Steven Sotloff remembered at UCF vigil

Local residents, UCF students and journalists remembered one of their own Wednesday night as they gathered in the subdued glow of the Reflecting Pond at the UCF campus in memory of Steven Sotloff – a UCF alumnus and freelance journalist in the Middle East who was recently executed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

In the video below, Rabbi Chaim Lipskier spoke at the vigil about Sotloff's hunger strike and implored the crowd to be "a light of truth," like Sotloff.

The vigil was held a day after an online video surfaced on Tuesday purporting to show an ISIS militant beheading Sotloff, who had disappeared in Syria in August 2013, according to ABC News.

The U.S. government confirmed the video to be authentic shortly after.

“We want to start tonight by expressing our deepest condolences to the family of Steven Sotloff on behalf of the UCF community,” journalism student Melissa Catalanotto said before a crowd of several hundred people surrounding the pond.

“He was a son, journalist and a Knight and he remained brave until the very end of his life.”

Jaber Nyrabeah listened as others spoke of a darkness he knows all too well. A member of the Syrian American Council in Orlando with family still trapped in Syrian refugee camps, he imagined what Sotloff went through before he was even kidnapped, enduring bombings in an area constantly under attack.

“Every day they drop 1,000-pound bombs,” Nyrabeah said of the Syrian Army. “At any moment he could have been killed. But he got it worse; he got kidnapped by an extremist group.”

He said Sotloff died trying to bring that story to the world.

“Steven is as much a part of Syria as you or me or anyone else.”

Nyrabeah denounced ISIS and implored everyone watching to not see them as real Muslims.

“[ISIS] should be called the Unislamic State of Iraq and Syria,” he said. “We need to stop the spreading of this disgusting cancer. We must make sure James Foley and Steven Sotloff didn’t die in vain.”

The lawn surrounding the lit half circle fountain was filled with solemn students and local residents paying tribute. They each lit candles while a moment of silence was held in Sotloff’s memory.

“It’s a great turnout of students; they’ve arranged a wonderful memorial service for Steven,” UCF President John Hitt said while looking on at the spectacle. “It’s an awful situation for everyone, so it’s great to see students come together to express their condolences to the family and celebrate his life.”

Sotloff attended UCF from 2002 to 2004, taking journalism classes and contributing to the Central Florida Future, the campus newspaper.

The aspiring journalist had a passion for the Middle East, and an even greater desire to cover its ongoing conflicts.

“He ultimately sacrificed his life to bring their story to the world,” said family spokesperson Barak Barfi outside the Sotloff family’s Pinecrest home. “Steve was no hero. Like all of us, he was a mere man who tried to find good concealed in a world of darkness.”

Chris Nault played alongside Sotloff on the school’s rugby team, recalling their time on the field and Sotloff’s passions.

“Steven was a friend and a teammate,” Nault said. “He was obviously very passionate about what he believed in. He loved his friends, he loved his family, he loved his team and he loved his school.”

“He was just an all-around great guy chasing his dream … we’re sad to see him go.”

Catalanotto said she never knew Sotloff personally, but that his actions clearly embodied the true heart of journalist.

“I think he was completely about what journalism stands for,” Catalanotto said. “It’s not about fame or fortune and it’s not about some glamorous lifestyle that you see in New York City Magazine. It’s about getting the truth out there to people, letting people know what’s going on in the world whether they want to hear it or not. That’s what he did and he lost his life for it … We can only be inspired by that.”