop at Cornell where they use many similar tools including a lathe. After I mentioned this tragedy she noted that it doesn’t sound like the student was following standard safety procedures - i.e. things like headphone cords, hoodies with draw strings, loose hair, scarves, etc. are prohibited while operating the machinery.</p>
<p>Gomestar - I am really, really hoping that this thread doesn’t turn into a discussion about what Michele or the college should have done differently. </p>
<p>I know you mean well, but on this thread some of our kids were close to her and I just want to respect her memory. In fact for all we know, her folks may be part of this community. </p>
<p>It is so close to graduation. I saw the picture this morning in the Yale Daily News with the YPMB playing at the vigil and I just lost it. This is so very difficult. She was someone who played at the Men’s Hockey games and I was thinking about how exciting the season was winning in Atlantic City and during the playoffs. It would have been such a fun time in her life. </p>
<p>I hope that one lesson our children take from this is that life is capricious. Nothing is guaranteed. Michele obviously knew how to live each day fully and I hope her parents are comforted by that thought.</p>
<p>I’m here on campus tonight, and my daughter has talked about the strange duality of the campus this week: many students so sad at the loss of their friend, but holding it together for the sake of the pre-frosh on campus. I told her I guessed next week would actually be harder for many students when they aren’t entertaining the incoming class. She said many students are having to delay their reaction to fulfill their commitments for BDD. </p>
<p>This is a fine, strong community who will carry each other through this.</p>
<p>My heart goes out to Michele’s family and friends. My junior D like so many of her friends is putting on a brave front and making sure the prospies have a good time. Next week is going to be way more difficult</p>