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4.30 MEMORIAL
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Wade Bruton
On April 30, 2020, two wreaths were placed at the entrance to the Kennedy Building in memory of the students killed there last year.
A Virtual Remembrance
BY PHILLIP BROWN
U
NC Charlotte’s plans to mark the anniversary of the campus shooting of April 30, 2019, were altered drastically due to the global coronavirus. The community concert, “United,” scheduled for the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, and the campus vigils planned by UNC Charlotte student leaders were canceled, but the University utilized technology to bring together Niner Nation to remember and honor the saddest day in the history of the institution. “United: A Remembrance Program” was broadcast on the afternoon of April 30. The 30-minute program was streamed live, starting at 5:10 p.m., timed to conclude at 5:40 p.m., the time of last spring’s tragedy. It featured comments from Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Kevin Bailey and Student Government Association president and vice president, Chandler Crean and Adela Mann. UNC Charlotte alumnus and CBS correspondent Don Dahler ’91, who had planned to host the original, live concert, introduced special elements of the virtual remembrance. “On this day, one year ago, we experienced the unimaginable when a gunman opened fire in one of our classrooms, taking the lives of two students and injuring four others,” said 38 UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
| Summer 2020
Dubois. “In the days and weeks that followed, we mourned the loss of Reed (Parlier) and Riley (Howell) along with their families and friends. We prayed for the full recovery of Drew (Pescaro), Emily (Houpt), Rami (Alramadhan) and Sean (DeHart). We came together as a community and united in our grief.” The intention of the community concert was to convey the healing power of art, combining an original composition with dance, music and multimedia performances. For the virtual remembrance, organizers sought to retain that purpose, and worked with the band Water from Fire to preserve a key portion of that concert—performing favorite songs of Reed and Riley. University alumni John Woodall ’14 and Kevin Brawley ’13, two members of the band, played Electric Light Orchestra’s “Mr. Blue Sky” in memory of Reed, and for Riley, they performed “American Dream” by Switchfoot. Dahler, before introducing the musical interludes, spoke about Reed and Riley. “They were extraordinary young men, stolen from the world before their time. Each had more love to give, unique dreams to pursue and talents to share. Both meant the world to their family and friends,” he said. In reflecting upon hearing of the campus shooting at his home in New Jersey, Dahler noted he was stunned and in disbelief that
such a tragedy could occur “on our campus, our home.” SGA President Crean introduced an original video featuring graphics by Jeffrey Murphy, associate professor in the College of Arts + Architecture, with an original arrangement by John Allemeier, professor of composition. While April 30, 2019, “challenged our understanding of who we were and what we might face … what matters as ever is what’s in our hearts, how we honor the victims, survivors and all those impacted by the tragedy—and where we go from here: stronger together, as one Niner Nation,” said Crean. Much has been written about the outpouring of support in the aftermath of the shooting. From vigils on the UNC Charlotte campus and at other institutions to acclimations of We are All Niners by businesses and organizations in the Queen City and beyond, there was—and remains—a palpable sense of unity as people dealt with their grief and came together to support not only those affected, but their families and one another. Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Bailey spoke about the work of the chancellor-appointed Remembrance Commission, and efforts underway for a memorial on Belk Plaza. “We will share these plans with the community as we continue to make our University a home for all of Niner Nation,
