The busy Graham Center building at Florida International University fell still and silent at 1:47 p.m. on Monday to honor the victims of the pedestrian bridge that collapsed on March 15.
For many students and staff, it was their first time on campus since the accident, where six people lost their lives.
"It's crazy because when you have a moment of silence you're paying respect. But while you're quiet you're just thinking about all the losses and what happened," said Alex Alvarez, an FIU student, after observing the moment of silence. "It makes you really reflect and be appreciative of what you have and the people that you have in your life."
Read more: Tragic Flaw And Fate: Catastrophic FIU Bridge Collapse 'An 11 On Scale Of 1-To-10'
One of the victims killed was Alexa Duran, a student and sorority member. She was 18.
"At the end of the day it could've been anyone under that bridge," said Zach Lendzian, who is also a member of the Greek community and a student. "The fact that it was someone relatively close to home, it affected me."
The bridge, which crossed an eight-lane segment on Southwest Eighth Street at the 109th Avenue intersection, collapsed and killed six people on March 15.
"I actually feel like it was very irresponsible on their part that they didn't close off a section or at least some of the street," said Nicolas Piedrahita, an FIU student who was on campus when the accident happened.
He heard the collapse and walked to the area, where he saw the 950-ton bridge on top of the cars that had been crossing the intersection.
