UC President Calls on Community to Honor Memory of UCSB Victims
President Janet Napolitano sent a message on Tuesday to the University of California community expressing her shock over the “horrific rampage near UC Santa Barbara this past Friday night that took the lives of six of our students and injured nine other students.”
She asked the community to send thoughts and prayers to the victims of this tragedy, their families and the entire Santa Barbara community.
“This is a time for mourning and grieving, and for consoling and supporting each other. It will take time for our UCSB colleagues to recover and heal from this,” she said.
To begin that healing, UCSB canceled classes on Tuesday, May 27, and declared the day one of mourning and reflection. A memorial service organized jointly by students, staff and faculty was held on campus.
Napolitano also ordered flags at all University of California facilities to be lowered to half-staff through Sunday, June 1, to honor the memories of the victims of Friday’s senseless and tragic events.
“As you look upon those lowered colors, I hope you will pause to reflect on these lost members of our UC family, she said. “During this terrible time for our UC community, I ask that you join me in the belief that the process of healing and reflection we will go through in the coming days will draw us closer as a university community. Together, we will get through this.
UCSF planned to hold a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening in Saunders Court on Parnassus campus with words of remembrance by ASUC Executive Board member Polina Pulyanin and UCSb alumni and Global Health Student Nathan Korele. The a cappella group, Vocal Chords, was scheduled to perform a song at the event.
A fund has been established to honor the students who were victims of the Isla Vista tragedy and memorialize their lasting impact and contributions to the UC Santa Barbara community.
Contributions to the UC Santa Barbara Community Fund may be made online at https://www.giveucsb.com/communityfund.htm.
