There has been a horrifying amount of tragedy the University has dealt with in the last year, be it the Hannah Graham case or the most recent Chapel Hill shooting. Amid the pain there has been an outpouring of support for the victims and a sense of solidarity among the student body. In many ways, it is remarkable what the University community has done in the face of very difficult times. But it is not enough, and vigils are partially to blame.
The main way the student body has responded to tragedy this last year was through vigils and other gestures of solidarity. There was a vigil for Hannah Graham, a vigil for the Chapel Hill victims and a vigil to honor victims of police brutality. It is through these vigils that most students confronted the tragedies in a meaningful way, taking a moment to appreciate the depth of what has happened and showing support to everyone affected. It is undeniable that the vigils have given a great deal of comfort to a very hurt community, and that is not be overlooked. But it is a problem when vigils become the main way in which most people actively deal with tragedies.
This is because vigils are an inherently passive event. They attempt to patch up the immediate pain instead of looking to address the habitual source of it. Yet while vigils are passive, they are the most active part a majority of students take in addressing tragedies on Grounds. This gives vigils a strong ability to shape the views of students. At vigils, speakers do not discuss solutions but instead emphasize the good qualities of the people that have been lost and the strength of the community. It would be considered rude if solutions were brought up, counter to the point of honoring the dead. The honoring nature of vigils subsequently sets the tone for how students view the tragedy, framing it as a terrible accident instead of a problem that needs to be solved. Viewing the tragedies as accidents can lead to a general apathy, working against any other reforms.
Vigils offer many a sense of closure as well; indeed, this is one of the main goals of a vigil. Closure is valuable in its own right, but it gives people the sense that there is nothing else to be done. Similarly, many people feel a moral duty to do something in the wake of tragedy. Vigils provide a very accessible and convenient way to fulfill a moral obligation of action. As soon as people have done what they “ought” to do they go back to their normal lives and ignore the larger systemic problems that caused the tragedy.
I am not trying to argue that there has been nothing done on Grounds to address these issues. Buddies on Call is a student-created organization created after Hannah Graham went missing — to this day, though it is not yet off the ground, it is still receives massive support. The Black Student Alliance organized protests last semester and is constantly taking part in discussions about how to address race-based brutality. The problem is that these organizations represent a very small percentage of the University community. One would think the outpouring of support for all the victims this last year would translate to more direct action in addressing the underlying problems. Long-established organizations and new student initiatives clearly show something can be done, that when we organize together positive change can occur.
Yet most people have become apathetic. The apathy can partially be blamed on time and distance, which can wear down emotions after the worst disasters. That said, the reality that more people did not act for positive change in the moment suggests that either people did not feel like they could make a difference or they felt like they had already done something. It is clear that the student body is empowered to make a difference, so the only explanation is that people’s dynamic power is being channeled through a different medium: a vigil.
I am not arguing against vigils or any acts of solidarity that bring a community together in the face of a tragedy. I am arguing against the use of vigils as a substitute for social and political action. The Hannah Graham vigil was attended by thousands. What do you think could have been accomplished if all of those people then went on to work for positive change?
Bobby Doyle is a Viewpoint Writer.
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