Abdul Butt, a senior computer science major and vice president of the Organization of Arab Students, holds a candle at the Vigil for Humanity on McKeldin Mall on Nov. 18, 2015. 

Over the past few days, senior Vidya Thanvanthri has been bombarded with tragic news. A terrorist attack in Paris led by ISIS that killed at least 129. Bombings in Beirut that left at least 43 dead. A suicide bomber in a Nigerian market who killed dozens of people.

The University of Maryland finance major from London attended a vigil on McKeldin Mall on Wednesday night because she wanted to do something for the victims — even if it was just lighting a candle.

“It’s one way I could do something,” she said. “It’s like a nonviolent form of protest against violence.”

About 100 students gathered near the fountain for a “Vigil for Humanity,” sponsored by this university’s Organization of Arab Students. The group remembered recent victims of violence in France, Lebanon and Nigeria, among other countries.

READ MORE: UMD students studying in France are safe after Paris attacks

For freshman biology major Alina Waince, the violence occurring around the world is personal — her uncle is currently living in Lebanon. 

“When I see you all here today and how you all took the time out of your day to honor innocent victims who lost their lives — it restored my faith in humanity,” Abdul Wadood Butt, the vice president of the group, said to the crowd. “It’s not just for Paris, but it’s for everybody.”

Zainab Sherani said  there is a hierarchy to how the United States mourns victims. Facebook activated its Safety Check feature for the attack in Paris but did not do so for the bombings in Beirut. There was also an option for users to add a temporary profile picture feature that overlaid their photos with the French flag.

“Some victims are certainly underrepresented when it comes to sympathy,” Sherani, a freshman bioengineering major said. “Because France is a Western country, some Americans seem to feel more sympathy for them in a way. If something happens in an Eastern country, where conflict has been going on for so long, people seem to have that ‘Oh, that’s just another thing going on’ attitude.”

Zoe Spiliadis, a junior public health science major, echoed this sentiment and said it was important that the vigil emphasized equality. 

“I specifically came to this vigil because it’s a vigil for humanity, and not just the people who died in Paris,” Spiliadis said. “It’s just kind of crazy that the U.S. is just more reactive to the events in Paris than anywhere else. This vigil brings to light that this is for all of humanity and not just Paris.”

Thanvanthri said recent events also open the door to debate about controversial issues, such as the current Syrian refugee crisis. 

READ MORE: Hogan seeks to close Maryland borders to Syrian refugees

After the attack in Paris, Gov. Larry Hogan asked the Obama Administration to keep Syrian refugees from resettling in this state until it can provide “appropriate assurances that refugees from Syria pose no threat to public safety.” Although governors do not have the power to legally ban the resettlement of international refugees, Hogan joins 30 other governors who also want to block Syrian refugees from their states.

“A lot of people are affected by these events,” Thanvanthri said. “We have to be able to come up with solutions to help refugees.”