After a community-wide string of ceremonies over the last 13 days, three memorials were held at Binghamton University this week honoring the people killed in the April 3 shootings at the American Civic Association. Two Binghamton University scholars were among the dead in the attacks.
Student Association President Matt Landau led a candelight vigil outside the fountain by the Library Tower Tuesday night, the first day back after spring break, attended by about 200 students.
BU visiting scholars Almir Alves, 43 of Brazil, and Li Guo, 47 of Tianjin, China, were killed.
“I didn’t know [Alves], but when I found out a Brazilian died, I was just like, ‘Wow,’” said Marianna Da Costa, a BU sophomore in attendance who is Brazilian. “My dad lives in Haiti, so when I found out that two Haitians died, it was more connections for me. So I think that was part of the reason I came tonight.”
Landau, city of Binghamton Mayor Matt Ryan, BU President Lois DeFleur and BU Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Rose spoke before 14 candles were ceremonially lit for the deceased — 13 for the victims and one for the shooter, Jiverly Wong — as Landau read capsules of their lives.
“When we came back to this city, a place that many of us have called our home for years, we came back to a place where its memory will surely never be the same,” Landau said to open the gathering.
Earlier in the day, the University held a service of its own in the Grand Corridor of the Fine Arts Building, overlooking Memorial Courtyard. DeFleur led the ceremony, followed by Dean Patricia Ingraham of the College of Community and Public Affairs, and Dean Donald Nieman of Harpur College. A representative of the graduate student community also spoke.
“Even if words are inadequate, we must speak them to remember the optimism, the strength, the aspirations of the victims of this tragedy to assure that we do not forget our responsibility to those who are trying to put their lives back together,” Nieman said.
Nieman and others emphasized an increased effort toward internationalization at BU. The University had 2,114 international students from 92 countries enrolled in the fall, with a practically even split between graduate and undergraduate students.
“The American Civic Association shares with this University a commitment to education, to growth, both individual and group growth, and most of all to international understanding,” DeFleur said.
“I know that from time to time there are differences between the University and the community,” she added, “but obviously in the crisis and in this situation, we came together, and throughout the week we worked together to provide all sorts of services for those who are affected by this horrific event. I am so proud of our University for all they have done and how they have come together.”
About 100 people attended the University’s ceremony. DeFleur spoke with the courtyard behind her, facing a small group of seated people directly affected by the tragedy, behind whom international flags hung from a wall. After the ceremony, attendees moved outside, where a spray of flowers were placed around the Peace Pole, a gift from the Student Association to the University in the wake of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“I don’t think we ever imagined it would have such personal meaning for all of us when we placed the Peace Pole there,” DeFleur said.
Ryan spoke at both Tuesday ceremonies. A third ceremony was held Wednesday at the University Downtown Center to honor Guo.
The shooting took place on the last day of classes before the recess, as many students prepared to leave for home and some had already left. The separation from Binghamton meant Tuesday night’s vigil was the first time the relevance of the shooting sank in for some students.
“It was really nice,” junior Nicole Zhang said of the vigil. “I’ve read some things about [the victims], but it wasn’t as detailed. I got to actually know more about them and what they actually were to the community.”
Campus leaders were asked by the Student Association to help in the candle-lighting.
“It’s very hard to imagine because I was just in that part of town just last week,” said Stephanie Kuo, a junior who is the president of the Asian Student Union who participated in the memorial. “To think something like that happened, it’s hard to believe.”
Though the wind wreaked havoc with the candles, Landau said that didn’t detract from the sentiment of the vigil.
A commemoration for Wong alongside commemorations for other victims created controversy last week at a ceremony marking the one-week anniversary of the shooting. After receiving encouragement from a campus religious leader and city officials, Landau decided to light a candle for Wong as well, but placed it separately from the others on the corner of the table. The candle was lit for the suffering of Wong’s family and the life Wong had, Landau said.
University spokeswoman Gail Glover confirmed that people affiliated with the University were also hurt in the shooting.
“One of the injured is a research scholar from China and the other is the spouse of a graduate student,” Glover said.
The local hospitals (Wilson Memorial and Lourdes) were unable to give any comments about patients.
Glover said she could not release any information about the injured. Their names, the hospitals in which they stayed and current condition remain confidential.