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.
Archival Collection
UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: OH-03923 Collection Name: UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews Box/Folder: Digital File 00 (Restrictions apply)
At site of Flamingo Reservoir, September 1967. Standing from left to right is Leonard Fayle, Rodger Hall, Louis C. Pico Sr., Harvey Luce, Paul Zimmerman, and William Renshaw.
Oral history interview with Christine Salas conducted by Claytee D. White on July 30, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Salas recalls what she witnessed on December 6 while working in the World Languages department in UNLV’s Beam Hall (BEH). After going to retrieve something left in the copy room, she heard three gunshots on the floor above her, footsteps running away from the shots, more footsteps, and someone yelling, "Active shooter!” The first text alerts came minutes later. She shut the door to the windowless copy room, texted her sister, let another faculty member in, and waited with them in what seemed like the longest hour of her life. They heard pounding on the doors and feeling someone trying to break in, but finally saw an arm of the police officer who had broken through, telling them to walk a certain way. Salas speaks fondly and shares memories of her murdered colleague, Professor Naoko Takemaru. Salas speaks to her lifelong love of soccer, her past trauma and a close friend's recent death and describes her sense of safety being ripped away, her confusion, therapy, and the healing process. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection
UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: OH-03923 Collection Name: UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews Box/Folder: Digital File 00 (Restrictions apply)
Mark Hall-Patton was born in Sand Diego, California in 1954. His mother was a registered nurse and his father served in the United States Navy. After graduating high school in Santa Ana, California, he earned his bachelor’s degree in history at nearby University of California, Irvine. Degree in hand, Mark worked for Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and founded the Anaheim Museum in 1984. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1993 to create the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum in McCarran International Airport. By 2008, Mark had become administrator over all Clark
Oral history interview with Kathy Windham conducted by Claytee D. White and Stefani Evans on August 8, 2024 for the UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shootings project. In this interview, Windham, who is the office manager for UNLV’s World Languages department, recalls leading the office in preparing for the end of the semester on December 6. She describes hearing someone run the halls shouting “Active shooter!" so Windham immediately turned off her office lights and pulled her supervisor with her to hide under her desk. She texted her boyfriend, as the fire alarm started blaring, its horn just outside her office. She heard three or four gunshots and thought of Professor Naoko Takemaru, who always took her lunch at noon in the adjoining office. With her supervisor, she remained under the desk for about an hour until the police entered the office to escort them out. As a friend drove her home, she heard about the possible victims and she contacted everyone in the department; all eventually responded except Naoko. Windham had known Naoko since 2015. Windham sought therapy shortly after the shooting through the Las Vegas Resiliency Center and Victims of Crime and describes how the technique of forming "neutral sentences" during post-traumatic episodes continues to help. Digital audio and transcript available.
Archival Collection
UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: OH-03923 Collection Name: UNLV Remembers: an Oral History of the 6 December 2023 Shooting interviews Box/Folder: Digital File 00 (Restrictions apply)