Editorial | Together, we mourn
Chapman students and faculty grieve over the recent deaths of Peng Wang, Griffin Cuomo and Jonathan Bahm. Graphic by HARRY LADA, Art Director.
Trigger warning: homicide, stabbing, motor vehicle fatality
Faculty, staff, students and graduates of Chapman University mourn the tragic losses of three bright and beautiful members of our community: Peng Wang, Griffin Cuomo and Jonathan Bahm.
Wang was a third-year graduate student of film production at Dodge College of Film and Media arts. The 29-year-old was working on an independent film project April 15 at the sand dunes in Imperial Valley with other aspiring filmmakers from University of California (USC), when he was killed in an off-road vehicle rollover.
Just a few days later, an April 19 stabbing in Anaheim claimed the lives of 23-year-olds Cuomo and Bahm. The roommates had just graduated from Chapman last May with bachelor’s degrees in strategic and corporate communication and computer science, respectively.
These tragedies have rattled our community to its core. Some members of our staff, too, were friends with these students; others were, at minimum, peers. For as shocked as they were by the announcement of these students’ deaths, even more jarring was the cyclic responsibility of reporting on this news — no matter how devastating.
But equally important for us as the Editorial Board — and as students — is to take the necessary time and space to mourn the lives lost.
Those who knew Wang, including his classmates and colleagues at Dodge, praise him as a talented cinematographer. He contributed to many independent film projects, including some that went on to win awards at events including the Los Angeles Film Awards and Chicago International Children's Film Festival.
Among all of the affectionate descriptions of Wang that emerged in the wake of his passing, a commonality persists: acknowledgment of his humility and helpful disposition. He had a passion for honing his craft and assisting fellow students on their projects — especially when it came to other independent Chinese filmmakers.
Dodge College Dean Stephen Galloway said Wang had already completed most of his coursework and was on track to graduate this May.
His time at Chapman was marked by financial hardship, especially during his second year, during which Wang considered almost dropping out of the school. But through Wang’s fierce resilience and financial aid from the university, a master’s degree became accessible — and just before his passing, less than a month away from reality.
The school will award Wang’s degree posthumously and will assist with travel accommodations for Wang’s parents, a small business owner and factory worker, who currently reside in Chengdu, China.
Students have also started a memorial fund to help support the Wang family during this difficult time. With financial duress compounded by present-day difficulties of travel during the pandemic, the fund is accepting donations of any amount to help Wang’s parents see their son one last time.
Cuomo was a prominent student in the School of Communication and served on the Phonathon team. He was described by members of the Chapman community as uplifting, gracious and overwhelmingly supportive of his peers.
Bahm was a distinguished member of the Cybersmart Panthers Grand Challenges Initiative (GCI) team, a student-led group combating hacking and other cybercrimes. He was a bright young student ready to start his career, who easily befriended those around him, as sentiments from his classmates fondly recall.
As expected when confronted with sudden loss, the finger-pointing ensues.
Media outlets across the country mused whether or not Wang’s death was preventable. All other passengers, who were equipped with seatbelts and helmets, survived the crash — but Wang, who was only wearing a helmet, did not.
Concerns have also been directed toward both Chapman and USC, questioning the level of responsibility these universities bear in enforcing adherence to safety protocol in film-related excursions — even from over 200 miles away.
But the subject of blame is undoubtedly evident in the case of Cuomo and Bahm’s deaths: 26-year-old Irvine resident Ramy Fahim has been charged with the ambush and murder of the two recent graduates, and the murder weapon — a knife — was quickly discovered. Fahim worked with Cuomo at a wealth management firm in Newport Beach and was taken into custody after being found injured at the scene of the crime.
In response to the intentional act of violence that took Cuomo and Bahm’s lives, the Chapman community felt disgust toward the hateful perpetrator, but also fear at the notion it took place less than three miles from main campus.
The Chapman community — students, faculty, staff and all affiliated families — have grown accustomed to tragedy.
Earlier this school year, students also mourned the death of Sun Lee in October 2021. Lee was also on the brink of graduation at the time of her passing, the cause of which was never disclosed, and would have received a bachelor’s degree in dance this May.
We offer our condolences to the families of all who passed.
As we pay tribute to the students who passed from our student body, from past to present, we at The Panther encourage the community to embrace the powerful ideals they lived by: Bahm’s compassion, Cuomo’s positivity, Wang’s resilience and Lee’s authenticity.
These tragic losses weigh on our hearts, and serve as a reminder of how precious life is. As students, we spend most of our college days dreaming of our futures, not anticipating which moments could be our last.
To our students: stay safe and stay vigilant.
As we mourn with our Chapman community, we also encourage those who are hurting to seek help from each other and our on-campus health and wellness services. To donate to the Pang Wang Memorial Fund, find the donation resources here.