Wednesday, March 30, 2016
King's University College, Western University
Students Host Death Cafe and Celebrate Awareness of Death
At King's University College, the official academic club for the Thanatology program will be hosting a death cafe for both students and the surrounding community. The club is known as the "Than Clan", and is managed by Mark Shelvock, a third year student. Thanatology is described as the study of death, dying, and bereavement. The program looks at how loss, both death related and non-death related, shape and mold us as human beings.
"There's this notion around that studying thanatology is depressing, but it's actually incredibly life confirming," says Shelvock. "I have found the classes to change my perception about life in a positive way, and it's been tremendous for both my personal and academic growth."
The Than Clan is hoping to increase the awareness of death through hosting a death cafe, as death cafes allow people to make the most of their finite lives. Death cafes are respectful spaces for the discussion of all aspects of death, dying, and living with the conscious awareness of death. The event is based on group oriented discussion, and is a place for people to share ideas, feelings, experiences, questions, concerns or to honour death in our lives. Death cafes are not grief groups; their goal is to break the social taboo against speaking about death openly and with others. "Death is a universal event that all humans share, and it's time that we start talking about this unique phenomenon openly and to remove the stigma that death shouldn't be discussed," says Shelvock.
This unique event will take place on March 31, Thursday, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Vitali Student Lounge in the Wemple Building at King's University College. Cake, fruit, and other sweets will also be provided. All are welcome.
Media contact:
Alicia Mak
Communications & Media Relations Intern
King's University College
519-636-2484
alicia.mak@kings.uwo.ca
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