Community to observe anniversary of last year’s tragedy with Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Walk

Students and community members alike gathered in Isla Vista last May in the wake of the events. The candlelight vigil is an important symbol of hope for many of those affected, and repeating the memorial this year will remind the community of the strength that can come from tragedy.Daily Nexus file photo

Students and community members alike gathered in Isla Vista last May in the wake of the events. The candlelight vigil is an important symbol of hope for many of those affected, and repeating the memorial this year will remind the community of the strength that can come from tragedy. Daily Nexus File Photo.

The Associated Students Program Board (ASPB) will host the Candlelight Vigil and Memorial Walk this Saturday in Storke Plaza as part of a series of events in remembrance of the events of May 23 last year.

The walk will begin in Storke Plaza at 7:30 p.m. and end in People’s Park, where a stage and microphone will be available for anyone who chooses to share thoughts with those in attendance. Blunite’s LED lights will be available in Storke Plaza as an alternative to candles.

ASPB commissioner and fourth-year global studies major Benjamin Simons said ASPB purchased 4,000 LED lights from Blunite to distribute free of charge to students at the vigil.

“They will be passed out in Storke Plaza,” Simons said in an email. “If students and community members want to purchase them beforehand, then the easiest way to purchase is from the Blunite website, bluniteiv.org.”

Fifteen staff from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will provide support to students at the event, according to Simons.

“They will be wearing blue vests this time, and if they are not wearing vests, they will do something else to designate themselves,” Simons said in an email. “There will also be a small announcement made at the event to identify them to the crowd.”

Simons said local and campus entities have helped ASPB coordinate the event.

Daily Nexus file photo

Like last year’s, this Saturday’s anniversarial candlelight vigil and memorial walk, will end with an open mic and an invitation to community members to share their memories and offer support to one another. Daily Nexus File Photo.

“We have had a lot of the assistance from IVRPD, LOTP, ASOP, and many other individual and strong-willed students,” Simons said in an email.

Second-year communication and global studies double major Javier Zamora said he plans to attend the event because the UCSB community is “like family” to him.

“It’s incredibly important for me to contribute to the tremendous amount of strength and love we have as a community to remember our beloved Gauchos we lost a year ago,” Zamora said.

Third-year communication major Lindsey Jesberg said she will attend the event to join others in remembering the students who passed away in the events of May 23 last year.

“I want to be with my fellow Gauchos to both remember the six beautiful souls we lost and to celebrate the community we are all fortunate enough to call home,” Jesberg said.

Third-year biology major Nicolette Lambright said the event will prompt her to think about how the community has responded to the events of May 23 last year.

“It will give me the opportunity to reflect on the events that unfolded last May and be reminded of the strength, love, and positivity that fills UCSB and Isla Vista,” Lambright said.

 

A version of this story appeared on page 1 of Thursday, May 21, 2015’s print edition of the Daily Nexus.

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