A memorial service held in Kane Hall yesterday for In Soo Chun, the former UW employee who lit himself on fire in Red Square Oct. 30, stirred up feelings of both commemoration and resentment among students and employees.

“We need to change the way we treat our fellow employees,” said Remy Peters, a member of the UW custodial staff.

Peters said Chun’s public suicide attempt was a protest against the way managers and their employees interact. She likened his self-immolation to Buddhist monks’ Vietnam War protests.

“Let’s change our attitude, listen to each other’s problems and help each other,” she said.

Others, including Chun’s former manager Ronald Ahina, and members of his church, shared their memories of his diligence and work ethic.

“I thought it was very well-received,” said Charles Kennedy, associate vice president of Facilities Services at the UW. “I thought the staff responded well, overall.”

Kennedy felt some of the comments weren’t quite appropriate.

“I just don’t think it should have been discussed publicly, considering Chun’s personal issues,” he said. “I didn’t think it was quite the right setting for it. If there’s some issue that any staff member has, we have open staff meetings.”

Chun had been a member of the UW custodial staff since December 2005, according to a UW press release. He emigrated from Korea in 1977, and became a U.S. citizen in 1982.

In June 2008, several interactions with co-workers led to a decision to change Chun’s assigned work location, according to a UW press release. He declined both work assignments, and requested and was granted several weeks’ vacation leave.

The press release reported that when Chun did not return to work at the end of his approved vacation time, the UW tried several times to contact him regarding his employment status.

“In late August he appeared at work to collect his paycheck, and was notified that his employment was being terminated and that he had ten days to seek reinstatement. He did not do so,” according to the press release.

“On several occasions, Mr. Chun was advised that counseling assistance was available through CareLink, the UW’s employee assistance program, but as far as the University knows, he did not avail himself of such services,” according to the press release.

Chun suffered thermal burns on 90 percent of his body when he lit himself on fire in Red Square. His death was ruled as a suicide.

Kennedy recommends that employees visit the drop-in sessions that he and other facilities directors hold periodically. His next drop-in session will be held at the end of November or early December, he said.

While Kennedy did not know Chun personally, he felt it was important to address his personal achievements.

“It was good to take this opportunity to be reflective of how he lived as opposed to how he died,” he said.

Reach managing editor Arla Shephard at news@dailyuw.com.