Candlelight vigil commemorates those killed in Tuesday tragedy
On a stage doffed by American flags and dove symbols designed by Associated Students of Utah State University designer Renae Froerer, ASUSU President Steve Palmer welcomed students, faculty, staff and visitors to Hope for Healing, a candlelight vigil on the Quad Thursday night.
“Thousands of students have gathered together,” Palmer said.
Throughout all the state of Utah and across America similar candlelight vigils were held to commemorate the lives of those lost in Tuesday’s terrorist attacks, Palmer said.
Students arrived in droves throughout the program bringing the total in attendance to an estimated 8,000.
An nondenominational prayer was offered as an invocation by Provost Stan L. Albrecht.
“We pause this evening . . . to join as a community . . . while we express gratitude for the safety and security of the university family. We unite with millions across this great land. We cannot justify the evil events of this week. To the attackers, the victims were nothing more than a symbol of something despised,” Albrecht prayed. “Our generation never experienced a more direct attack as Tuesday.”
In a press release earlier in the day, Steve Palmer said, “We are doing this as a way to remember the past, but to also shape the future.”
Public Relations Vice President Nollie Haws said, “Rather than wait for the aftershock of what could be violence born of ignorance, the vigils served to channel that energy into a way for students to foster peace and acceptance.”
With emotion emanating in his voice, Mayor Doug Thompson then read from his statement running in today’s issue of The Statesman.
“In times of sorrow and grief it is good to be with people who share our feelings,” Thompson said.
The mayor extended an invitation to all to attend the community’s memorial service to be held today in the Ellen Eccles Theater at 5:30 p.m. Nearly all religious denominations will be present.
“This is an unprecedented ecumenical event,” Thompson said. “It is my plea we do not misdirect our grief to our friends in the Middle East. It would be unacceptable to punish them.”
Pat Terrell, vice president of Student Affairs, then addressed the mass of attendants. She urged all to retain in remembrance a sense of unity.
“Let’s not equate the actions of a few with the belief of a whole,” she said. “Human life is sacred and precious. As the events of this week have shown, we have neighbors close at hand.”
Leon D’Souza, President of International Students and Scholars then spoke, quoting from Mohandas K. Ghandi.
“The great pacifist said, ‘An eye for an eye makes everyone blind,'” he said.
F. Ross Peterson, professor emeritus for the history department at Utah State University urged all to remember the value of human life.
“Please remember each individual death is a tragedy,” he said.
Peterson then reflected on learning of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination while he was a student at USU. He spoke of the shock and emotion he felt during that painful time.
President Kermit L. Hall directed his words towards a rebirth of spirit and resolve.
“Out of adversity, we must all draw strength. We begin peace tonight by reaffirming our welcome to international students,” Hall said. “We are strengthened by the contributions you bring to Utah State,” Hall said.
Today at noon, there will be a moment of silence to pay tribute to the victims that now have to deal with the aftermath. It will be followed by Taps, which will be played on the quad, Hall said
Hall concluded his remarks by quoting the famous statesman, Edmund Burke.
“For evil to triumph, good people must fail to act.”
The lighting of candles and a moment of silence followed the president’s remarks.
Steve Palmer expressed his gratitude to those in attendance. The crowd dismissed to music from the New Horizons Choir.
Gary Chambers, Vice President for Student Life was surprised at the attendance at the vigil.
“I’ve been on the campus for 22 years. I’ve never seen anything like that,” Chambers said.
Sara Diem, ASUSU Arts and Lectures vice president helped organize the candle lighting.
“We bought all the candles we could find in Logan. We had 550 candles and they were gone in 10 minutes,” Diem said. “A lot of planning went into this and it’s amazing.”
Logan mayor speaks at vigil (Ron Adair)
A peaceful moment at vigil (Ron Adair)
Pres. Kermit Hall at vigil (Ron Adair)
Students participate in Thursday night vigil. (Ron Adair)