On October 1st, the deadliest mass shooting in United States history occurred during the Route 91 Harvest music festival along the Las Vegas Strip. This massacre took the lives of 58 concert-goers and left more than five-hundred injured.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, Caroline Metyas (‘20), the VWS sophomore class commissioner, organized a poster decorating station in front of Price Dining Hall. Students and faculty members wrote messages of hope and kindness to commemorate the lives of those lost in the Las Vegas massacre.

Caroline spread word of her activity by posting on STAS and making a verbal announcement before chapel. She also spent most of her free block gathering and organizing the supplies needed for decorating the poster.

When asked why she was willing to devote her free block in the midst of the hectic pre-October break season, Caroline responded, “I really wanted to honor the lives of those lost in the shooting. It is so sad that people who went out to enjoy their Sunday night at a concert got their lives cut short in a single evening. Devoting an hour or two of my time is nothing compared to the decades those 58 people will never get back to cherish with their loved ones.”

Euphy Liu (‘19), the VWS junior vice president, participated in Caroline’s activity by writing, “Stay Strong Vegas.” When asked for her thoughts on the topic, she said, “Well, the poster decorating station was very current because the Las Vegas shooting had happened just two days ago. Sadly, this was not the first massacre to occur, nor is it going to be the last. It is so sad that there is no way to fully guarantee that tragedies like this will not happen in the future.”

The poster is being displayed on the fireplace inside Price Dining Hall. It is described by Caroline as “a symbol of solidarity” in the Webb community. Whether passing by for breakfast check-in or grabbing a bagel to-go between classes, please take a moment to remember those who lost their lives during the Las Vegas shooting.