OU hosting vigil in honor of those lost in New Zealand

Students, faculty, staff and community members are encouraged to meet in the lounge outside the Founders Ballrooms on the second floor of the Oakland Center on main campus at Oakland University at 5 p.m. today, March 19, for a vigil in memory of the lives lost in the mass shootings at Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand, during Friday Prayer last week.

The event is being hosted in partnership between OU Student Congress and several student groups on campus. Confirmed speakers for the event include:

• Imaan Muhammad-Ali- part of student congress/ safb/emerging leaders program/event leadership teams of MSABC
•  Destinee Rule- Diversity and Inclusion Director OU Student Congress
•  InterVarsity Christian Fellowship- Elijah Olsen
•  Muslim Student Association- Maleha Fazal
•  Catholic Ministry- Francis Gestiada
• Jeremy Heinlein- Coordinator of Leadership and Services- OSI
• Jessie Hurse- Associate Dean if Students and Deputy Title IX Coordinator

“Our student leaders came up with the idea to have an event on campus and the event has grown quickly over the past 24 hours to include several student organizations working together.” said Senior Director, Office for Student Involvement, Jean Ann Miller.

At the conclusion of the remarks, those in attendance will be invited to come outside the building, light candles near the Elliott Tower and hear the carillon bells ring once for each life lost.

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