Faculty, Students Pay Tribute to MIT First-Year

At a somber ceremony in MIT's campus chapel yesterday afternoon, more than 100 friends and faculty celebrated the life of MIT first-year Michael P. Manley.

Manley, who died Feb. 6 in an apparent suicide, was remembered as a "passionate" and "enthusiastic" friend who struggled with bouts of depression during his teenage years.

"He had the best laugh...the loudest laugh," said a friend who identified herself as Camille, one of his closest friends.

Her eyes tearing and her voice close to a whisper, Camille described how Manley was one of the most "loving" people she knew.

"He was sensitive and he was so intelligent...I will miss him so much," she said. "It's amazing how many things you can learn about somebody in so short a time...too short a time."

A woman who identified herself as Manley's fall semester writing instructor read aloud passages from papers he had written.

In one of the papers, Manley acknowledged a battle with manic depression, saying he had "recovered."

He also mentioned his questioning faith, writing that "sometimes...[it] has comforted me well like a blanket, but sometimes I feel it is only a blanket."

The audience also heard from Albert, a high school friend of Manley's, who spoke of his delight at knowing Manley.

"I always told him I'd take care of him. The only thing that keeps me not guilty is that here he had the best of friends," he said.

His voice breaking, Albert continued, "Michael was someone I cared deeply about."

But the ceremony was not entirely solemn.

Friend after friend recalled Manley's love of things edible, from his late night ice-cream runs to his insatiable appetite for pies. Two friends told of Manley's penchant for baking, overcooking and then eating cakes.

"It was the most horrible cake, and he ate all of it," said a friend.

Another friend recalled that Manley had once consumed three pounds of ice cream in one night.

The next day, she said, she awoke to find empty ice-cream tubs at her door, with a note that gave the "strawberry a C-and the chocolate an A+."

Manley's friends said he was a gifted writer who had considered majoring in writing. He had been a staff writer for Counterpoint, an MIT-Wellesley publication.

Additionally, he was talented in mathematics.

"He helped me with my calculus problem sets. He would tell me everyday that I will pass calculus. I did," Camille said.

Robert M. Randolph, the MIT senior associate dean of students for undergraduate affairs, also spoke at the service.

Randolph said that although Manley's friends and family still did not know exactly why he decided to end his life, he added that "today, I understand better the circumstances of Michael's death."

"We know that for a number of young gay people, the struggle for identity and acceptance leads to a significant amount of suicide attempts, a large number of which are successful," Randolph said.

"We know that even in an accepting environments, coming out is hard to do," he said.

Manley had attended meetings of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Students at MIT (GAMIT). Students who knew Manley through GAMIT told The Crimson earlier this week that Manley had been depressed.

Randolph said that another memorial service will be held in Manley's honor "when the weather gets warmer."

Alluding to Manley's love for ice cream and for a certain type of flower, Randolph said: "We'll come together, grade the ice-cream, and plant large pots of geraniums, and watch them grow."

Manley died Saturday afternoon after a fall from the 14th floor of his high-rise dormitory. Though he was rushed to Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

MIT administrators have set up a hot line to counsel students and have put an MIT dean on special call if students have any concerns, according to a news release.

Manley was originally from Tempe, Ariz.