Editor’s Note: PGM staff members decide on the topic of a Staff Ed together. The staff as a whole provides opinions and content included in this Staff Ed to provide thoughts about and shed light on solutions for happenings at Pepperdine.
On the night of Oct. 17, 2023, four Pepperdine students — Asha Weir, Deslyn Williams, Niamh Rolston and Peyton Stewart — were killed in a car crash on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH).
Following the deaths of Asha, Deslyn, Peyton and Niamh, the Pepperdine community rallied together in loving memory of our girls.
These four women have morphed and changed the Pepperdine community for the better. From their active work in their sorority Alpha Phi to excelling in their majors, we are better because of their impact.
Asha was wise beyond her years. She had a grace and maturity that surrounded all of those she loved. She was a talented writer and wanted to pursue that passion in London.
Deslyn was the laughter that filled every room. She was known as the ‘campus celebrity’ and she made everyone she ever met feel like her best friend. She loved animals and had aspirations to step into the veterinary field.
Niamh was the sunlight that filled even the darkest of times. Her bubbly personality made everyone’s mood instantly turn up. She was studying business at Pepperdine and had an extremely bright future in the field.
Peyton was the calm in every storm. She was present in every moment and allowed everyone a safe space for authenticity whenever they were with her. She had an internship at TikTok and chased her ambition wherever it called her.
The Four Lights Memorial for the girls was built on main campus to ensure the four girls are seen as the light of Pepperdine for many years to come.
The Graphic has valued and cherished the opportunity to share who our girls were. From their special edition to our One Year Later stories, we have been honored in spreading their light.
As a community, we value sharing the stories of these four women and will continue to do so.
The Graphic is committed to providing cohesive coverage of any pre-trail hearings for Fraser Michael Bohm, the driver in the fatal crash who is charged with four counts of murder and four counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence.
Daily updates from the courtroom will be shared across The Graphic’s social media platforms, with a commitment to accurate and thoughtful reporting throughout the trial.
While other news outlets will center their coverage on Bohm throughout the legal process, The Graphic will highlight the lives of our four girls lost in the crash.
Although the details and outcome of the trial remain uncertain, we continue to hold the four women in our hearts and stand in support of their families throughout the proceedings.
At the center, these girls were beautiful human beings and the light they shared with everyone around them will forever be remembered and cherished in the Pepperdine community.
Whether or not you personally knew the four women, the Pepperdine community stands united in their memory and in support of their loved ones. These women deserve justice. They deserve peace. And their legacy will continue to shape the strength of our community.
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Contact Pepperdine Graphic via email: peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
