Kristine Slade oral history interview, 2020 June 3

Description

Kristine Slade was the senior class president at UNC Charlotte in 2019 and shares her experience on April 30th as well as her actions in the aftermath of the shooting tragedy that occurred that day. Ms. Slade discusses the various clubs and organizations she was a part of at UNC Charlotte, and how she became involved in student leadership. She remembers learning of the shooting on campus, cancelling the senior class party that was meant to take place the night of April 30th, and immediately preparing to organize a vigil for the following night, May 1st. Ms. Slade discusses working with fellow student Cade Lee and the relatively new UNC Charlotte chapter of March for Our Lives to meet with Charlotte City Council members about gun violence, noting that she felt discouraged at the lack of response and action. She speaks to her own trauma, anxiety and survivor's guilt in the year since the tragedy and how it has impacted her life. She discusses continuing to feel connected to UNC Charlotte even after graduating and how the Black UNC Charlotte community felt more like a family after the tragedy. She ends with remarks about the University's response to student's mental health and her own healing process.