An undergraduate student died after being struck by an NJ Transit train at Rutherford station on Feb. 26.
The passing of Arfa Hoque, a sophomore biology major, was announced to the Seton Hall community on March 7 via an email statement from President Msgr. Joseph Reilly. He wrote that the university is in contact with her family to offer its support.
The email also said services for Hoque were held on Feb. 28.
Reilly discussed Hoque’s character in the email.
“Like many Pirates, Arfa had a heart for service,” he wrote.
Hoque’s LinkedIn showcases her dedication to service and her accomplishments.
As a first responder, she served as an EMT with the Lyndhurst Police Emergency Squad starting in April 2024 and as a member of the East Rutherford Fire Department’s EMS since September 2021.
Hoque was certified in teen mental health first aid and basic life support (BLS) for healthcare providers.
She brought her love for service into academics by serving as a math and English tutor at Kumon for over three years. She also showcased this love by graduating from Becton Regional High School with honors in 2023.
She was the founder and president of her high school’s Mu Alpha Theta chapter, an international math honor society. Before she pursued her passion for biology at SHU, she was the editor of science, technology, and health for her high school’s newspaper, Cats Eye View.
Hoque knew seven languages. She had elementary Arabic skills and full professional proficiency in Bangla, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Spanish, and Urdu.
After graduating high school, she became a student at SHU.
Dr. Ruth Tsuria, an assistant professor of communication, dedicated a moment of silence for Hoque during the beginning of her classes on March 11.
Tsuria said she usually starts her classes with a short meditation but decided to dedicate this time to Hoque’s memory. Although she did not know Hoque personally, Tsuria was saddened to hear of her passing.
“It’s heartbreaking, really,” Tsuria said. “And I think it’s important to be able to talk about these heartbreaking moments in a community. We as the Seton Hall community both recognize and support each other in [difficult] times.”
SHU has various resources that students can contact for support like Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), UWill telehealth platform, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Reilly ended his email by asking the university community to “hold Arfa and her loved ones in your prayers during these days.”
Sofia Kasbo is the assistant editor for The Setonian’s News section. She can be reached at sofia.kasbo@student.shu.edu.
