From left: Dr. Thelora Reynolds, director Students' Services and Development, UWI; Andrew Babaloo, president of the Guild of Students, UWI; Gary McLean, first vice-president Students' Association, UTECH; and Alicia Smith, director of health and safety, UTech, at a candlelight vigil at the UWI, Monday night. - Nathaniel Stewart/Freelance Photographer

Mark Beckford, Gleaner Writer

Though separated by thousands of miles, students at the University of the West Indies (UWI) on Monday joined the world in paying respect to the 32 victims murdered at Virginia Tech in the United States.

The undercroft at the UWI took on a sombre mood as hundreds of students attended a candlelight and prayer vigil put on by the UWI Guild of Students.

Speeches, prayer, song and audio-visual selections were used to contemplate the tragedy that occurred last week Monday.

President of the UWI Guild of Students, Andrew Badaloo, said that the vigil was his administration's way of showing solidarity with the students in Virginia. "This vigil is really acknowledging that we at the UWI are not only concerned about our students here on campus but globally the university is in America we cannot sit back and only do something when it affects us directly. By having this event it brings unity and appreciation for our lives and lets us reflect on what we have been doing in the past, present and [will do] in the future."

Danielle-Ann Nicholson, a second-year student at the UWI, believed the vigil was relevant even though the incident occurred in the U.S. Nicholson was in a reflective mood as she spoke to The Gleaner: "Being here and knowing that people care about the wider community, it gives hope for our country."

A sad moment in history

Dr. Therola Reynolds, director of Students Service and Development, described the incident as a sad moment in history. Dr. Reynolds said that while the vigil was in memory of the students who died, one should spare a thought for the killer, Cho Seung-Hui, who may have been alienated by society. "We should stop and think how many students among us need a friend, but we are too busy, too popular, too caught up in ourselves to see that student," she said. She implored students to look out for each other on campus.

An audio-visual presentation at the end marked the emotional nature of the event as pictures of the victims flashed across the screen serenaded by Sarah McLaughlin's Arms of an Angel. This was followed by the lighting of candles to remember the victims. The darkened undercroft became the scene of hundreds of lights blowing in the wind, as students lined up to sign condolence books.