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'Not one more' rings loud at UCSB memorial

Jordan Bell

The memorial service on the UC Santa Barbara campus Tuesday was a somber occasion, except for the moments when the estimated 20,000 attendees filling Harder Stadium—mostly students—chanted a phrase coined by Richard Martinez, father of slain 20-year-old Christopher Michaels-Martinez.

“One more time, are you with me?" said Martinez. "Yea, not one more!” the masses responded three different times.

Martinez asked everyone attending yesterday’s memorial service to continue that chant, so that politicians in Washington D.C. could hear the message that not one more person should have to die after the mass shooting and stabbing in Isla Vista Friday.

As everyone made their way to the stands and the grassy field, student volunteers passed out black ribbons to pin on the shirts of those attending. Athletic teams wore their Gaucho sports apparel, those in Greek life wore their letters and many others wore UCSB shirts.

The service opened with the UCSB Young Artist String Quartet. Chancellor Henry Yang greeted the crowd and slowly read each name of the students who lost their lives in the massacre. He thanked the police and those on the scene who acted quickly.

The President of the UC System, Janet Napolitano, addressed the crowd as well saying she wished she wasn’t there to speak on such an occasion, but when something like this happens, there’s a human desire to come together.

Students eventually covered the grass near the stage, some leaning on each other and listening. Other speakers too, including the Associated Students President, Ali Guthy, read the names of each UCSB student killed in the Isla Vista tragedy and expressed heartbreak and sadness.

Martinez, in addition to leading the “Not one more” chant, read a message on behalf of two victims’ families for their children.

As the service ended, students filtered back into the Isla Vista neighborhood. Peter Cross, a second year student at UCSB says the mood on campus and in Isla Vista has changed.

“It’s been really quiet," Cross said. "Obviously, it could have happened to anybody.”

There are still signs of grief everywhere you look. People are still bringing flowers and signs to the memorials in Isla Vista. In front of the targeted sorority house lay hundreds of bouquets and the sidewalk was covered with chalk notes.

In front of the deli where students were killed, there were more flowers, candles and signs with the victims’ names and notes of grievance.

Across the street stood several large chalk board walls dedicated to each student. These were filled with notes. Students placed flowers on the ground for each victim. 

"For me personally, what I took away from this, it just gives a perspective on life,"said Alejandro Paramo, a third year student at UCSB and volunteer for the day's memorial. "Life is very fleeting and it can be unfair and can be taken away from us at any given instant."