Around 5,000 UNC students, faculty, staff, and broader community members gathered in the Dean Smith Center on Wednesday night to honor Zijie Yan, a faculty member killed on campus, with a candlelight vigil.
The university held the event both as a way to memorialize Yan, who had been an associated professor and researcher at UNC since 2019, and a way for the Tar Heel community to both express their grief while displaying their support for each other. Several university leaders spoke, including UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, and two members of the music department played a piece in Yan’s memory. To close the event, two student a capella groups sang the university’s alma mater while candles were lit and the lights were dimmed in the arena.
Below are some photos from the open vigil on Wednesday night.
A video board in the Dean Smith Center shows a ‘Carolina Strong’ logo shared by the university in the wake of Monday’s fatal shooting on campus.
UNC shared that around 5,000 people attended the candlelight vigil on Wednesday, which was open to greater UNC community and featured several university speakers.
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz looks down while delivering some remarks on Zijie Yan and the associate professor’s killing in Caudill Labs.
UNC students hold up their candles and look on as their peers performed the alma mater in honor of Zijie Yan. White ribbons were distributed to those at the door for the vigil and worn by many attendants.
UNC students, faculty, and community members listen to the speakers during Wednesday’s vigil in the Dean Smith Center.
A sign language interpreter shared the remarks made by UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz during Wednesday’s program.
Two UNC faculty members perform a piece as a moment of reflection during Wednesday’s vigil.
Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils, Chapel Hill Town Manager Chris Blue, and UNC Police Chief Brian James sit in a row together near Chapel Hill Police Department representatives at Wednesday’s vigil.
UNC Provost Chris Clemens watches the remembrance ceremony from his seat in the Dean Smith Center.
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz is shown on the Dean Smith Center’s video board during Wednesday’s vigil honoring Zijie Yan.
An attendee of the vigil holds a lit candle in her lap.
Theo Dingemans, the chair of the Applied Physical Sciences Department where Zijie Yan worked, speaks at the university’s vigil on Wednesday about his colleague.
An attendee of the ceremony reaches over to provide flame to nearby people as candles begin to light around the Dean Smith Center.
People pass the flame from candle to candle during Wednesday’s vigil.
UNC Student Body President Christopher Everett shares thoughts on Yan’s death and his peers’ sense of community during Wednesday’s ceremony.
UNC students hold their candles high and begin to stand as the alma mater is performed.
Members of the Clef Hangers and Lorelais perform “Hark The Sound” at Wednesday’s vigil.
From candle to candle, attendees pass around a flame during the ceremony.
Attendees stand and hold their candles high in the memory of Zijie Yan on Wednesday in the Dean Smith Center.
Both the upper level and lower level of the Dean Smith Center saw people fill out sections to attend Wednesday’s candlelight vigil.
To watch the full UNC candlelight vigil honoring Zijie Yan from Wednesday night, visit the university’s YouTube page.
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