Vigil honors slain Brockport freshman

Posted at: 10/01/2012 10:59 PM | Updated at: 10/01/2012 11:19 PM
By: Lynette Adams | WHEC.com

A vigil on the College at Brockport campus Monday honored the life of 18-year-old Alexandra Kogut.

Campus police say they discovered Kogut's body in her dorm room early Saturday morning. Police say she suffered extensive trauma.

Her boyfriend, 21-year-old Clayton Whittemore, has been charged with second-degree murder. He has pled not guilty.

Hundreds of students and faculty gatherer Monday in the Student Union Ballroom to remember Alex Kogut. The vigil focused not only on Kogut, but also the problem of domestic violence.

Many people had on purple. It was Kogut's favorite color, and it's also the symbol of a fight against domestic violence.

October is domestic violence awareness month.

Most of the campus seems affected by what happened to the Brockport freshman from New Hartford. Her great uncle, Peter Kogut, came Monday to represent the family. He urged the Brockport community to "take care of one another."

Alex's best friend and her roommate talked about Kogut's lovely personality. She was described as "the kindest person you would ever met." The three of them became known as the tripod because they were so close.

Brockport president Dr. John Halstead said while this is a time to grieve and heal, it is also a time to take a stand against domestic violence.

Students agree.

"I didn't know her personally, but it's something that unites everyone, and it's definitely felt when it's that close to home. The majority of students who stayed in that building, it's just something that touches you," says Jarid Cheatham, a junior.

"I think it has something to do with how young she was and the fact that she was a freshman and she came to college with her boyfriend from high school that was all she's ever known, and she thought she was in love with a man and it's really hard to get out of once you're in it and it's a really unfortunate situation," junior Lauren Mautz says.

"It could happen to your best friend, or one of my good friends here and you put yourself in their position and it's so difficult to think it could happen to anyone," says Tara Wischerth.

There may have been about 1,100 people inside the ballroom and a couple hundred more outside, listening. It's indicative of how this has impacted the entire campus.

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