In an unprecedented acknowledgment of the role of student journalism, President Biden shared his sentiments regarding The Daily Tar Heel, the student newspaper at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC).
The praise comes in the aftermath of a chilling school shooting, an incident of gun violence that has shaken the campus community to its core and resulted in the tragic loss of Zijie Yan, an associate professor in applied sciences.
A Frightening Day of Gun Violence on Campus
On a seemingly regular day, UNC became the epicenter of national attention when graduate student Tailei Qi entered a science building and shot his faculty advisor, Zijie Yan.
Qi was arrested within two hours of the attack in a residential area close to campus. He now faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a gun on educational property.
Police Chief Brian James, while reticent about revealing too many details during the ongoing investigation, stated that the motive behind this act of gun violence is still being determined.
At a time when the UNC community was gripped by the terror of the school shooting, the school's student newspaper took a brave editorial stance. The Daily Tar Heel opted for a deeply emotional cover, featuring real text messages shared by UNC students during the agonizing lockdown.
President Biden was among the many who recognized the profound impact of this portrayal, sharing the front page on his social media accounts.
Emmy Martin, the editor-in-chief, spoke about the experience, saying, "When President Biden responded to our coverage, it deeply resonated with our editorial team. We realized that our role as a student newspaper transcends campus boundaries; we have a duty to our community to shed light on hard issues like gun violence and school shootings."
Originally, the paper had planned to dedicate its weekly print edition to a 16-page preview of the upcoming football season. However, the urgency of the school shooting was immediate, and the editorial team shifted gears to provide live updates during the lockdown, ultimately dedicating their print edition to the events of that horrifying day.
Coping, Mourning, and Remembering
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz announced several tributes to remember the fallen professor, including the tolling of the school's iconic Bell Tower. The school also paused its academic activities, canceling classes until Thursday to give the community time to cope and grieve.
On campus, the impact of the shooting was palpable. Students took to drawing hopeful messages and symbols on walking paths, as they grappled with the emotional and psychological toll of the event.
Noel Harris, a senior journalism student at UNC, recalled the panic she felt while locked inside a classroom.
"The only information we had was from news coverage and police scanners. It felt surreal, yet frighteningly familiar, given the recurring nature of school shootings in the country," she said.
Ongoing Investigations and Campus Recovery
Qi had his first court appearance earlier this week. He remains in custody without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again on September 18.
In the meantime, UNC police and other authorities are working meticulously to unravel the motive behind this act of gun violence. As for the student newspaper, the focus has shifted towards ongoing, in-depth coverage of the school shooting's aftermath.
Martin indicated that they are working on stories that probe into the life of the professor who was killed, the mental health impact on students, and the actions and responses from campus police and UNC administration.
President Biden's public acknowledgment of The Daily Tar Heel has not only elevated the profile of student journalism but also reaffirmed its critical role, especially in times of crisis.
As the UNC community begins the healing process, both the student newspaper and the public response, spearheaded by figures like President Biden, underscore the urgency of addressing gun violence and school safety.
