69
20
1884
-
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-02
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If you don't know what Facebook is, you've probably heard of it, especially if you have children in high school or college. It's one of those social networking sites that parents, lawmakers and educators discuss when they're concerned about cyber bullying or child predators. But after the Virginia Tech tragedy on April 16, the site truly brought the world closer together in the most remarkable scene of solidarity and compassion I have ever seen online.
Within a day of the shootings, the most common symbol on Facebook was a combination black hope ribbon and maroon "VT" logo. Most Facebook users have default profile photos of themselves posing with friends, at parties, on vacation or with their significant others; almost overnight, most were replaced with the Hokie hope ribbon. It was heartwarming to see students from across the world join together in mourning - e-mourning, you could say.
Many Facebook users posted on their profiles or in common-interest group bulletin boards the Hokie hope ribbon accompanied with their school's mascot or coat of arms with the phrase "Today we are all Hokies."
And we all certainly were.
Facebook usually is used to keep in touch with friends, post and share photos, organize and publicize events and find other people with common interests, and all of those features were used in the days after the tragedy to report breaking news and new information, organize vigils and charities, post photo illustrations and sketches commemorating the shootings and even share poems Facebook users composed. Only a handful of users have discussed politics; it seems most e-mourners are first and foremost focused on their grief and sympathy, and how they can help.
In the first frantic and confusing hours and days after the tragedy, one group was dedicated to posting updated information on the event and its aftermath, and others sprang up declaring "Nationwide Orange and Maroon Day," "April 16, 2007 - A Moment of Silence" and "Prayer Group for Va. Tech," for example.
When the media reported that the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan. - a cult of hatemongers who have picketed military funerals with inflammatory banners - would show up at Tech victims' funerals, a protest Facebook group emerged to organize and voice opposition. The congregation eventually did rescind their plan to protest the Tech funerals, but not before the Facebook group's membership swelled to more than 59,000.
Perhaps the most touching Facebook group I've discovered was "All Schools Unite for Virginia Tech," created by a University of Tennessee student. The goal is to tally one volunteer representative from 1,000 different schools and then engrave those names on a plaque that will be presented to Tech; I'm representing my alma mater, the University of Delaware. Students from schools I've never heard of, even schools in Canada and high schools from across America, have joined and shown their support. More than 725 colleges and high schools are represented on the list thus far.
Facebook groups also have been dedicated to the victims as a place for users to share funeral and vigil information and messages about - and to - their lost friends. I didn't know any of the victims, but I did join a group dedicated to Mary Read, since she attended my high school in Annandale, Va. Mary was remembered most by friends for her friendly, heartwarming smile, and many of her friends have replaced their Facebook profile photos with photos of Mary. "Look Mary, there are so many people that love you," one person wrote on the message board, referring to Mary's profile on The New York Times Web site. "I love you and can't wait to see you again in Heaven."
As Blacksburg tries to return to a sense of normalcy, so is Facebook. Many users have reverted to their former profile photos, and Tech commemoration groups are being updated less and less.
But like the gravestones at Arlington or memorials in the nation's capitol, the posted messages of compassion and heartache on Facebook will always be there; the photos of America's college students at vigils and donning orange and maroon in a show of solemn solidarity and hope will always be there; the photos of empathetic banners signed by countless students in a time of mourning will always be there; and the photos of memorials, flowers and notes on Tech's Drillfield will always be there.
Facebook helped to document history that week, and none of us will forget when we were all Hokies.
Mike Fox is a copy editor with the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier.
Originally published on Sunday, April 29 in the Bristol Herald Courier, of Bristol, Virginia.
