VCU community pledges against drunken driving

Mark Robinson
Assistant News Editor

With heads bowed in silence and candles in hand, mourners of VCU student Carolina Perez gathered in the Commons Plaza to establish “Carolina’s Pledge,” a denouncement of drunken driving in the VCU community.

The event was held Wednesday night, nearly two months after the drunken driving accident that killed her.

Students who knew Perez shared their memories and admonitions with a crowd of about 60 people as the sun set on the Commons Plaza.

“Tonight is a reminder that drunk driving does not just come down to statistics,” said Elise Isom, who knew Perez through the Catholic Campus Ministries. “Carolina was a real person. She had a real family. She has real friends. She had a real life. It was interrupted by a careless, reckless act that could have been prevented.”

Isom urged everyone in attendance to never underestimate the dangers of alcohol.

Qasim Kazmi, a junior biology major, commended those in attendance for honoring Perez by signing the pledge.

“As of today, you sign the pledge and make an internal promise that you won’t let anyone else drink and drive, that you’ll never forget (Carolina) and that you’ll live her values,” Kazmi said. “This event is just the beginning.”

Representatives from VCU Residential life, VCU Police, the University Wellness Center and the VCU administration also spoke at the event about the university’s plan to prevent drunken driving.

Reuban Rodriguez, Ph.D, associate vice provost for student affairs and dean of students, spoke on behalf of the university administration. Rodriguez assured the students in attendance that VCU will continue to honor Perez by campaigning against drunken driving.

The Well will approach their drunken driving prevention with renewed energy because of Perez’s death, said Katherine Vatalaro Hill, assistant director of the Wellness Resource Center.

The student clinic will incorporate Carolina’s story in their teaching of drunken driving prevention to incoming freshman students next fall, Hill said.

Chief of VCU Police John Venuti said the department is committed to strict enforcement of drunken driving laws.

“If you drive drunk around here, you will be arrested,” Venuti said. The department needs the help of everyone in the VCU community to stop drunken driving and keep the campus safe, he added.

“My sympathy thoughts and prayers to Carolina’s family,” Venuti said. “Focus and use the anger, sadness and grief to not let her death be in vain. Take action on campus, in your community, with your family, with your friends, with your groups of friends. Unite and move together so that not one more tear is shed for someone killed by drunken driving.”

Varinder “Vick” Chahal, a senior accounting major at VCU, is the accused driver in the car crash that killed Perez.

Chahal’s Mazda 6 ran a red light at the intersection of South Second and East Canal streets around 12:37 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22. His car T-boned a Toyota Yaris, which spun into a nearby brick building. Richmond police said one of their officers witnessed the crash.

Perez was riding in the backseat of the Yaris at the point of impact. She was taken to MCV but died shortly after the crash. Two other VCU students in the Yaris were also injured.

Neither Chahal, nor any of his four passengers in the car were injured in the crash.

On March 22, prosecutors raised Chahal’s charge to aggravated involuntary manslaughter because of the amount of alcohol he consumed and the negligent behavior he demonstrated behind the wheel, the Richmond Times-Dispatch reported.

Chahal faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. His next hearing is scheduled for May 2.

Perez, 19, was a sophomore biology major at VCU.