Olivia Parrish, a staff member of the Vanderbilt University Maintenance and Operations team for 40 years, passed away while working in Stevenson Center math area on the night of Oct. 23.

In an Oct. 31 statement to The Hustler, a university representative confirmed Parrish’s passing. The representative confirmed that Parrish was found by students in Stevenson Center in a Nov. 3 statement. 

“Several students found Ms. Parrish, recognized she needed assistance and called an ambulance,” the representative said. “Student Care Network staff followed up to offer assistance to the students the same day.”

Community grief

Parrish was 72 years old and first began working at Vanderbilt in 1979. A co-worker of Parrish, who was granted anonymity for protection from employer retribution, said Parrish was insistent on continuing her work at the university even after retirement. They added that she was an avid baker and crafter.

“All I have to say is that she was a good person, a real kind lady. She worked with us for 45 years,” an anonymous coworker said. “Her family is sad, shocked and grieving.”

The Dores Workers Solidarity Network, an unofficial student group that advocates for workers’ rights at Vanderbilt, is organizing a memorial service for students and staff. 

“We are deeply and immeasurably saddened to learn about Olivia Parrish’s passing,” junior Emma Marlowe, DWSN Head of Outreach, said in a message to The Hustler. “Without committed and caring leaders such as herself, the Vanderbilt community at large would cease to function.”

Concern about death notification

Students and the university community as a whole were not notified of Parrish’s death. Vice Chancellor Eric Kopstain — who oversees VUMO — informed “all division staff” on Oct. 25 of her passing and directed them to the university’s mental health resources. Describing Parrish as a “beloved and valued member of the Facilities team,” the university representative added that Vanderbilt also reached out to Parrish’s family. Nine days after her death, the university published a MyVU story on Nov. 2 about Parrish’s passing. 

The university representative stated that co-workers are “typically” notified when a staff member passes away, while broader notifications to the campus community are not as common. 

“We are always mindful of the sensitivities of the family for any broader distribution of the notification,” the representative added. 

Junior Ade Forrest, DWSN head of communication, said Parrish’s colleagues told him that they were left in the dark about her passing, leading them to learn about her death by word-of-mouth. 

“We believe staff tragedies should be addressed in a similar fashion to faculty tragedies,” Forrest said in a message to The Hustler. 

According to the university’s guidelines for publishing obituaries in MyVU, obituaries are published for all current and former faculty, chancellors, deans and vice chancellors upon their passing. The guidelines include that obituaries are also published for other “notable members of the Vanderbilt community” on a “case-by-case basis.” 

Senior Chidimma Oluavu expressed sadness at Parrish’s passing and was disappointed to have learned about it from “tertiary sources.” Oluavu added that she believes the university treats service workers on campus as “disposable” and fails to “properly acknowledge” their work.

“This campus would not function without them [service workers], and I think they deserve to be recognized and acknowledged for all that they do,” Oluavu said. “It’s a terrible thing that happened, and Ms. Parrish deserved so much more after over 45 years of service.”

Brina Ratangee contributed reporting to this piece.