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Title
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Mourning Tech on Facebook
facebook
memorials
orange and maroon day
vigils
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/armband_eb3f99cb44.jpg
null
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2007-05-03
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Capture Date
2007-05-03 02:20:53
Still Image
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-03
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A home-made armband I made for Orange and Maroon Effect (April 20, 2007)
Language
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eng
Title
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In honor of Orange and Maroon Effect
armband
orange and maroon effect
vt
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/3HC0600A0417copy_b2422043d9.jpg
null
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2007-05-05
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Capture Date
2007-05-05 02:42:51
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-05
Description
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I'm a copy editor and page designer at the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier and I had the responsibility of putting together two full pages dedicated to Virginia Tech for the April 17 issue. I knew I was recording history, but after looking at so many photos and stories on the tragedy, I nearly burst into tears trying to sleep that night.
Language
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eng
Title
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Terror at Tech I
april 17
bristol
newspaper
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/3HC0700A0417copy_493197986c.jpg
null
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2007-05-05
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Capture Date
2007-05-05 02:44:24
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-05
Description
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I'm a copy editor and page designer at the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier and I had the responsibility of putting together two full pages dedicated to Virginia Tech for the April 17 issue (this is the second page). I knew I was recording history, but after looking at so many photos and stories on the tragedy, I couldn't sleep that night.
Language
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eng
Title
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Terror at Tech II
april 17
bristol
newspaper
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/thumb_3HC0700A0417copy_0324c50e1e.jpg
null
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2007-05-05
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Capture Date
2007-05-05 02:47:05
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-05
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I put this page together for the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier for the April 18 issue, including a Hokie hope ribbon logo I made myself to accompany any stories about the Tech tragedy.
Language
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eng
Title
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Story Behind the Photo
april 19
bristol
newspaper
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/udtechlogo_578826b1ec.jpg
null
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2007-05-08
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Capture Date
2007-05-08 02:24:30
Still Image
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-08
Description
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This was a logo I created for Facebook and my Facebook profile the week of the tragedy.
Language
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eng
Title
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UD: Today We are All Hokies
facebook
-
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Mike Fox
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Mike Fox
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2007-05-11
Description
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Did that really happen that April spring day?
When 32 lives in an instant were swept away?
That terrible day: 32 lives lost, ended too soon;
The day Heaven was draped in orange and maroon.
Blacksburg's winds that day roared loud and sweeping -
That was the tortured sound of God Himself weeping.
That tragedy turned all of humanity into pallbearers:
A heartbreak so painful, strangers became mourners.
A nightmare too horrific for words, just grief;
All of us clinging to our precious belief
That hope will shield us from our worst fears;
But for that day, that time, there were only tears.
That day we hugged a loved one a little tighter
And sought the hope to make our souls stronger;
We learned you will never be alone, whatever you do,
As long as there are people who care about you.
We grieved together, all united with one noble heart;
Whatever we could do, we wanted to do our part.
If I could share my soul, my strength with another,
I would, we all would, if only because he is my brother.
Whoever we were, wherever our loyalties lay,
The individual ceased to matter that gruesome day.
One phrase brought the world closer together solemnly:
"Today we are all Hokies!" we proclaimed proudly.
Tragedies may shape us but they cannot define us,
As long as we care for each other in times of distress.
Some wounds may heal; some scars may last forever -
Thirty-two gone but not forgotten: We will always remember.
May 7, 2007
Language
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eng
Title
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32: In Honor of Virginia Tech
poem
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/3HC0600A0417_84f0571628.pdf
null
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2007-05-20
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Capture Date
2007-05-20 09:43:32
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Brent Jesiek
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Mike Fox / Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier
Date
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2007-05-20
Description
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I'm a copy editor and page designer at the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier and I had the responsibility of putting together two full pages dedicated to Virginia Tech for the April 17 issue. I knew I was recording history, but after looking at so many photos and stories on the tragedy, I nearly burst into tears trying to sleep that night.
Language
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eng
Title
A name given to the resource
Terror at Tech I
april 17
bristol
newspaper
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/3HC0700A0417_7293a8c8eb.pdf
null
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2007-05-20
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Capture Date
2007-05-20 09:45:07
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Brent Jesiek
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Mike Fox / Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier
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2007-05-20
Description
An account of the resource
I'm a copy editor and page designer at the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier and I had the responsibility of putting together two full pages dedicated to Virginia Tech for the April 17 issue (this is the second page). I knew I was recording history, but after looking at so many photos and stories on the tragedy, I couldn't sleep that night.
