Concurrently with President Obama’s condemnation of the killing of three

Muslim students at Chapel Hill, federal investigators on Friday, Feb. 13 started an inquiry into the possibility that the fatal shooting was a hate crime.

The event and the ensuing reaction has sparked public debate about the ways in which we view these tragedies, and the circumstances under which we apply terms like terrorism- and hate crime.

The three students who were killed, the sisters Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha and Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha; and Yusor’s husband, Deah Shaddy Barakat, were shot on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at an apartment near the University of North Carolina.

The man responsible, Craig Hicks, has since turned himself in and was subsequently charged with 3 counts of murder.

On Friday, President Obama voiced that “No one in the United States of America should ever be targeted because of who they are, what they look like, or how they worship.”

The President offered both his and his family’s condolences, and made a strong statement of solidarity, saying “As we saw with the overwhelming presence at the funeral of these young Americans, we are all one American family.”

Suzanne Barakat, the sister of 2 of the victims, said Friday during an interview with CNN that her family members were targeted because of their religion. She added that “It’s time people call it what it is,” saying that Hicks terrorized her family and that the murders should be considered an act of terrorism.

Kathryn Magee, a sophomore at OSU, said “An act of terrorism I always associate with helping a group to change/punish a nations ideas or beliefs” adding that “A hate crime can be isolated.”

The question that faces the public now; nationally, locally, and as individuals, is how, if at all, do we see or treat these tragedies differently? To what extent do the circumstances affect our attention and the ways in which we treat them as a society?

Cassie Allgire, a graduating senior studying both Criminology and Criminal Justice, explained that the way she saw it, a hate crime “Targets a certain race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender… While terrorism is more involving other countries… and not so much smaller issues.”

In response to the initial lack of public and federal attention, and with initial police statements indicating the likelihood that the attack was motivated by a parking dispute, people from over the world spoke out- notably on twitter under the hashtag #muslimlivesmatter.

The hashtag itself an adaptation of one used in another relatively recent tragedy- #blacklivesmatter- the hashtag that became immensely popular after the grand jury decisions following police killings of both Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

The similarity is no coincidence, both then and now- the vocalized protests under these banners seek public attention, justice for the victims, and due respect from people around the world.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. Lucy Rogers, a 20-year-old Ohio State sophomore, has been missing since Tuesday night. Several reports indicate that Lucy had been studying at Thompson Library that night, and intended to attend a Greek event at the Ohio Union afterwards.

Lucy is a 5’4”, 120 lbs caucasian female with long brown hair and light brown eyes.

Columbus police have very few leads and are asking anyone with information about Lucy’s whereabouts to call them.

Lucy’s mother who was visibly shaken, spoke with reporters saying “This is every parent’s worst nightmare. No parent should have to endure this torture. The [person] who is responsible for my daughter’s disappearance will pay for this. I just want her back in my arms. What I wouldn’t do to have that.”

Her brother, Michael Roger, who is also a student as OSU, said “It kills me that we don’t know where she is. It’s tough to hope for the best because these type of things rarely turn out well. Especially for college women.”

Lucy was active on social media as late as 6:45 p.m. tweeting out “School is so freaking overwhelming!”

Lucy’s father did not wish to comment.

Team Fnatic preparing for their second LCS match. Photo by Riot Gaming.

BERLIN. The EU League Championship Series Team Elements was defeated resolutely by Fnatic, in what some would describe as an unbelievable upset on Jan. 22. This comes despite 73 percent of fans selecting Elements as the favorite to win, in addition to Elements players Henrik “Froggen” Hansen and Martin “Rekkles” Larsson being considered amongst the greatest players in the world.

The LCS is equivalent to the “regular season” of Professional League Of Legends or LoL – the most popular online multiplayer game in the world, and increasingly so. The LCS takes place over 9 weeks with separate conferences in both the EU and North America.

The success of League of Legends in the realm of professional gaming and athletics has prompted the beginnings of a collegiate level as well. Within Ohio State the groups BuckeyeLan and The Esports Initiative both work to host and promote LoL related events, which grow ever more popular.

The players of Fnatic themselves seemed astonished following the game.

Taking to Twitter Pierre “Steeelback” Medjaldi triumphantly proclaimed “GG Elements! I am so happy to win this first game!”

Sweetening their victory, the player “Steeelback” was in fact Fnatic’s replacement for “Rekkles”, who departed the team last season in order to join Elements’ much stronger roster.

Elements’ defeat iconically became the first of an astounding sequence of upsets in the first week of LCS. Many longstanding powerhouses were bested by newcomers almost completely across the board. This Included losses by teams such as Cloud 9 and Team Solomid, both long respected as the very best in North America.

After his team unexpectedly finished 2-0 the first week, the coach of Fnatic, Luis “Deilor” Sevilla gleefully tweeted “We did it boys!! Hope this perfect start is followed by a perfect season. We will continue working for it!”

To his delight, Fnatic stands as one of only two remaining undefeated teams in all of LCS, following the now completed second week of LCS.

The emerging popularity of the game has drawn significant attention worldwide. According to Riot Gaming the previous world championship game drew a record 37 million viewers. That’s nearly double the viewers of the previous World Series, and almost a third of those who watched this year’s Superbowl.

A local esports organizer for such events voiced his hope to see the scene grow to rival other more traditional sports. He speculated the likelihood that in the near future OSU will join several other major universities in creating an official school team.

Notably, two schools, Robert Morris University and The University of Pikeville, KY now offer scholarships to LoL players as participants in a varsity athletic program.