More than nine months after Jaahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old student from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district, was killed in an accident in the US, Northeastern University has announced it will grant her a posthumous degree. "The university plans to award Jaahnavi her degree posthumously and present it to her family," read a statement by the university. Jaahnavi was killed on January 23, 2023, when a speeding police car struck her while she was returning from the Northeastern University’s Seattle campus, where she was pursuing an MS in Information Systems. Expressing grief over the death of Jaahnavi, the university said that "our dean Dave Thurman wrote of Jaahnavi’s tremendous engagement, noting that all on our Seattle campus, 'loved her bubbly laugh, sense of humor and infectious personality'. Her loss will be felt deeply by students, staff, and faculty." It added that following the tragedy, "our Seattle campus community joined together in a vigil of remembrance and solidarity". The latest news that a Seattle Police Department detective insensitively joked about how she was struck by a police car, and that she had limited value and a cheque of $11,000 should suffice, has brought the incident to the spotlight again. Referring to the insensitive incident, the university said that Jaahnavi’s friends and loved ones are enduring the additional pain of new developments related to this tragedy. "Callous and insensitive remarks by a Seattle police officer have become public, reopening wounds and deepening our collective heartbreak. We also recognize that our Indian student community—across all Northeastern campuses—has been especially impacted by this tragedy and its aftermath. We stand in solidarity with you and have every expectation that the ongoing investigations will bring a measure of justice and accountability," it stated. Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Thursday urged the Seattle Police to pursue its investigation into the Jaahnavi's death with the seriousness it demands. Meanwhile, in a unanimous resolution, the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) called upon all relevant authorities to prioritise investigation, community engagement, and respect for the rights and dignity of all individuals, the victims and the community in suffering and grief.