Language
A language of the resource
eng
Title
A name given to the resource
Terror at Tech II
april 17
bristol
newspaper
-
https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/5HC0201A0419_9846d66fc1.pdf
null
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2007-05-20
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Capture Date
2007-05-20 09:48:18
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Brent Jesiek
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Mike Fox / Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier
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2007-05-20
Description
An account of the resource
I put this page together for the Bristol (Va.) Herald Courier for the April 18 issue, including a Hokie hope ribbon logo I made myself to accompany any stories about the Tech tragedy.
Language
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eng
Title
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Story Behind the Photo
april 19
bristol
newspaper
-
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Kacey Beddoes
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Mike Gaffney
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2008-04-19
Description
An account of the resource
By Mike Gaffney
GateHouse News Service
Posted Apr 16, 2008 @ 01:37 PM
SAUGUS —
A year after she lost her son Ross in the Virginia Tech shootings, Lynnette Alameddine is fighting for legislation that would require universities to issue campus emergency notifications in 30 minutes or less.
Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the massacre at Virginia Tech. One of the 33 victims of the deadliest school shooting in this country's history was Ross Alameddine, 20, a Saugus resident and college sophomore known for his sharp wit and uncanny ability to make people laugh.
In a recent interview, Lynnette Alameddine declined to reflect upon Ross's death and its affect on her family for personal reasons.
But she found the courage during an emotionally draining week to talk about the causes she is championing so other parents do not have to experience the same heartbreak.
Over the last few months Alameddine has been working closely with Security on Campus Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to improving student safety at institutions of higher learning.
Security on Campus wants to strengthen the Jeanne Clery Act that requires colleges to warn their campuses about crimes that present ongoing threats in a "timely" manner.
The problem with the federal legislation, Alameddine explained, is the act fails to define what "timely" means. As a result, warnings are sometimes issued many hours after a university becomes aware of an emergency, or even the next day.
History shows that colleges do not always follow the guidelines of the Clery Act. Alameddine mentioned one particularly troublesome case at Eastern Michigan University when a coed was found raped and murdered in a residence hall, but officials issued a statement that no foul play was suspected in her death.
Alameddine and Security on Campus hope Congress revises the Clery Act so universities must initiate a warning process within 30 minutes of an emergency being confirmed.
Thus far Alameddine said a bill has been introduced at the House to include the 30-minute time limit in the renewed Higher Education Amendments of 2008, but no such clause exists in the legislation being worked on at the Senate level.
"There has been a lot of resistance from university presidents who don't feel they can complete the notifications in that amount of time," Alameddine said.
Mere minutes can mean the difference between life and death when a threat of a shooter surfaces on a college campus, Alameddine pointed out. In the case of the Virginia Tech Tragedy, two hours passed between the discovery of the shooter's first two victims in a dormitory and when the university sent out its alert.
Alameddine traveled to Washington, D.C., recently to share her concerns with an advisor on Sen. Edward Kennedy's staff and the vice president of Security on Campus. Her daughter, Yvonne, has become the president on Facebook for the Students for Emergency Warnings in 30 Minutes or Less.
A decision on the specific language included in the Higher Education Amendments is expected by the end of the month.
With this looming deadline in mind, the Alameddines are encouraging the public to call or e-mail their senators to request they support the mandatory campus warning provision of 30 minutes or less. For more information on this cause, log on to www.securityoncampus.org.
"I think this has the potential to prevent tragedies from happening," Alameddine said. "It is shocking that colleges and universities don't notify people about emergencies on campus."
Advocating gun control
Another concern of Alameddine's is how easy it can be to secure a firearm. Earlier this month she attended a gala in the nation's capital sponsored by the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, an organization that strives to enact and enforce sensible gun laws.
