Student dies in dorm room
By Harold Lee
Nov. 21, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Amanda “Mandy” Hafleigh, a second-year American
literature student, died last Thursday night in her room on the
third floor of Dykstra Hall in what police say is an apparent
suicide. She was 19.
Hafleigh could always be known by her signature baseball hat and
her infectious personality that drew people to her.
“Anyone who was around her had fun,” said Dave
Schrenzel, one of Hafleigh’s floormates.
“All of us at UCLA are deeply saddened by this tragic
death of a member of our campus community,” UCLA Chancellor
Albert Carnesale said in a statement. “We deeply value each
person in our UCLA family, and we extend our condolences to Amanda
Hafleigh’s family and friends.”
Born May 14, 1985, Hafleigh was the only child of David and
Susan Hafleigh. She grew up in Napa and went to Woodside Priory
High School in Portola Valley.
Sports were a large part of Hafleigh’s life. In high
school, she was a part of the softball team and loved bicycling.
When she came to UCLA, she joined the women’s ultimate
frisbee team, Bruin Ladies Ultimate.
To other ultimate frisbee players, Hafleigh was known as
“Chip.”
“Nobody really knew why, but it fit so perfectly,”
said Schrenzel, who was also a part of the men’s ultimate
frisbee team.
Hafleigh was also an active member of the lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender community. With the help of friends in the LGBT
community, Hafleigh came out as a lesbian and by spring 2004 was
actively involved in the community. She participated in this
year’s National Coming Out Week events and was a member of
the Queer Alliance. To combine her leading interests, Hafleigh had
planned to create an LGBT intramural athletics team.
“I remember during the (presidential) election, she was
very passionate for rights for gay marriage,” said Ramsey
Kyles, another one of Hafleigh’s floormates. “It was
something she was really worked up about.”
Many of her friends agree that it was easy to like Hafleigh.
“She had a magnetic personality,” said Paymon
Ebrahimzadeh, chairman of the Queer Alliance. “She was
someone you always wanted to be with.”
People who knew Hafleigh benefitted from her effervescent
personality and said she helped other freshmen last year adjust to
the new college environment.
“She influenced me to be open and welcome other
people,” said Kyles, who also lived with her during their
first year. “She helped me meet people and further (my)
people skills in college.”
Hafleigh stayed close with many of her friends from her first
year and moved with many of them from the fourth floor of Dykstra
Hall to the third floor.
“She was a good listener and gave good advice,”
Kyles said. “I guess by being there, she made herself a
significant figure.”
Interested in expanding her horizons, Hafleigh was learning
French and planned to go to England to study abroad. Hafleigh
wanted to move to Europe in the future, Schrenzel said.
A memorial service for Hafleigh will take place in Kerckhoff
Hall 131 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday. A candlelight march will
take place in De Neve Plaza immediately afterward.
Student Psychological Services offers counseling Monday
through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The UCLA Helpline also offers
support at (310) 825-HELP.
