President Wippman’s Writings & Remarks

Basil Brown ’24

April 17, 2024

Tags In Memoriam

Dear Members of the Hamilton Community,

We are writing to extend the College’s deep condolences to the family and friends of Basil Brown, who died tragically last week while enrolled as a student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Basil enrolled at Hamilton with the Class of 2024, but after contracting COVID-19 in 2022, Basil was left with insufficient energy to navigate our campus and withdrew from Hamilton that August. Basil’s powerful advocacy on behalf of physically disabled students has left a lasting legacy that we are continuing to address.

A QuestBridge scholar and a docent at the Wellin Museum, Basil was a double major in art and anthropology. A recent message from a group of Hamilton students to the campus described Basil as “a light in many of our lives, a truly joyful, deeply intelligent, and creative person.” Friends at UL-Lafayette said Basil was a “magnetic person” who advocated for social justice, especially for the LGBTQ+ community and persons with disabilities.

We know that Basil’s death has left many heartbroken and in mourning, and we’re grateful to those who organized a vigil Sunday evening. Please continue to support each other during this difficult time. The resources of the Dean of Students Office, including the Counseling Center and the Student Support Care Team, are available for those who may wish to speak with someone. If you are in need of immediate care, the Counseling Center provides access to emergency crisis services.

David Wippman and Christopher Card