The gala featured a special tribute to the survivors and families affected by the Virginia Tech shooting. Also honored was Abby Spangler, a Virginia native and staunch gun control supporter affiliated with the Web site www.protesteasyguns.com.
After the Virginia Tech shootings, Spangler took it upon herself to hold a silent protest expressing outrage over the senseless loss of human life. The movement eventually evolved into a phenomenon culminating with the National Lie-In.
On April 16, the grassroots group organized 80 lie-ins in 31 states. To honor the memory of the Virginia Tech victims, Alameddine said each protest involved 32 people — signifying the number of students and teachers killed by shooter Cho Seung-Hui — who dressed in black with Virginia Tech colors and laid down for three minutes.
"That's how long it takes someone to get a gun in this country," Alameddine said.
Several lie-ins were held in the Boston area, including a silent protest organized at Simmons College by Katie McKendrey, a close friend of Ross Alameddine's.
From the research she has conducted, Alameddine said it is alarming how effortless it is for people to purchase guns. She hopes to close the existing loophole that allows private dealers at gun shows to sell firearms to customers without conducting a background check.
According to statistics collected by www.protesteasyguns.com, approximately 40 percent of sales at the 5,000 gun shows held every year in this country are made by unlicensed sellers who aren't required to perform background checks.
At last count 35 states had yet to close this loophole. Alameddine is convinced the time has come to take action and close the loophole so the guns used in crimes no longer find their way into the wrong hands.
Although Alameddine acknowledged the need to respect the rights of the National Rifle Association, she said precautions should be taken so firearms are kept away from dangerous individuals and off college campuses.
Gun control laws differ considerably from state to state, which Alameddine noted can lead to troubling circumstances where common sense isn't always taken into account. For example, she expressed concern over finding out some universities allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Licensed under Creative Commons
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/">Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Generic</a>
--
Original Source:
<a href="http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x883016434">http://www.patriotledger.com/archive/x883016434</a>
Language
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eng
Title
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On Virginia Tech anniversary, Saugus mom lobbies for changes
anniversary
emergency alert system
gun control
lie-ins
ross alameddine
security on campus inc.
students for emergency warnings
-
Document
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Mike Hammack
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Mike Hammack
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2007-05-02
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"Not Forgotten"
Time has narrowed,
increasing so fast.
With no escape,
nothing will last.
32 ever so freightened,
broken hearts are vast.
Fear building courage,
their moment shall never pass.
********************************
Virginia Tech holds a special place in the hearts of our family, having a daughter as a graduate of Virginia Tech and one son which is currently attending Virginia Tech Engineering. The events which occurred on 4/16/2007 saddened us deeply. We choose to remember the heroes that day, all who gave their lives, were injured, assisted in the recovery and of course, our law enforcement officers.
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eng
Title
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"Not Forgotten"
poem
poetry
vt poem
-
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Brent Jesiek
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Mike Overson
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2007-09-30
Description
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contributed by Mike Overson, editor-in-chief
<b>In every dorm room, as well as around campus, colored pamphlets display emergency campus information. This pamphlet, originally created by the State of Utah Division of Facilities and Construction Management but modified by the Campus Emergency Task Force, includes pertinent phone numbers and offices illustrating what students, faculty and professors should do if various events ranging from; a biological hazard, hostage situation, suspicious package, fire, telephone threats, violent acts, earthquake and bomb threats take place.</b>
According to the pamphlet, if a biohazard is discovered, the police should be immediately notified so that someone who is trained can assist you. If a chemical is suspected of being released, then every attempt to stop or limit spread should be made. Isolating the container is key to stopping the spread of contaminates and limiting exposure to yourself and others. Make sure to warn others of danger; this will cut down the number of exposed people.
In the event of a hostage situation, always remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders. Avoid conversation or eye contact with attackers unless force or threats of force are used. If you are on the outside of a hostage scenario, remain outside and do not enter a building until told that it is all clear and safe to go in, the pamphlet explains.
