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Less than 48 hours after a shooting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the student newspaper, The Daily Tar Heel, published a front-page graphic featuring text messages exchanged by students during the lockdown. The messages capture the fear and anxiety experienced by students as they barricaded themselves inside classrooms and bathrooms. The shooting, which resulted in the death of a faculty member, prompted a shelter-in-place alert on campus. The suspect has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The newspaper hopes that their coverage will shed light on the issue of gun violence. Katie Kindelan reported
Less than 48 hours after a tragic shooting occurred on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, resulting in the death of a faculty member, the harrowing experience of the students during the incident is gaining widespread attention. The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper of the university, dedicated its front page to showcasing a collection of text messages exchanged by students as they sought refuge in classrooms, bathrooms, and other areas during the three-hour lockdown on Monday. The messages expressed a range of emotions, from the pure fear experienced by students and their loved ones to the sounds and noises they were hearing. The lockdown was initiated after reports of gunfire near Caudill Laboratories, leading to a shelter-in-place alert for UNC students.
The victim of the shooting was identified as Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the university’s department of applied physical sciences in the college of arts and sciences. Yan was a father of two. The suspect, Tailei Qi, was apprehended shortly after a brief search and has been charged with first-degree murder and misdemeanor possession of a firearm on an educational property. Qi appeared in court where he was ordered to be held without bail and did not enter a plea.
Caitlyn Yaede, the print managing editor of The Daily Tar Heel, revealed that the newspaper had originally planned to publish a fall football preview issue but decided to change course and cover the shooting, considering its significance. Yaede explained that the idea to present the story through the students’ own words came from the editor-in-chief, Emmy Martin. The editorial team, consisting of nearly 40 individuals, reached out to their friends and classmates to compile the text messages, which were then prominently displayed on the front page in a visually striking manner.
Yaede shared a preview of the front page on social media, and it quickly garnered over 6 million views. In her message, she expressed how emotionally challenging it was to compile the heart-wrenching text messages from UNC students. She believes that the cover resonated with people because many can relate to the fear and anxiety described by the students and their loved ones. Gun violence remains a pressing issue in the United States, with at least 25,198 deaths recorded this year alone, averaging 118 deaths per day, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Of these victims, 879 were teenagers and 170 were children.
The publication of this front page has prompted individuals to not only reflect on the feelings of fear conveyed by the students but also to delve deeper into the issue of gun violence. Yaede hopes that those who were moved by the cover will explore the ongoing work of The Daily Tar Heel in reporting and addressing this important topic. UNC chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz acknowledged the traumatic nature of the shooting during a press conference, expressing his devastation and sadness over the incident and offering condolences to the victim’s family and those affected by the senseless act of violence.
As the community continues to heal and seek answers, it is crucial to shed light on the broader issue of gun violence and work towards preventing such tragedies in the future..
