Moment of Silence in Honor of Lt. Richard Collins III

On Aug. 30 at 12:05 p.m. a moment of silence was conducted in honor of Lieutenant Richard Collins III, the Bowie State University student killed in the spring on the University of Maryland College Park campus.

Lt. Collins was murdered on the University of Maryland College Park campus within days of his graduation from Bowie State University.  Collins had just been commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army. He died at the age of 23.  The attack is being investigated as a hate crime.

On Aug. 30, universities from across the University System of Maryland held a moment of silence in solidarity with the University of Maryland and Bowie State University.  Frostburg State University President Ron Nowaczyk invited all students to come to out to the clock tower to pause and reflect in this moment of silence.

Before the moment of silence began, Student Government Association President James Kirk introduced Student Veterans Association President Kodi Bowers to speak about Lt. Collins.  Bowers emphasized the importance of reminding ourselves everyday to treat everyone equally.  Bowers stated “…everyone is your brother or sister, where skin color, race, creed, and ethnicity play no part in your ability to love someone, protect someone, and treat them like family.”

After Bowers spoke, Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Tom Bowling initiated the moment of silence in honor of Lt. Collins.

The overall attendance drew in the crowd from the Organization Fair as well as other administrators and faculty/staff.  President Nowacyzk was in attendance along with new provost Dr. Elizabeth Throop.