Suspicious packages should be left alone until police arrive. Some clues as to which parcels of mail should be examined include: restrictive markings, foreign mail, air mail or special delivery, excessive weight, handwritten or poorly typed envelope, incorrect title or titles with no name, misspelled common verbs, oily stains or discolorations, rigid envelopes, lopsided or uneven envelopes, wires or foil protruding from package or envelope, excessive masking tape, string or other wrapping. If the package is inside, notify others on upper and lower floors.
Fires present a challenge because of an unpredictable nature. It's important to know the layout of your building as well as location of exits, alarm boxes, stairwells and fire extinguishers. Knowledge of how to properly use an extinguisher is crucial in not wasting the limited chemical in each container. Everyone should have a planned meeting place so they can be accounted for. In case of fire, everyone must leave the building and elevators should be avoided. Fresh air is important and must be thought of in an escape. Try to think whether a staircase or window has the most available oxygen. If caught in smoke, take small breaths through your nose and either hunch down or crawl on your hands and knees to get away from flames. Remember as toxic fumes settle six inches off the floor. Feeling the bottoms of doors is a good indication of what the climate is on the opposite side of the door.
Telephone threats are to be taken seriously, let the caller finish without interruption. Write down the message exactly how they deliver it. Listen for any background noise that can be used to identify the location of a call. Important information to write down include time of call, date, exact words, target of call and why they are being threatened. Is caller male, female, young or old? Describe the caller's voice, does it sound familiar? What noise did you hear in the background? Have previous calls been received? Lastly, what time did the call end?
Violent acts should be taken seriously. Don't take remarks personally. Focus on the situation, be helpful and attentive, this will hopefully diffuse tension in the situation. Let the person vent feelings, listen actively and acknowledge what the person says. Maintaining eye contact is key, so is using the person's name. Be polite and professional, take notes and write down details so they will see you are interested. If you don't understand something, ask questions. Repeat details back to demonstrate understanding of important points. Apologize sincerely for the inconvenience and take responsibility to solve problem. If you don't know the answer, say you don't know, then tell them you will find out. Don't make a promise you can't keep. How to respond, don't make any sudden movements. If possible, leave the area. If it is unsafe to do so, seek cover. If you are near the location, do not go towards the violence. Instead try and get help.
To prepare for an earthquake be aware of potential hazards, practice primary and secondary evacuation routes. If possible arrange desks away from things that may fall while you are underneath it. Know that everything will move and you might get knocked off your feet. Count on aftershocks, which may occur anytime after the initial quake. Plan a family response to this as well as put together a 72-hour kit.
If a quake occurs stay calm, your calm nature will help others control themselves. Protect yourself from falling debris by getting under a table or in a doorway. Stay away from anything that will move and could hurt you in the tumble. If outside stay away from tall objects and power lines as these might cause injury. Seriously-injured persons should be moved only if they are in immediate danger of further injury from falling debris or walls. Your safety is top priority. Do not use lighters or matches in building as gas lines may have ruptured. Use telephones to contact emergency personnel only, leave lines open for emergency use. After the quake evacuate carefully but quickly. Evacuation procedures can be found at http://firemarshal.ceu.edu
In case of bomb threat, do not put the caller on hold. Be calm and courteous: do not attempt to transfer the call. As the caller talks, take down prudent information such as time of call, whether caller is male or female, where the bomb is located, what room, what does the bomb look like, what will make it explode. Be sure to tell the caller that a bomb will cause injury or death. Why is this building being bombed, what is caller's name, where is the call being placed? Voice characteristics are important, as well as speech patterns. Language use and accents are good things to make note of. Background sounds and mannerisms of caller are also important.
