OIB ANNIVERSARY: Somber mood hangs over USC campus

COLUMBIA — At the University of South Carolina on Monday, Flags are at half staff, local and national news media are everywhere, and there is an overall somber mood across the campus.

Many students who went to class Monday morning had not heard of the beach house fire in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., on Sunday morning. The fire claimed the lives of six fellow Gamecocks, including one from Florence, and a Clemson University student.

One place that was noticeably less active than usual is USC’s Greek Village, where the fraternity and sorority houses for Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Delta Delta Delta are located. It is believed that many of the victims were members of these organizations. Some houses throughout the Village had black ribbons on their columns in remembrance.

Members of SAE were handing out small, black ribbons to students on campus to honor the friends they lost.

Even people who had no connection to the victims are shaken.

Sophomore Yesi Calixto said she found out about the tragedy this morning and said the campus had a “depressed” feeling to it Monday.

“It’s not exactly uplifting like it usually is,” she said. “We still had the distribution of (Florida game) football tickets, but it’s a little depressing, really.”

Students were talking about it across campus and reading The Gamecock, the student newspaper. Its front page story, “A Truly Profound Tragedy,” showed a huge photograph of the gutted beach home.

Despite the initial shock of the fire, students immediately began supporting each other. Whether it was joining a Facebook group online dedicated to the students who passed away or greeting one another with a solemn hug, the Gamecock community came together as one.

Jay Laura, president of the SAE fraternity and USC’s student body vice president, said the unity he has seen around campus isn’t surprising.

“This is the same spirit that brought students together at Ocean Isle,” he said. “Loving, caring fellowship, a shared sense of belonging.”

Laura spoke with Lauren Hodge, the Tri-Delt President, at a press conference from the Russell House, USC’s student union, at 2 p.m. Monday.

Laura and Hodge thanked the community for their outpouring of support, and offered their condolences to the victims’ families.

Dennis Pruitt, vice president of student affairs at USC, told everyone about a memorial service being held on campus at 6 p.m. Monday with a candlelight vigil following. There will be another memorial service in the weeks to follow once the victim’s names have been released.

Pruitt said he expects the names won’t be released officially until Tuesday or Wednesday, although many names are getting around by word of mouth around campus and across the state.

Along with the memorial services, there’s also a designated area in front of the Russell House for students to leave cards, flowers, teddy bears, and other mementos as a way of remembering those lost and healing their pain.

The university is encouraging students to take advantage of the many counseling services being offered, even if they didn’t know personally any of the students who were killed.

Clergy and counselors are available to talk with students. The number to call is (803) 777-5223.