There’s rarely a freshman at Iowa State who can escape the emphasis the university places upon being part of a community. Students in similar areas of study are given the option of being part of learning communities. Clubs and organizations establish a community with their members and reach out to the ISU community as a whole. And where once students had resident assistants, some buildings are now relying upon community advisers to help students.

For most college students, adjustment is key, and Iowa State has for many years touted that being a member of a community is a way of helping with that adjustment. The emphasis exists across the board — communities can be based on academics, place of residence, background and lifestyle.

The tragic death of one of our classmates last week may exemplify the importance of putting such stress on this sense of community. When Michael Victor Babicz was discovered last Thursday, several days had passed since he died.

Several days.

What happened?

Michael’s death had a profound impact on the ISU community — even those who did not know him. At the weekly meeting of the Inter-Residence Hall Association, members observed a moment of silence for Michael. Don’t let that moment pass too quickly. One of our classmates passed away. And we almost let it go unnoticed.

This paints a stark picture of the mentality of many of our generation: We put such an emphasis on being ourselves that, at times, we can only see, think about and help ourselves. In a case like Michael’s, we should have been helping others.

For college students, individuality is key. Community comes second. But the loss of one of our own should bring to the forefront the importance of building, maintaining and enjoying a sense of community. Though it can be an annoyance to be so inundated with the importance of community, it can be too easy to slip into a self-centered mode of caring only about ourselves.

Remember the service these communities really do provide to students. Remember the value we gain — the friendship and camaraderie — from being a part of something bigger than ourselves.

Remember Michael.

Editorial Board:Cavan Reagan, Amber Billings, Rachel Faber Machacha, Charlie Weaver, Zach Calef, Ayrel Clark.