PHOTO ALBUM

See our Facebook photo album from the candlelight vigil.

We sat and stood on the Quad last Thursday night (May 29), about 2,000 of us, holding candles and listening intently as the UC Santa Barbara victims’ names rang out.

Students heard the names of fellow UC students, sorority sisters and high school classmates. Faculty and staff heard the names of students just like those we work with every day. Some of us heard the names of sons and daughters, just like our own children who may be away at school.

We all heard the names of our UC family members, struck down on that tragic night in Isla Vista, May 23.

Three UC Davis students went to the microphone to remember their friends George Chen and Cheng Yuan “James” Hong.

James was kind to a fault, said Yasmine Mortazavi, recalling an incident from drama class at Lynbrook High School in San Jose. James’ acting partner had blanked out, unable to say his lines in a scene that constituted the duo’s final project.

“Afterward, James’ partner felt so bad that he just put his hands to his face and he started to cry,” Mortazavi said. “I remember James being so sweet. He sat next to this guy, patting his back, telling him it was OK, that it wasn’t a big deal, that it wasn’t his fault, and all of us followed suit and started comforting our classmate with James.”

Austina Nguyen said George had a smile that never ended. And now it lives on in Nguyen’s poem:

“If he could exist as anything else in the universe, it would be a smile.

“It’s too bad he was only on this Earth, with us, for a little while.

“A student, a friend and a loved one, you know he would have gone the extra mile.

“Let us take a moment to remember George and his amazing smile.”

Krisha Yadav-Ranjan also knew George from Leland High School in San Jose, recalling him as genuine with a kind soul. “We meet people every single day,” Yadav-Ranjan said. “We don’t know how much time we have left on this Earth. All we can do is express the deepest of kindness, compassion and empathy toward others.”

Sasha Kasper, who organized the vigil, said: “I feel, as I’m sure all of you gathered here would agree, that as UCSB’s sister campus and a fellow UC, we must honor the students that lost their lives that night and focus on healing, recovery and how we can all come together to make a change in this world so this does not happen again.”

She read short biographies of James and George and the others who were killed May 23. “You will be missed, but never forgotten,” she said after reading each biography, before pausing for a moment of silence for each of the victims.

George Chen, 19, a sophomore from San Jose — He volunteered for the YMCA as a camp counselor and for the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation. His mother said, “He was always very sweet and helpful.” He studied computer engineering.

Cheng Yuan “James” Hong, 20, a senior from San Jose — His drama teacher recalled James’ “earnest nature, conviction, honesty and mostly his smile — it lit up the room.” He studied computer engineering and had plans with Weihan “David” Wang and George Chen, two of the other victims, to start a business together.

Katherine “Katie” Cooper, 22, a senior from Chino Hills — She was weeks away from graduating with a degree in art history and archaeology. Family and friends recalled her as outgoing and full of energy, “the kind of girl that brought sunshine on an overcast day.” A member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority.

Christopher Ross Michaels-Martinez, 20, a sophomore from San Luis Obispo — His high school principal recalled Christopher as “an engaging, happy guy who had a bright future.” He was an English major, all set to spend his junior year in London. He dreamed of going to law school to become a lawyer like his parents (his father, Richard Martinez, graduated from the UC Davis School of Law in 1983). He was an only child.

Weihan “David” Wang, 20, a junior from Fremont — Fremont Christian School, his high school alma mater, described David as “a young man of exemplary character and high academic achievement who loved basketball and was beloved by faculty, staff and students.” He studied computer engineering at UC Santa Barbara. He and his family planned to go to Yellowstone National Park in July, for vacation and to celebrate David’s 21st birthday. He was an only child.

Veronika Weiss, 19, a sophomore — She graduated from Westlake High School (Westlake Village), where she was a straight-A student and participated in four sports: cross country, baseball, swimming and water polo. She studied mathematics and statistics at UCSB. Her father described her as “wise and mature beyond her years.” She was “making friends, studying like a maniac and loving every minute of it,” he said. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta.

What others had to say

Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi — “Tonight we come together with hearts broken in mourning for the tragic events in Isla Vista last Friday. … Each victim was a cherished daughter or son, sister or brother, and beloved friend. …

“It is so easy for mourning to turn to despair, and it is in the depths of despair that hope is easily quashed. As members of a community shocked by tragedy it falls to each of us to ensure that hope is never lost. Indeed, this is why we gather tonight: to tell all those affected by this tragedy — that there is hope and you are not alone.”

“The flames that we will carry tonight will eventually extinguish, but the message they symbolize will continue to burn — that there is hope and you are not alone. …

“It is my hope that we will have the courage and compassion to take the necessary steps as a society and a democracy so that we don’t find ourselves again grieving and asking, ‘Why?’”

Davis Mayor Joe Kravoza — “It’s incumbent upon all of us — the city, the campus, Student Affairs, the campus police, social services on campus, the health system on campus — to share information and create a community of compassion that makes sure that those who are suffering from stress, from the loss of friends, from being away from home, have a new community in which they begin to thrive and begin their adult lives. We’ve been reminded from before, but especially since 2007, at Virginia Tech, of the incredible stress that can come to bear when somebody is not supported.”

Police Chief Matt Carmichael, whose three children stood behind him — “Tonight, I want to tell you that I’m angry, I’m sad and I just don’t really get it. ... Tonight, members of our community have lost their loved ones. ...

“Tonight is our opportunity to show respect for our sister campus through our action, thoughts and prayers. The horror of this tragedy affects us all, because we are all University of California. …

"We remember those lives lost, we have to remember. We must remember the goodness of young life that so needlessly was taken away from us.

“Don’t doubt our resolve or your resolve as a community. In the face of darkness, we stand together and we stand in support of our sister campus.”

Sarah Hahn, director, Counseling Services, part of Student Health and Counseling Services — “Our gathering reflects our core commitment at UC Davis, that Each Aggie Matters, and our larger understanding that we are one University of California, and that a tragedy at one of our campses touches us all. …

“As we grapple with our wish to prevent the apparently unpreventable, we need to look around and see if there are any in our own community whose loneliness could be turning into despair, or starting to fray the fabric of reality. As you are doining tonight by being here together, continue to take care of each other. Be there for each other. Reach out. There is little that is more comforting than a moment of shared compassion.”

'We are here for you'

Kasper expressed hope that UCSB and the Isla Vista community would "hear the words and beautiful speeches spoken here today, as well as see the many faces that are here at UC Davis tonight," showing our sister campus that it is not alone, that "we are here to support you."

"To the families of the victims of this horrific event: We will continue to honor and remember your loved ones through their memory. We are here for you.

"To all affected by this tragedy, please know that UC Davis is standing in solidarity with you.

Kasper concluded by saying: “Thank you to all of you who have come out tonight.  May you hold your friends tighter, may you lend a hand or ear to someone who is lonely or in need of a friend, and may we all never take a single day for granted.”

Online

Each Aggie Matters, a Web-based initiative with personal stories to help students feel comfortable talking about mental health and seeking help.

Just in Case, a mobile-friendly website that helps students assess their own feelings and behaviors, provides tools for how to help a friend in need and guides students to campus and community resources.

Counseling Services

Academic and Staff Assistance Program

Follow Dateline UC Davis on Twitter.