UNC Students Send Support After UNC

When news broke on the evening of April 30 about the shooting on UNC-Charlotte’s campus, UNC junior and Charlotte native Matthew Angerson said it was hard to process the violence.

“There’s always the [broader] mindset of ‘it’s happening, but at least it’s not here,’” he said. “But even though I wasn’t there, it still happened at home to me and it’s just the unfortunate reality that this happens. It’s unreal.”

It’s one of the reasons Angerson stopped and signed a banner for the UNC-Charlotte community set up in the Carolina Union. Hundreds of words of encouragement and hearts from UNC students were scribbled in blue marker across the canvas, which was mailed to UNCC later in the week. But Angerson felt especially compelled to write a message. He is a graduate of Butler High School in Charlotte, which had its own brush with gun violence just a few months ago when a student shot another in a hallway.

“Having two very prevalent, close-to-home shootings is just very scary and emotional,” Angerson said. “Seeing all these signatures and the love the UNC campuses have for each other and for other humans in general is unbelievable and great.”

Senior Joseph Romaine also wrote a brief note on the banner. He too is from Charlotte and his sister is a current UNCC student. Not only has he been affected by this shooting, but a separate one near the Charlotte campus later in the week also hit deeply.

“It was a different occurrence, and it happened at one of their off-campus apartments,” Romaine said. There was a kid that was killed, and I went to high school with him. He was a year younger than me, but he was best friends with one of my good friends. His name was Donqwavius [Davis]. I was in shock for a little while, just kind of taking it all in.”

Romaine said while he felt very encouraged seeing the outpour of support for UNCC in Chapel Hill, it was not without some deeper reflection.

“I do wish, though, that it didn’t have to hit so close to home for people to become less numb to the situation,” said Romaine. “Because it happens all over the country.”

To honor Davis, Romaine wrote “Rest in peace, DQ” on the banner. Angerson’s message was also short and simple.

“We stand with you, Charlotte,” he said. “Charlotte strong.”