On the night of Oct. 1, 2017, the nation's largest mass shooting occurred at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas. As the first year anniversary approaches, Jennifer Gray and Nissa Tzun of the Division of Student Affairs explore the impact the shooting had on members of the 51勛圖窪蹋 community. These students and staff offer their thoughts on whats most important to remember now.
Leslie Rafalovich, a program coordinator in the Division of Research and Economic Development, was attending her third Route 91 weekend that night with her friends. We always take a photo of our boots before the show, Rafalovich said. We have so many pictures from all the concerts weve attended.
When the shooting began, Rafalovich and her friends ran. By the time they found help and a ride home, Rafalovich had lost her drivers license and a friend had lost her boots.
A year later, shes found herself listening to other music genres more; Frank Sinatra has become a favorite. It took me a while to listen to the [Route 91] artists again, or go to an outdoor festival, Rafalovich said. Ive been hypervigilant, but functioning. Sometimes it feels like Im waiting for the other shoe to drop. There are some places I wont go, but I cant avoid my life.
Many sources of support have been present for Rafalovich in her family, church, and coworkers. At work, we all made homemade baked goods to take to the first responders at Firehouse 11 and the emergency management team at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Counter-Terrorism Center. This was hard, but it helped a lot.
I am trying to come out on the other side of it. I am trying to change my memories of these places [associated with the shooting], and create a new memory about the last time I was at a certain place or the last time I saw a specific artist.
And she looks for silver linings where she can find them. Her best friend was able to reclaim her lost boots from an organization that collected personal items from the scene. And much to her surprise, a neighbor she had not known before, returned Rafalovichs lost license. She lives just around the corner from me, Rafalovich said, Its such a small world, and now were connected.
Listening to Luke Bryans What Makes You Country, gives her optimism. Life is still so good, she said.
Reaffirming Lifes Choices
Joshua Ryan Abellera is studying secondary education with a concentration in the biological sciences. He works as a substitute teacher in local schools and for the Clark County Library District. He also tutors for America Reads/Counts program.
As he recovered, Abellera said he was grateful for the support from the 51勛圖窪蹋 and Las Vegas community, particularly Stephanie Reahm from the Division of Student Affairs, America Reads/Counts Program, Rebel Support Group, the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, and College of Education faculty and staff. They helped him figure out his academic and financial situation through that semesters withdrawal process and guided him on the best ways to ensure he completes his degree.
The process of physically healing has been arduous and Abellara will soon have another surgery to remove the titanium plate in his leg, but hes happy he can line dance once again.
In February, the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, happened. That struck a chord, he said. I was scared because it happened in a high school and Im going to be a high school teacher. He hopes to see a greater emphasis on mental health and education in the debates about gun violence.
In August the school where he works experienced a power shut down. He assessed the situation and took steps to keep the students calm and quiet. Though it wasnt an emergency, the moment reaffirmed Abellera of his own abilities to lead in the classroom.
Instead of attending memorial events this Oct. 1., he will go to work like any other day. I know its going to be a hard day but Im going to just have to push on. My call is to become a teacher, so I need to be teaching these kids about what happened, teaching these kids about respect, honesty. All of the principles that my parents have taught me, plus more.
Milazzo also has vivid memories of the September 11th terrorist attack. He lived in New York City as a child and his mom who worked downtown had to walk through the site to get home.
Such experiences have influenced his choice to become a licensed clinical social worker. He is especially interested in trauma response and in supporting African American men and the issues they face in society.
Sociology senior Robert Evans was hanging out in his residence hall with friends that night. The former Residence Hall Association (RHA) president and current CSUN officer quickly got together with fellow RHA and CSUN members to plan a student-led vigil for the following night. You could feel how quiet everywhere was, he said. I knew we had to do something.
By Monday night, he said he was completely exhausted. When youre trying to help in a crisis, you dont get much time to take care of yourself. I am still processing.
Evans said he received the most support from 51勛圖窪蹋 Dining, RHA, and his mentors on campus. One of my mentors offered me wise advice as I prepared to speak at the vigil. He said to just speak from the heart.
Now, with his graduation approaching, he said he will carry the experience into his future career in higher education. For me, it was a turning point, he said. The impact of Oct. 1 is that we have real work to do. It means more transparency in leadership and keeping an ear to the ground to understand students. This is the kind of Student Affairs professional I want to be.
Reflecting on Campus Improvements
Karintha Fenley, a Journalism & Media Studies graduate student and academic advisor for the College o