Professors and students gathered together Wednesday night in front of Memorial Tower to remember the murdered University students and also focus on campus safety. The Indian Student Association hosted a candlelight ceremony in remembrance of Kiran Kumar Allam and Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma. Allam and Komma were murdered Dec. 13, exactly two months before the ceremony. The ceremony also emphasized the future of University safety. “The first [reason for the ceremony] is the lives lost,” said Ravi Tej Kavalipati, systems science graduate student and president of the Indian Students Association. “The second thing is the other students of LSU.” The ceremony began with a speech from Acting Chancellor William Jenkins. “I am distraught about what’s happened at our campus,” Jenkins said. “In a sense, we’re under siege and our precious student body and faculty members are at risk.” Jenkins said he is dedicated to ensuring the University community’s safety. After Jenkins’ speech, the Indian Student Association presented him with a petition signed by University students to increase campus safety measures. A period of silent reflection followed. The ceremony also included speeches from various University professors and friends of Allam and Komma and a procession to Edward Gay Apartments. Elementary education senior Em LeBlanc said she attended the ceremony as a representative of Student Government. “We wanted to send some Student Government members out here to show support, especially because we’ve been working so much on campus safety,” LeBlanc said. Milla Budiarto, environmental planning and management graduate student, said she went to the ceremony because the issue affects the entire University community. “It’s not just the international students or not just the people who live at Edward Gay, but it’s LSU as a whole, so I feel like I have to come,” Budiarto said. Budiarto, who used to live in Edward Gay Apartments and has friends who live there now, said she is also concerned about campus safety. She has heard there are more police in the area around the complex now. “It’s just so sad that they’re doing this precaution after the tragedy happened,” Budiarto said.
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