In e-mail from Vice President for Institutional Adv/Student Services Brad King, he wrote, "Training for faculty and staff includes a session in our orientation week. Training of building marshals are employees that volunteered and, in some cases, asked to receive training regarding what to do in a specific building in an emergency has also just begun. Phyl Johnson, campus safety and homeland security director; Bob Potts, campus fire marshal; James Prettyman, head of campus police and Sheila Burghardt, facilities maintenance manager, conduct this training. There have been two training sessions thus far.
"When these sessions have been completed, there will be specific training for employees in each building on evacuation routes, etc. The next step is to instruct employees with CERT (Campus Emergency Response Team) training. These people will be trained in responding to campus emergencies. A campus emergency fair is planned for the Jennifer Leavitt Student Center where further training will be done with students and employees.
"This past summer, a campus safety task force met eight times to update the campus safety policy which was created in the late 1990s. The product of their work can be seen on the CEU web-site (www.ceu.edu) under faculty and staff, policies and procedures, pending approval. This policy is set to go to the college senate in October for review and approval.
"We are working on a notification plan. DEl Beatty, the new dean of students is meeting on Sept. 27 with all of the deans of students to discuss the viable options as a state response to the Virginia Tech experience.
Beatty has surveyed the ASCEU leadership and the students regarding text notification for emergency situations and has found strong support. The campus discussion revolved around rooftop emergency sirens, text or cell phone alerts, telephones in classrooms and wired or wireless intercom systems.
"The campus safety committee, which meets monthly, will be reviewing the newly released final report from the investigation from the Virginia Tech tragedy. This report will be analyzed and the recommendations will be discussed and compared to our proposed policy.
Any areas that have not been addressed will be when the policy goes to the senate for discussion and approval. The recent situation in Delaware will also be discussed at the safety committee meeting, but no report is available from that incident.
"Guns on campus have been an area of recent debate and legal action in Utah. CEU follows state law regarding the possession and storage of firearms. Any person, student, employee or visitor in possession of a firearm on campus should be immediately reported to campus police.
"Campus police have the responsibility to determine the legal status of the weapon carrier. All firearms are prohibited on the CEU campus with the exception of a person holding a valid concealed-weapons permit. All other persons are prohibited from possessing a firearm on campus. A weapon may be stored in a vehicle if it is deemed unloaded. Please refer to state statutes 76-10-502, 505 and 505.5 for any further questions with this subject. Concealed weapons permit holders can only posses a firearm in keeping with Utah State Code regarding concealed weapons. On a brighter note, there have been no gun threats at CEU's, Price campus at least in the past 27 years," King wrote.
One item that the pamphlet fails to discuss is what to do if a student shows signs of deep depression and the possibility of acting out to gain attention.
"If anyone suspects that a student may do harm to themselves or others, the situation should be reported to campus police, any faculty, staff or administrator as soon as possible. CEU is committed to providing assistance to any student with issues that may lead to acts of violence. The best way for students to help in the campus safety effort is to be aware of their surroundings," King stated.
"All students should be actively involved in the campus activities and community. Pay attention to your roommates and others on campus. Be vigilant in reporting unusual or questionable activities and most of all; be outgoing and involved in the lives of your classmates. This is the most effective way to keep CEU the safest possible environment," King finished.
Send Mike Overson a comment at <a href="mailto:m.overson@eagle.ceu.edu">m.overson@eagle.ceu.edu</a>
Or <a href="http://theeagleonline.homedns.org/php-pages/comment.php?article_id=1131">add your public comment</a>.
--
Original Source: The Eagle Online
<a href="http://theeagleonline.homedns.org/php-pages/article.php?article_id=1131">http://theeagleonline.homedns.org/php-pages/article.php?article_id=1131</a>
This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License</a>.
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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License
Title
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Campus shootings trigger college emergency plans for students
college of eastern utah
emergency plans
response
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Document
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Mills Kelly
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Mills Kelly
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2007-04-25
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On the morning of April 16 I was in my office at George Mason University recording a podcast with two colleagues. When we came out of our recording session, I sat down to check my email and saw on the news feed that there had been a shooting at Virginia Tech and that as many as 16 people were believed dead.
