CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
VOL. LXVIX, ISSUE 15 | OCTOBER 4, 2017
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A lone vase of flowers left on Las Vegas Boulevard and Reno Avenue for the victims of the mass shooting on Sunday in Las Vegas.
Marcus Yam | Los Angeles Times
NATIONAL
VEGAS VIOLENCE HITS THE BEACH
Junior communications student Stephanie Chase recalls her horrific night at the music festival. By Mac Walby
Managing Editor
The moment a sharp popping sound interrupted country singer Jason Aldean at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night, concert-goers were unaware that
they were about to become a part of the biggest mass shooting in modern history. During the festival, a single terrorist took the lives of 59 people from Mandalay Bay Resort 32 stories above and 400 feet away. Stephanie Chase, a junior communications major at Cal State Long Beach, had taken the trip with a group of friends and coworkers to unwind for the weekend. But her night turned out far worse than she ever could have imagined. Chase and her group were staying at the Delano hotel, within a few hundred yards of Mandalay Bay. In a 32nd floor room, 64-year-old Mesquite, Nevada resident Stephen Paddock
was watching the crowd. Chase was watching country singer, Jason Aldean perform at the annual Route 91 Harvest music festival with her friends when the first shot went off. “There was a noise,” Chase said. “Almost like a firecracker. What it really sounded like was one of those confetti fireworks from 4th of July.” Thinking nothing of it, she enjoyed the next song with the rest of the crowd. Then another pop. “We thought it was just the speakers,” she see VEGAS, page 3
CAMPUS ALERT
CSULB mourns loss of a sociology student The university will hold a memorial service Friday for Estephan Hernandez, who was set to graduate in the spring. By James Chow
Assistant News Editor
Cal State Long Beach student Estephan Hernandez died Thursday Sept. 28 during a drive-
by shooting in Compton. The 21-year-old senior sociology student was struck down in the intersection of East 148th St. and Bahama Avenue. The university released a statement Monday Oct. 2, honoring the student, who was consistently on the president’s list of academic achievements for his years at CSULB. “We mourn the death of Estephan Hernández, who was an esteemed member of our Beach family. He was a scholar on track to receive a bachelor’s degree in sociology next spring,” Vice Pres-
ident of Student Affairs Carmen Taylor said in the press release. “Our hearts go out to Estephan’s family and friends at this difficult time.” Before attending CSULB, Hernandez served as class president and graduated with honors in 2014 from King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science in South Los Angeles. Hernandez was also a member of the Men’s Success Initiative, an organization that helps mentor and provide support for African American and Latino male students.
Chair of Sociology Kris Zentgraf issued a statement on the department website addressing victims of gun violence and commemorated the student’s life. “While today most of the nation is focused on the tragedy in Las Vegas, in Long Beach we are also painfully aware of the impact of gun violence in our own backyard,” Zentgraf said. “We mourn the loss of a life taken far too soon. Our condolences go out to his family and those who had the privilege of knowing Estephan.” A GoFundMe was created in memory of Hernandez to help
his loved ones with memorial expenses. A BBQ fundraiser and a candlelight vigil was hosted at his family home in Compton yesterday to celebrate his life. CSULB is holding a memorial service in the University Student Union ballrooms in remembrance of Hernandez. The event will take place Oct. 6 and is open to the public. For more information about how to support the Hernandez family, visit @JusticeforEstephan Facebook page and the memorial GoFundMe page.