Man Killed By Al Qaeda Forces On Saturday Was Beloit College Alum

This week, Beloit College is remembering Luke Somers, an alum who was killed on Saturday by his al-Qaeda captors in Yemen as U.S. forces tried to rescue him.

Somers graduated from Beloit in 2008 with a degree in creative writing. He’d been working as a freelance photographer in Yemen when al-Quaeda-affiliated militants kidnapped him just over a year ago.

English professor Shawn Gillen had Somers in a couple of classes. He said Somers had wanted to understand the world, and took special interest in international students on campus.

“Often at many colleges and universities, it’s hard for many international students and Americans to become really true friends beyond introductions and niceties,” said Gillen. “Luke made friends from the region and throughout the world and he was really well-liked by them.”

College President Scott Beirman called Somers a citizen of the world and a dedicated friend.