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UCC SHOOTING RCC students, faculty hold vigil to honor UCC shooting victims Comment By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 8:09 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 8:09 PM » Social News About 40 Rogue Community College students, faculty and community members gathered outside the Medford campus bookstore at Eighth and Bartlett streets Wednesday night to don green and gold pins and light candles remembering the victims of last week's shooting at Umpqua Community College, just 100 miles north. "When we heard what happened to Umpqua, it shook us," said RCC student body president Zachary Malatesta. "When you read about these events they're far away." "This affected my students greatly," psychology instructor Kristi Mersino said while sitting with her daughter, Laynee, age 7, and Jennifer Merrill. The vigil focused on the shooting, but the bomb threat that closed RCC's three campuses Monday was still on students' and teachers' minds. "She actually refused to come" at first, Mersino said of her daughter. "She told me I wasn't going either." Mersino explained to Laynee that a candlelight vigil gives people a chance to come together in a show of bravery, unlike the people who cause senseless violence. "People who do these things thrive on fear," Mersino said. Vice President of Student Services Kori Ebenhack-Bieber expressed gratitude over the enhanced campus security presence ensuring safety at the vigil. "I know it had to be a daunting thing to come to an event outside," Eibenhack-Bieber said of the security personnel. Other speakers explored ways to move forward from tragedy, reach out to lonely people who may feel ostracized, and understand the different ways people grieve. Then the microphone was opened for others to share their thoughts. One student said her small effort of outreach and kindness spread in surprising ways. Allison Adkison of Rogue River said her public Facebook event, "Go Green for UCC," started with her friends and RCC classmates as a way to show support. It asks people to post a photo of themselves wearing green, the school color at UCC. Over the past week, 55,700 people have been "invited" to participate, and 4,200 people are "going," or actively participating. "One person even dyed their hair green," Adkison said. She's seen posts on the page as far away as Japan and Australia. It was only after the vigil that she had a chance to see the event page's most recent activity on her iPhone, including a class wearing green from Linfield College. "It's amazing, it's just amazing," Adkison said. After Adkison shared her thoughts, she got a hug from fellow student Kevin Holmbeck of Medford. "It may not have been us, but it may as well have," Holmbeck said. Writing instructor Polly Greist shared a similar sentiment. "They could have been my students," Greist said. Ebenhack-Bieber said she admired the bravery of RCC students to come forward and speak, and for coming together despite some uncertainty over their safety following Monday's bomb threat. "I think it takes a lot of courage," Ebenhack-Bieber said. Reach newsroom assistant Nick Morgan at [email protected]. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 7, 2015 at 8:09 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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