‘We need each other.’ Students gather at UK to remember fraternity member who died.

Students gathered at the Holy Spirit Parish Newman Center at the University of Kentucky Thursday night to hold a time of prayer and a memorial mass for a student who died earlier this week.

Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood, 18, from Henderson died on Monday after being found unresponsive at the FarmHouse Fraternity house. Hazelwood was a new member of the fraternity and an agricultural economics student.

The UK Office of Student Conduct and UK police are investigating the death.

Brendan O’Sullivan, a deacon at the Newman Center, said the services were a time to come together as a community.

“It’s just an opportunity for the community to come together and pray for people that are hurting right now, and going through a hard time with the loss,” O’Sullivan said. “That’s really the goal, is to pray for Lofton, to pray for his family and pray for the community.”

The prayer service was led by Father Steve Roberts followed by a time of worship. Students sang “Amazing Grace” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” along with other songs.

Roberts encouraged students to reach out and not to isolate themselves as they grieve.

“Sometimes we can have that tendency to isolate to try to handle this on our own,” Roberts said during the service. “This is not the thing to do. This is a time when we need each other, so reach out.”

The Counseling Center at UK is offering services and support for students. More information about counseling services are available on the Counseling Center’s website or by calling 859-257-8701.

“We’re here to lift people up and support them in whatever way we can,” O’Sullivan said.