Inside Higher Ed
By Scott Jaschik
June 13, 2016
He was among many in academe thinking about the 50 victims of Sunday morning's mass murder at a gay club in Orlando. Only a minority have been identified, but they include two whom press reports have identified as students: Juan Ramon Guerrero, whose family members told the Associated Press that he recently started attending the University of Central Florida, and was very happy to be there; and Luis Vielma, who worked at Universal Orlando and whom The Orlando Sentinel reported was studying at Seminole State College of Florida and planned to become an EMT. Both Guerrero and Vielma were 22.
John Hitt, the University of Central Florida president, released a statement Sunday -- before victims started to be identified -- in which he described how "painful, frightening and infuriating" the attack on the club has been for many at the university, and how he expected many there to have connections to victims.
"In time, I expect we all will know someone affected. A friend. A sister. A partner. A co-worker. To the victims of this attack -- and their loved ones and friends -- I offer the sincere prayers and hopes of the entire UCF family," he wrote. "Earlier today, I extended to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer all of the university’s resources to help our community. To start, on Monday UCF will host a blood drive on campus. I hope you will join me there."
The university announced Sunday that it was providing additional counseling and police services in the wake of the shooting.