UNLV Marks One Year Since Tragic Campus Shooting: ‘Gathering To Remember And Reflect’

December 6 marks one year since the tragic shooting on UNLV’s campus in the heart of Las Vegas, NV that took the lives of three professors and wounded another. 

In honor of the faculty members lost, the campus community held the event, “Gathering to Remember and Reflect” on Friday morning. Faculty, students, recent alumni, and community members gathered to share inspiring stories of resilience, and the members of the College of Fine Arts highlighted the healing power of the arts.

Earlier this week, UNLV shared information about the gathering on the college’s Instagram page. 

“This Friday, we’ll gather as a UNLV family to remember and reflect on the tragic day one year ago that will go down as the darkest point in our university’s history,” the caption reads. 

“As we solemnly memorialize our colleagues, teachers, and mentors lost on Dec. 6, 2023 - professors Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Naoko Takemaru - and the many lives forever impacted, we’ll also commemorate the resilience and strength that exists within our university community.” 

On Friday at 11 a.m. PT, the community joined together on campus and the turnout was incredible. During the gathering, there was a NUWU blessing, poem reading, songs, remarks from UNLV President Keith E. Whitfield, and remarks from professors and the student body president. There were also therapy dogs from Michael's Angel Paws present for anyone needing a moment to reflect with a sweet pup.

The aftermath of December 6 lingers and continues to impact the community.

"Losing three professors is such a devastating loss - it's something that has affected not just their families and close colleagues, but everyone on campus," Leena Atout, Graduate Teaching Assistant for Journalism 107 in the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies, told The Blast. "Beyond the immediate grief, it has sparked important conversations about campus safety, mental health, and collective resilience. People are doing their best to carry on with classes and work, but it's clear this has changed the way many of us feel about being on campus."

But even with the sadness that surrounds the tragic day, the community has also joined together stronger than ever.

"People are leaning on one another and showing just how strong and supportive this UNLV family really is," she said. "One of the most powerful ways the UNLV community has come together is through the murals painted on Frank and Estella Beam Hall. Each mural represents one of the professors who lost their lives, serving as a tribute to their impact and a way for the community to keep their memory alive."

Atout also said that the phrase, "UNLV Strong" has become a "unifying message for everyone" and "connects us all in real life and digitally," showing that "even in the face of such a heartbreaking tragedy, the UNLV family is standing strong together, supporting each other every step of the way."

She said that a message she would share to anyone outside of the UNLV community is that they are "resilient and UNLV is stronger than it ever has been."

"The student community is the closest and tight-knit I've ever seen, and the UNLV community will continue to grow and thrive," she said. "Resilience is about finding strength in unity and honoring the memories of those we've lost by continuing their legacy. Recovery takes time, but through shared support and a commitment to growth, communities can emerge stronger."

And for those outside of the UNLV community, she "encourages understanding and action - advocate for safer environments, support mental health initiatives, and recognize the strength of communities coming together in the face of adversity."

The UNLV Faculty Senate's December 6 Memorial Committee is planning a permanent memorial healing garden to honor the faculty members lost in the December 6 tragedy. The garden aims to embody the collective experiences and voices of all those affected. The committee has chosen a site near the Xeric Garden at the campus center.

There are also other art projects around campus. Senzaburu “1,000 Cranes” Project, spearheaded by students and alumni, will be on display in the atrium of Frank and Estella Beam Hall. 

An artist statement on UNLV’s website reads, “In the days after the Dec. 6 shooting, a small group of Naoko Takemaru’s students were compelled to come together to show our appreciation for our sensei ('teacher'). Senbazuru is a Japanese tradition of folding 1,000 origami cranes, usually over the course of one year, as a symbol of solidarity, honor, home, and healing. We shared our intention via the Discord messaging app, and the project blossomed. Within 23 days, in multiple community gatherings, we folded 1,000 cranes each for Takemaru-sensei, Patricia Navarro Velez, and Jerry Cha-Jan Chang, who lost their lives, as well as for Daraboth 'Bot' Rith, who was seriously injured. And as word spread, we received contributions from as far away as Japan.”

There are also multiple murals in Frank and Estella Beam Hall created by students - “UNLV Strong,” “The Hummingbird,” “Moment of Silence” and others. 

UNLV has made mental health and wellness a top priority for everyone on campus. And one year later, it’s still a very important part of daily life.

The college has offered pop-up mental health events, drop-in and group-based trauma therapy sessions, training opportunities for employees and supervisors, and other important services. 

UNLV recently reminded students that December 6 might bring on some "new feelings and emotions" and encouraged them to reach out to peers, participate in "mindfulness sessions," and to utilize mental health services available on campus.