Around 50 people gathered at Kay Spiritual Life Center Saturday for an impromptu memorial service for former AU student, junior Zachary Stacey, according to service organizer Cody Jameson. A more formal service was held earlier in Stacey's home state of Tennessee.
Stacey, 21, died on March 13 in Memphis, Tenn., after asphyxiation from nitrous oxide, a chemical found primarily in aerosol spray cans, according to Jameson. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration Web site, "The gas used as a propellant in canned whipped cream and in small lavender metallic containers called 'whippets' (used to make whipped cream) is nitrous oxide or 'laughing gas' - the same gas used by dentists for anesthesia."
According to the DEA Web site, "Some of these products include nail polish remover, lighter fluid, gasoline, paint and paint thinner, rubber glue, waxes, and varnishes."
The effects of whippets include "headaches, nausea, slurred speech, and loss of motor coordination." The Web site also said that death has resulted from "heart failure, asphyxiation, or aspiration."
Jameson said he didn't believe that Stacey committed suicide. Rather, he thinks that he unintentionally died from inhaling "whippets."
Seth Graham, a student in the School of International Service, said Stacey was "one of the most interesting people I've ever met. He was always there to help people out. He showed everybody around and helped us with everything we were doing in college."
Jameson described Stacey as a funny, gregarious young man who taught English in Prague, Czech Republic and Costa Rica and was "always ready to lend a helping hand." Jameson said that Stacey was very active in theater and AU's a cappella group, Dime-a-Dozen. At Stacey's funeral, Dime-a-Dozen sang "And So It Goes" and "A Change In My Life," according to the funeral program.
"When Dime sang, it was really very moving," Graham said. "It gave everyone a chance to be together."
Stacey was born in Memphis, Tenn., and went to Lausanne High School, a private high school in Memphis. Jameson, who went to high school and college with him, said that Stacey loved chorus and theater.
Stacey went to AU until the middle of his sophomore year, when he transferred to the University of Memphis. While he was attending AU, he lived on the seventh floor of Hughes Hall.
Prior to transferring, Stacey spent spring semester in Prague, where he taught English. According to Jameson, Stacey was very interested in Spanish and had considered double majoring in it.
Also, according to Jameson, Stacey was involved in the Freshman Service Experience during his sophomore year.
"When I was a freshman here, he really showed me the ropes," Jameson said. "He was always ready to mentor people."
Graham said he was happy that there was a memorial service for Stacey. "We shared a lot of stories and fun times that we had with Zac. I thought it was the best part. We shared experiences and our take on Zac. It was Stacey went to AU until the middle of his sophomore year, when he transferred to the University of Memphis. While he was attending AU, he lived on the seventh floor of Hughes Hall.
