The Saddleback College campus was quiet Wednesday as about 15 students shuffled into their 7 a.m. social psychology course. Most were unaware that one of their classmates—an unnamed 21-year-old man described by one classmate as "the one that never talks"—died in a classroom fire two days ago.
It was the first time the class had met since the deadly fire investigators say was an act of arson.
"Oh my God, I knew him," student Jenna Sahyoun said, adding that he sat behind her near the door. "He talked maybe once (in class)."
She recalled the first day of class about a month ago when the dark-haired, dark-skinned, lanky young man offered a funny quip. Their professor, Kris Leppien-Christensen, had asked students to guess how many children he had. He was teaching a lesson about appearance and assumptions.
"(The student) said, 'Am I the only one who thinks this is a test?'" Sahyoun recalled.
The student was normally late or right on time, classmates said, but on Monday morning the fire victim was more than 20 minutes early to class.
The class was invited Juan Avalos, vice president of student services, to receive grief counseling.
"Bottom line, someone lost their life from this class," he said.
Counseling is available in both the Student Health Center and Counseling Services:
- Student Health Center, SSC 177: (949) 582-4606
- Counseling Services, SSC 167: (949) 582-4572
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