It was torn into tight squares and passed to fellow sisters of Gamma Phi Beta, along with a sharpie.
The sisters wrote “HW,” the initials of senior Hannah Wilson, in bold black against the tape, followed by a heart. Girls added the tape squares to their shirts, sleeves and hats to show support for Hannah, who was found dead in Brown County on Friday, just two days before the Little 500 men’s race.
Other sisters had “HW” painted in bright green on purple bows in their hair, in union with the purple and green color scheme sported by Gamma Phi Beta for the race. The bikers followed suit, many adding two bands on the top tubes of their bikes — one purple, one green.
Beta Theta Pi brothers wore red Beta Cycling shirts with green and purple beads around their necks in support. Gamma Phi Beta was paired with Beta Theta Pi during race week.
John Hyndman, sophomore and fifth man on the Beta Theta Pi cycling team, said Hannah’s death called for everyone to come together this race weekend.
“It’s a great time for everyone to unify around one great cause,” Hyndman said. “Today I think it’s kind of turning to celebrating her life rather than mourning.”
As the start of the race drew near, the pair’s crowd grew louder. Chants started by Beta Theta Pi brothers were met with applause from the Gamma Phi Beta sisters.
As IU Provost Lauren Robel approached the microphone on the infield stage, however, the sisters hushed the crowd’s cheers. Robel spoke on behalf of the University to honor Hannah and express condolences to her family and her sorority sisters. Those who were not already standing were asked to rise to their feet for a minute of silence in Hannah’s honor.
The girls linked arms or rested their heads on others’ shoulders. When the moment was over, one sister shouted, “We love you, Hannah!” into the brief silence, and was met with a more enthusiastic cheer than those before it.
IU alumna Meghan Simonett, who was Hannah’s best friend, said Hannah would have wanted Gamma Phi Beta to be in the stands cheering on race day.
“She would hope that we would all be able to have fun in spite of this,” Simonett said.
Simonett said she was in awe of the support from the entire greek and ?campus community.
“It’s just so united right now,” she said. “We are so blessed to be a part of ?this community.”
Upon hearing the news, Simonett said, she arrived from Boston for the memorial ceremony Saturday.
She said she specifically remembered people who could not get into the ceremony standing outside for its duration.
“That, to me, was the most beautiful thing you could do,” she said. “I am just so happy I was able to be there and celebrate that part of her ... because we were laughing instead of crying through most of it. And I think that’s a ?testament to her.”
At the race, Gamma Phi Beta stood together and cheered the Beta cycling team to their finish in third place. The Beta cycling team wanted to perform to their best ability to honor the support given by their sorority pair despite the circumstance, ?Hyndman said.
“If anything, it just gives us more motivation to do well for G Phi,” he said.
