Oral history interview with Mana Azizsoltani conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 11, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Azizsoltani describes “growing up” Beam Hall (BEH) where both his parents worked, even learning to walk in the hallways of the building. He is currently a PhD student working in the Insurance Risk Management Program. On December 6, 2023, he was in his office in BEH with his window open as alarms began to sound throughout campus. He and his mentor, supervisor, and dissertation advisor hunkered down in his office and barricaded the door. They did not respond when someone tried to enter but shortly, the police evacuated them. Azizsoltami checked on colleagues and drove immediately to his mother's location. Azizsoltani describes he is healing through nontraditional, multi-pronged approaches. The weekend following the shooting, he invited friends, family, and colleagues to his home for an open house that lasted through the day: simply people showing love and being grateful; celebrating life. Secondly, he purchased a gun and is learning to use it and care for it in a responsible fashion. Digital audio and transcript available.
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Oral history interview with Kelly Stith conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on June 27, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Stith recalls starting to drive from Henderson to UNLV for an appointment, but her significant other informed her that there was a shooting on campus so she drove to his home instead. They checked on their friends throughout the day and Stith began thinking about what she could do about shootings in America. Stith is a writer, artist, and punk rock enthusiast who teaches in the English departments at both UNLV and NSU. She decided that she would use writing, photography, and music to heal and that she would use her voice to create more awareness and thus create change around gun violence. Stith believes that we all have a responsibility to ourselves and our communities to enact common sense gun laws through community organizing, writing, and by mobilizing the arts community. Digital audio and transcript available.
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Oral history interview with Allister Dias conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 16, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Dias discusses his experiences on December 6, 2023, through his role as Editor-in-Chief of the Scarlet & Gray from his office in the third floor of the Student Union and as a journalist on the sidewalk across Maryland Parkway from UNLV. He talks of hearing gunshots and sirens, seeing students running, and seeing his Business School professors react to the day. He recalls using the newspaper as a vehicle to collect student stories, serving as a conduit to local and national news organizations, allowing people charge their phones, seeking therapy from the UNLV's Student Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), and finding joy in the generosity of UNLV students and peace in photography and writing. Dias is currently serving as CSUN President, Faculty Assistant at the UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research, and Lead Consultant for the UNLV Writing Center while an economics major at the Lee Business School. Digital audio and transcript available.
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Oral history interview with Stacey Fott conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 18, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Fott describes being at her desk in UNLV Special Collections and Archives when the first alert sounded. The building provided a sense of safety, and Fott continued to check on students while the Library was locked down. Her husband, who also works on campus, used his scooter to take Tropicana to their nearby home. After the evacuation of the Library, occupants were sent to Thomas & Mack. She walked home after inviting others to use her home as a pick-up location because it was near campus yet out of the zone where traffic was not allowed. Fott returned to campus the next day to move her car. She recalls passing Beam Hall felt too overwhelming, so she walked between Wright Hall and the Law School to Lot N behind Lied Library. After some reflection, Fott's anger is subsiding but arises every once in a while. She was able to go home to her husband and cats, but recognizes that a number of colleagues will never go to that physical home again. Digital audio and transcript available.
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Oral history interview with Ace Lagman conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on July 29, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Lagman (a senior, English major, Creative Writing emphasis) recalls having just left Lied Library with friends when he received the text alert about the shooting. After a short debate, the group decided to head for their cars in the Cottage Grove parking lot. On the way, Lagman stopped to warn some construction workers at the Engineering building, even using Google Translate to communicate the alert to one worker. One friend drove Lagman to his apartment, leaving Cottage Grove and taking Flamingo Road East to Eastern, as they knew Tropicana would be closed. He talks about reaching out to friends, and how two friends especially helped him in the days after. He recalls a two-hour drive beginning at 2:00am, windows down, listening to music, while driving aimlessly in places where businesses were open and people were about. The creative writer talks of being unable to write anything in the first five months after the shooting; he still has not written about the event or his reaction to it. He remembers calling the Suicide Hotline two weeks after December 6 and the worker telling him he was their tenth call that day. Digital audio and transcript available.
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