UNC unveils memorial honoring professor killed on campus 2 years ago
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) -- Dozens of students, friends, and professors gathered at UNC's Caudill Labs to dedicate a memorial bench and plaque in honor of professor Zijie Yan.
"He was an amazing scientist. And again, the joy that he brought to the department, he was very quiet, but very observant, extremely smart, really good with his students. Yeah. He was, you know, an awesome colleague," says UNC Applied Physical Sciences Chair Dr. Theo Dingemans.
Exactly two years ago, Dr. Yan was shot and killed by one of his graduate students at Caudill Labs.
I think we're now moving into a phase to celebrate his life and this wonderful science that he's done, and he leaves behind an amazing legacy.- Dr. Theo Dingemans, UNC Applied Physical Sciences Chair
Since then, the university updated its emergency plan, which includes a boost to the Alert Carolina notification system, using more actionable instructions like run, hide or fight after recommendations from a study after the 2023 shooting.
UNC student body president Adolfo Alvarez said he's noticed an increased sense of urgency since the plan was brought into focus.
"One of the first things that the professors touched on were like, hey, we really don't want this to happen. But if this happens, this is how you lock the door. This is where we're going to go. Said, if we have to shelter in place, which is very unfortunate that we even have to start the year with those conversations," Alvarez said.
It's those conversations they wish never had to happen, whether it's a UNC or just this week, another shooting in Minnesota.
"We just can't we just can't keep mourning and moving on from these situations. There has to be a broader conversation about how gun violence is affecting access to education in America," Alvarez says.
But back on campus, not letting that darkness outweigh the light and the man who studied it.
"I think we're now moving into a phase to celebrate his life and this wonderful science that he's done, and he leaves behind an amazing legacy," Dingemans said.
UNC also announced a lecture series in Yan's honor. In addition to the public bench on campus, two other benches will go to Yan's wife and daughters in Apex, and another to his family in China.
