The Muslim Student Association hosted a candlelight vigil and discussion Friday night in front of the Rhatigan Student Center to honor the memory of three Muslim students killed in Chapel Hill, NC, Feb. 10.

The vigil celebrated the lives of Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23; his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21; and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, who were killed by a neighbor at a condominium.

Police initially said the shooting was caused by “an ongoing neighbor dispute over parking,” but promised to look into the possibility of a hate crime.

The shooting stunned many of those within the Wichita State and Muslim communities. The  killing hit close to home for WSU junior Maha Madi, who recited a poem during the vigil.

“I was definitely in shock, because I related really closely to the victims because of their age and the things they do in the community and their legacy they’ve left as American Muslims,” Madi said. “That could have been me and my sister. Me and my sister are the exact same age as them.”

The sentiment of shock and sadness was echoed by senior Mohammed Addis, an international student from Ethiopia.

“We take so much for granted,” Addis said. “There are so many good things in this country. You wouldn’t expect just because of what you look like, you could die. That’s so sad.”

Many of those in the MSA felt the same way and created an event page on Facebook for the vigil.

Junior Aisha Baig, an international student from Pakistan, said she wanted to plan an event to remember the students killed.

“This was not OK,” Baig said. “We had to spread the word, we had to establish the fact that this was really important to us as the Muslim community locally.”

The vigil focused on celebrating the students’ lives and lessons of tolerance. Chad Bergeson, Wichita representative for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, spoke at the vigil and during the discussion.

“It is for us to declare and promise to carry their banner, to rise as leaders, to denounce hate and violence … you have to stand up raising your voices when you reject this and denounce the attack on any innocent lives, regardless of what their religion is or is not,” Bergeson said. “Me being a Muslim, I always have hope that not only my children will grow up and be safe and successful, but everybody will do the same.”

Ryan Al-Sharieh, junior, also urged those in attendance to react with kindness to the young people’s deaths.

“Remember, there are a lot more Muslims among you than you would believe,” Al-Sharieh said. “We are your doctors, your nurses, your friends, your neighbors.”

A representative from the Muslim Community Center extended an invitation to those who wanted to learn about Islam.

Danielle Johnson, program coordinator for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, was moved to attend the event.

“The message I think that’s most important is cultural competency,” Johnson said. “When you take the time to learn and become educated about people that are unlike yourself, you are more willing to fight for them.”

Many different individuals from varied backgrounds came together for the vigil, something which MSA interim president Ali Ben Ayed is thankful for.

“I’m very touched that this many people came, especially from different faiths and cultures,” Ben Ayed said. “I saw a lot of my atheists, my Christian friends; everybody just showed up, that’s a great thing.”