I'm always amazed by the capacity of the Berkeley Left to ignore or paper over the criminality of BHS students. In the early 70's, a BHS basketball player dropped dead during a game, and it was generally known that he had been using uppers to improve his game. How did Berkeley government react?...by naming a city park for him! (It's in the flatlands.) A few years later, another particularly annoying classmate of mine was selected to be the student representative on the school board--and was heralded as a 'future leader'. (Sound familiar?) What became of this rising BHS star? A few years later, his photo appeared in the Berkeley Gazette--in the obituaries. After graduation, he was supporting himself by burglarizing homes...he got caught, and hanged himself in his cell at Santa Rita. This current episode with Ms. Willis-Starbuck is just more of the same Berkeley bullshit.
 

Your choices for comparisons to Meleia indicate that you did not know Meleia Willis-Starbuck...according to your comments, the only apparent thing that the persons that you mentioned may have had in common with Meleia was the fact that they, too, attended Berkeley High School. I did not know them so I therefore cannot attest to the nature of either persons character. BUT, I did know Meleia snd dare say to you that you got it all wrong. The mass response to Meleia's demise(from the city of Berkeley & Dartmouth College & more) is only a mere testament of her persona & her positive contributions to society. It appears that it is so very easy to judge when one is misinformed or not completely informed of true facts. Why bother to judge Meleia or anyone at all for that matter? Clearly, there is no one among us who can honestly past judgement on any other human being. Who among us is not flawed in ome way? Meleia is no longer here, she is dead and thus cannot be hurt by your or any other callous remarks; but like you & me, she does have a mother, family & friends who loved & KNEW her...would you care to have your mother or loved one read grossly inaccurate statements about you?

The excerpt from Kimberly Starbuck's statement, that seemingly has been taken out of context, should have read:

"But that was the whole point to Meleia’s life: she always found a way to communicate, a way to touch lives, a way to bring joy, a way to confound and enrage, a way [for you] to be better than you were before you met her...."

FYI - Below you'll find Kimberly Willis Starbuck's complete statement:

"To Jack and Molly and all our friends and family- first of all, I want to apologize for not being with you tonight. John, Zach and I are at Dartmouth attending the memorial they’ve planned for Meleia celebrating her life.
Meleia had friends from all walks of life – and I do mean all walks of life. That was her nature. Some of those friends challenged her and helped her soar in the direction she was going. There were a few other friends who were seemier and had little or no direction. Guess which friends I approved of? Meleia however, wasn’t requesting my approval.
Meleia meant so much to so many, it’s confusing to try to say something about her that will be meaningful to all of you now celebrating her life on this, her twentieth birthday. But that was the whole point to Meleia’s life: she always found a way to communicate, a way to touch lives, a way to bring joy, a way to confound and enrage, a way to be better than you were before you met her. Let us all find a way to gain solace in our grief, to remember all that she meant, to smile one more time in her presence. Thank you for being here for her, and for all of us."