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.
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Oral history interview with Michael Newcomb conducted by Stefani Evans and Claytee D. White on July 12, 2024 for the Game On! The Oral History of Las Vegas Sports project. In this interview, Michael Newcomb recalls his childhood in Connecticut and watching the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels games on television. In 1990, Newcomb moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to attend UNLV. He worked as an usher at outdoor athletic events at Caesars Palace and The Mirage, and eventually became supervisor and then personnel director of the company. Newcomb talks about starting work at the Thomas & Mack Center in 1996 managing the parking lot and the events. He recalls the experiences and people who have shaped his nearly 30 years at the Center, as he became Executive Director in 2011. Newcomb discusses events at Sam Boyd Stadium and its eventual closure. He describes the community-wide effort required to host such major events as the National Finals Rodeo and Cowboy Christmas, the Super Bowl, the NBA AllStars Weekend in 2007, NBA Summer League since 2004, Team USA Basketball in 2006, and plans to host the Final Four in 2028. He closes the interview recalling how the T&M was a reunification center after the 1 October shooting in 2017 and again on December 6, 2023, as other buildings on the UNLV campus were evacuated. Digital audio available.
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