Following the unfortunate death of 23-year-old Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula, Northeastern University in Washington decided to award her a posthumous degree.
On Thursday, the news was made. Kandula, a graduate student, was killed in January when she was struck by a police cruiser traveling at 74 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone while crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing.
“In the days following this tragedy, our Seattle campus community joined together in a vigil of remembrance and solidarity…Her loss will be felt deeply by students, staff, and faculty…The university plans to award Jaahnavi her degree posthumously and present it to her family,” chancellor Kenneth W. Henderson said, via a Facebook post from the university’s official handle.
Kandula was on track to earn a master’s degree in information systems in December.
The incident resurfaced after bodycam footage of a police officer released, showing another cop making insensitive comments about the student’s death. According to the Seattle Times, Kandula was killed while police officer Kevin Dave was speeding while responding to an overdose call.
Daniel Auderer, the officer who rushed to the crash scene and is seen on body camera dismissing the tragic collision, can be heard stating in the footage, “Yeah, just write a check.” USD 11,000. She was only 26 and had little worth.”
The event drew widespread indignation and accusations of cruelty. People flocked to social media to express their concerns about the police department’s culture and to demand accountability and justice for the young kid.
US congressmen and Indian-Americans have voiced indignation about Kandula’s death, and the Joe Biden administration has responded by guaranteeing the Indian government of a prompt and thorough investigation.
The Seattle Office of Police Accountability stated that an inquiry into the incident has been launched and that it must be completed by January 29. Kandula was an Andhra Pradesh native.
