LGBT vigil hosted at DePauw Thursday in wake of shootings

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Nearly 100 people from all walks of life gathered on DePauw University's campus Thursday to memorialize the recent Orlando shooting and its victims.

The tragedy in Florida, which took place early Sunday morning at a gay Orlando night club called Pulse, has spurred hundreds of vigils across the country this week in communities both small and large.

Students, DePauw staff and local residents came together Thursday to "stand in defiance" of oppression in the wake of the Orlando shootings in which 50 people were killed with the same number wounded. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

Greencastle proved no exception Thursday as DePauw sophomore Josh Selke and Assistant Dean of Students Kate Smanik began circulating an email earlier in the week and established a social media group inviting not only members of the LGBT community to gather but for anyone interested to come pay respects, provide support for one another and read aloud the names of the disaster's 49 victims.

Smalik started the event at 7 p.m. with her own comments, speaking on the importance of supporting one another through such a tragedy.

"People in marginalized communities have a proud and important history of coming together," Smalik said. "Someone from Croatia posted pictures in a (social media) group from a beautiful vigil held there this week and I thought about the mothers who lost their children on Sunday.

"Parents have gathered in an international and intentional network online to build support for queer families, and I was reminded of how resilient the LGBT community is," Smalik continued. "For generations we have stood up for our truth when the world tried to deny us."

One attendee by the name of Jerry Rud said that, despite the fact the tragedy took place so far away from Greencastle, the feeling really hit home when he envisioned such a thing happening to his friends.

DePauw sophomore Josh Selke, who organized a vigil for the local LBGT community, speaks in front of more than 100 students, staff and nearby residents Thursday in the wake of the Orlando shootings in which 50 people were killed with the same number wounded. (Banner Graphic/NICK WILSON)

"I imagined myself in a room with 100 of my friends and I imagined someone coming in shooting -- I imagined how that would make me feel," Rud said. "So I decided to come out today and take a stand against such oppression."

Reading aloud the names of the victims were five DePauw students who wished to remain anonymous. Reading approximately 10 names apiece, which were largely of Latino origin, each student also gave a heartfelt speech that empowered others in the crowd to come up and share their thoughts as well.

Though only a few stepped forward at the beginning, several attendees ultimately took the stand at one point or another, speaking freely and condemning the actions of "ignorance."

A mother with a child in her arms, local residents both gay and straight, international students and various well-wishers could be heard speaking phrases like "we must stand together and fight" and "don't let their names be erased" Thursday evening in front of Reese Hall within the Ubben Quadrangle.

Asked what kind of turnout she had hoped for, Smalik said that numbers are not important.

"It really doesn't matter how many people show up, it's really about the quality of our interactions together,' Smalik said. "Small, intimate settings can sometimes have the greatest effect.

"There is a struggle for equality in both closed and open communities," Smalik added. "It's important that we come together for support, regardless of where we are."

Refreshments were served after the vigil, which ended at 8 p.m. Attendees were slow to depart as they continued to provide support one another, exemplifying obvious passion in the process.

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