CSUMB holds vigil for victims killed in Paris attacks

It was an emotional night for the CSUMB community Monday. More than 75 people gathered around a French flag showing support for those victims killed in the deadly rampage in Paris.

The victims include23-year-old Nohemi Gonzalez, a California State University Long Beach student who was gunned down while studying abroad.

“Studying abroad is supposed to be a fun thing that students look forward to, and just the fact that that happened to her, it was just really sad to hear,” said Yvonne Bantum, a student at California State University, Monterey Bay.

CSULB said Gonzalez was a promising student studying design in Paris. Still, campus leaders said her death should not deter others from learning overseas.

“When students go to other countries and study, that’s when they learn about the world. They meet other people and when you get to know other people it’s much harder to think violent thoughts about them,” said CSUMB Provost Bonnie Irwin.

Irwin said the vigil was also a way for the community to reach out to the 20 French exchange students enrolled at CSUMB this semester.

“It felt great to see people showing interest to our culture and country. It felt warm and comforting to see all those people praying for Paris,” said French exchange student Leonard Poinsot.

People from different ethnic groups and backgrounds came to the vigil.

“We have to show that we are all united against this kind of act of terror. Those are the acts of a few and we are the many. We can fight back,” said French exchange student Ruben Botbol.