Grappling with tragedy, student and university responses

University of Idaho’s campus has been shaken since the announcement of the homicide that took the lives of four students. Students have been speaking out about the fear and uncertainty that have accompanied the sadness of this tragedy. 

“I was so scared when I first heard, I was terrified even though they told us it was a targeted attack and there was nothing to worry about,” freshman Austene Mikiewicz said. 

This sentiment of fear has led some students to seek help from the various resources provided by the university. Drop-in counseling sessions have been offered on campus all week, originally at the ISUB and later at the Counseling and Testing Center, giving students a place to talk.  

“Students have been utilizing services over at the Counseling and Testing Center,” Dean of Students Blaine Eckles said. “We pulled it back and really reconfigured it over to the counseling center, primarily because by late Wednesday afternoon, a lot of students had left campus.” 

There will still be counseling services throughout the Thanksgiving break that can be done remotely via Zoom or over the phone. 

Eckles said after the break there will be more drop-in counseling in the ISUB as the vigil will be held that Wednesday. 

One resource that Eckles wanted to set up is to introduce a session for students to be able to meet with campus leaders and himself. This would allow students to give their feedback in a more personal and direct way rather than having a big group, Eckles said.  

“We’re working on the coordinating and getting the logistics of that set up by anticipated communication probably going out next week,” Eckles said. 

In communication with Director of Counseling Gregory Lambeth, Eckles said feedback about resources that have been offered this week has been positive. 

“They’ve been appreciative of the support and resources that have been made available,” Eckles said. “They recognize that there’s limited information out there, and everyone wants to know why, and we just can’t know that right now. It’s painful.” 

Much of the UI community is experiencing lasting grief, fear and shock. Coming to terms with this new reality has been difficult and painful for some. 

“Nothing like this has happened in the four years I’ve been here and part of the reason I chose this campus was because it was in a small, relatively safe town,” senior Sarah Hale said. It was surreal to hear that something so terrible could happen just blocks from my dorm.” 

As the investigation is still underway, the university has helped relocate students living in the area of King Road that don’t feel safe. 

“We weren’t going to let them figure it out alone, so we got a bank of rooms, and we got all the students there and gave them a place to stay,” Eckles said. “We have an emergency fund that is coming from donors that help out with that.” 

Another way that the university has been providing more assurance to students is by hiring security with Hells Canyon Security, which is based out in Lewiston.  

“I think they’re incredibly important,” Eckles said. “While the police continue to let us know that they don’t believe there’s an active threat against the university… that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be vigilant.” 

Increased security measures as well as the gradual release of more information has helped lessen the fear and anxiety some students have been experiencing. 

“The most relieving part is knowing how the students were killed,” Hale said. “With all the rumors going around, it was terrifying to even leave my room.” 

The ability to have these types of resources available to students is important, Eckles said.  
“These are scary times; until someone’s in custody and (we) have someone behind bars for this horrific act, people are going to be unsettled,” Eckles said. “Myself included.” 

Regarding the safety of the community, Chief of Police James Fry said that there still may be a threat. Eckles said that he doesn’t know what to think.  

“Do I believe that person is in our community? I don’t know,” Eckles said. “Have they fled the community? I have no idea. That is why vigilance is the number one thing.”  

Information being released, or the lack thereof, has been a source of great frustration for some. It seems what everyone in the UI community wants most is answers. 

“I’m glad we know more, but all this new information is also so scary,” Mikiewicz said. “I’ll feel better once we know the whole story.” 

In these turbulent times, there has also been support from different parts of the state, with Coeur d’Alene and Boise State University holding vigils for the four students.  

“It’s incredibly moving. It’s heartfelt, touching and breathtaking to see the outpouring of love and support,” Eckles said. “I had someone tell me the other day that they work in another institution, and they said, ‘today, we are all Vandals.’” 

Eckles said that there have been people reaching out from all over the world and other institutions that have suffered tragedies like this. 

“You can’t tell someone you love and care for them enough,” Eckles said.  

Grace Giger and Daniel V. Ramirez can be reached at [email protected]