More than 100 students, administration and staff gathered Monday night outside Kidd Brewer Stadium to march around campus in remembrance of those who passed away this school year.
The event, titled No Letters, No Teams, Just Love: A Night of Awareness at Appalachian, was organized by Appalachian State University students Carson Lamb, Katherine Uva, Carson Rich, Reginald Gravely and Alexander Lipe.
Campus was quiet as the group went to nine locations, pausing for about 30 seconds of silence at each in remembrance of one of nine Mountaineers lost this school year.
“It’s a night designed to bring the Appalachian family together,” co-coordinator Lamb said. “We encouraged many to wear [Appalachian] gear to define and remember that we are a community.”
Uva explained that the idea for this event came from the Come Together as Mountaineers event that occurred in early January. That event was created to bring students together with miscellaneous clubs and organizations to act as a community regardless of what organization one belonged to.
“Student deaths have impacted us greatly,” Uva said. “We’ve lost Mountaineers in a place where we emphasize community and family.”
Uva stressed that Appalachian can start a new legacy with Chancellor Sheri N. Everts and grow immensely and positively to move forward.
As the walk came to an end, students, faculty and staff in attendance gathered at Plemmons Student Union to listen to guest speakers and take a moment of silence for the lives lost.
“We’ve had some hard times this year, but we’ve also been very resilient,” said Jamar Banks, director of the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
Banks emphasized the event was representative of all the hard times Appalachian as a community has been through, and that the message to bring home is to share and spread love with all of those around us.
“Seeing everyone walk together was very powerful,” said Rich, student-body president and co-coordinator of the event. “We have to change, and we have to love – that is it.”
Carson said the students and staff need to make sure things are turned around in a more positive direction as a Mountaineer family.
“I know we are capable of healing, and I know nothing is going to be there to stop us,” Rich said.
As the event ended, Uva encouraged all to gather around a table of refreshments set out for the event and make conversation with others at the event.
“I thought this event was very important because people need to re-grasp the idea that App State really is a family and a community,” said Carrie Douglas, sophomore communications major and attendee. “And as hard as it was losing all the students that we did, we need to look forward and try to help all those we can.”
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