Campus was abuzz with Michael Jackson sentiments Monday — just as it has been since the icon’s death on June 25. Lots more buzz, and media coverage, is expected today as Jackson’s massive memorial service is held in Los Angeles. Jackson is one of several public figures  — including actress Farrah Fawcett, pitchman Billy Mays, former NFL quarterback Steve McNair, TV personality Ed McMahon, actor David Carradine and ex-defense secretary Robert McNamara — to die since June, and University students are reacting to the news differently. “I was most shocked about … Michael Jackson,” said Hannah Coe, mathematics freshman. “To me, he represents an era.” More than 1.6 million people registered for free tickets to Jackson’s 10 a.m. memorial service at the Staples Center, which will be broadcast live worldwide, according to The Associated Press. A total of 8,750 people were chosen to receive two tickets each. Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Usher, Lionel Richie, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer and Martin Luther King III are participating in the ceremony.Coe said she is a big fan of The Jackson 5, and has watched the coverage of Michael’s death for nearly two weeks since his death. “[The media coverage] is really repetitive,” Coe said. “I love MJ, but I’m getting sick of it.” Others feel similarly, like Baton Rouge resident Kris Wilson. “People make too much out of celebrity lives and celebrity deaths,” Wilson said. “Don’t we have our own lives?”The California native said she is used to the draw of Hollywood, but that stories like Jackson’s death take attention away from bigger issues like health care and poverty. She said while her thoughts go out to his family, the amount of coverage is unfair. McNair and his girlfriend were found shot to death in a Nashville apartment Saturday afternoon. Police are calling McNair’s death a homicide.Mfon Ubaha, finance freshman, said he was just as shocked and saddened to hear of McNair’s death as he was of Jackson’s. He is a fan of both the stars. “[Jackson’s death] was pretty sad,” Ubaha said. “I was a big fan of his early career.”Ubaha said he has kept a close eye on the McNair media coverage. “I’m a huge football guy,” Ubaha said. “I watched him play a lot.” McNair’s death is still under investigation. Robert Schmidt, psychology junior, said he has followed Jackson’s death coverage the closest. “Hopefully people will remember him for his music and not the child molestation cases,” Schmidt said. Jackson was only 50 years old — a chilling fact that has stuck with Schmidt. He said while the media circus surrounding Jackson’s death is a bit crazy, it’s nothing new. “It’s a little overboard,” Schmidt said. “But it’s always been that way with Jackson.” —-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]