By Gina Potthoff, Noozhawk
Sleeping in until 11 a.m. Tuesday was something of a feat for Alex Nguyen, a third-year UC Santa Barbara student who lives next door to the IV Deli Mart.
UCSB student Alex Nguyen, who says he’s had trouble sleeping since he had a brush with death Friday night in Isla Vista, is trying to get his life back to normal. (Gina Potthoff / Noozhawk photo)
Ever since the deli became an official crime scene and memorial following Friday night’s shooting rampage that left seven people dead — including shooter Elliot Rodger, a 22-year-old off-and-on Santa Barbara City College student from Woodland Hills — Nguyen has slept a handful of hours at his apartment, opting instead to visit friends outside the college community adjacent to UCSB’s campus.
The deli is also across the street from where he works on Pardall Road at the UCSB Associated Students’ field office. Nguyen was closing up alone at 9:30 p.m. Friday when he heard a rapid succession of what he soon learned were gunshots, not fireworks.
“It really could’ve been anyone,” said Nguyen, whose gaze fell as he recalled the horrific shrieking and screaming heard outside.
Nguyen was back at work Tuesday, still struggling to understand the needless violence, as hundreds of others paid homage to the six victims and fellow students by writing messages with chalk on a memorial wall just outside the AS office.
Isla Vista bustled with subdued activity, a stark contrast to UCSB, where classes were canceled for a day of mourning. Just a few students and faculty ventured to campus for grief counseling or office hours for professors, who were asked to be present for support.
Some students embraced after greeting, stopping to quietly chat, while others hurried through errands.
“I just don’t want to be on campus today,” said one student, who carried a pile of textbooks, planning to do schoolwork at home.
The day was admittedly the first venture outside since the shooting for some, who feared the national news crews who descended on the small seaside town.
Many planned to attend an afternoon memorial service at Harder Stadium, and one professor hosted a workshop to help students face what happened in order to heal.
San Nicolas Residence Hall organized a gathering to write thank-you notes to law enforcement agencies that responded to Friday’s mass shooting, and black ribbon pins were distributed in solidarity for those lost.
Just two weeks before final exams signaling the spring quarter’s end, first-year chemical engineering student Joseph Sanz sat with his laptop on a bench outside a residence hall, trying to find the focus to study.
Read the full article by Gina Potthoff from Noozhawk.