I could hardly believe what I was reading. How could so many students and faculty be killed in one rampage? Little did I know that I knew only half the story, half the tragedy. As each hour passed we learned more by updating our browsers and each time the number of dead and wounded grew. And each time I wondered if the people I knew there in the History Department were safe? Were the children from my neighborhood who attend Tech safe? Not having names to put with the numbers made the waiting so much more excruciating.
Later that day I saw a former student in our main student union building. From the stricken look on her face, I knew something was wrong. When I asked, she told me that her sister's best friend was among the wounded and had been shot in the leg. We hugged one another for a moment and agreed that this young woman, at least, had been a little bit lucky--she would be one of the survivors.
That night, I had to sit down with my two children, ages 10 and 8, and explain what had happened. Why it was that the free access to handguns in our society made it so easy for someone to carry out such vengeance on those he believed were at the root of his own personal darkness, and why now, perhaps, my boys understood why their father hates handguns so much. I told them about the time I was one of the lucky ones--when the man who had shoved a pistol under my nose decided to run away rather than shoot me. I told them that I never, ever want them to own a handgun as long as they live.
Then I had to explain to them why they didn't have to worry that their father, a professor like those who died at our sister institution in Blacksburg, was in no danger at his job at George Mason. Children need such certainty in moments of crisis.
But was it wrong to lie to them? To tell them George Mason is a safe campus when it is no safer than any other campus in America? Over and over I tell my children that telling the truth is the most important thing. But on April 16 I just wanted them to feel that their father was safe.
And, of course, I was lying to myself for exactly the same reason.
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Shock and Horror
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Min Jae Lee
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Photo taken at Blacksburg Baptist Church 9.18.2007
Photo by Min Jae Lee
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A Call For Remembrance and Prayer
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Min Jae Lee
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Flags at Blacksburg Baptist Church
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Flags at Blacksburg Baptist Church
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https://www.april16.vtlibraries.net/files/original/tribute_3c1e1135aa.avi
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2007-04-30
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Brent Jesiek
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Mitchell T. Barnett
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2007-04-30
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NOTE: 65 MB AVI (Divx)
Alternate streaming media:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW8XT_H_gOs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW8XT_H_gOs</a>
I feel my video is unique in that I incorporate not only all the names of the 32 victims tied to their respective picture, but also many of the moving moments and quotations of the hours following the tragedy. The song, "Fix You", inspired me to produce this video. I first heard the song in the trailer to the movie "World Trade Center". As you listen to it, you can't help but note the lyrics "the tears stream...down your face" and not be moved by that while watching all of the victims. Pay special attention to the end, when the lyrics are "lights will guide...you home" ... the picture I chose remarkably represents this phrase. Enjoy!
Language
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eng
Title
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Virginia Tech Video Tribute - Tragedy 4/16/07 - "Fix You"
fix you
tribute
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virgini tech
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2007-07-11
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2007-07-11 16:00:37
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Chad Newswander
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Mollie Adams
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2007-07-11
Description
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Items have been placed at the main memorial site to remember the victims.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489162873/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489162873/ </a>
Photo courtesy of Mollie Adams
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eng
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Mollie Adams
http://www.flickr.com/people/molliebug/
drill field
memorial
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2007-07-11 16:13:00
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Chad Newswander
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Mollie Adams
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2007-07-11
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Memorial ribbons hang outside the tent that holds the signed message boards.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489294185/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489294185/in/photostream/</a>
Photo courtesy of Mollie Adams
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eng
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Mollie Adams
http://www.flickr.com/people/molliebug/
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Memorial Ribbons
memorial
message boards
messages
ribbon
signed boards
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Brent Jesiek
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Monica Roberts
Date
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2007-05-10
Description
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Thursday, April 19, 2007
College is supposed to be an overall positive experience. You're finally getting to sort everything out in terms of what you want to do in life, where you're headed and learning and growing as a young adult while having some fun in the process.
For many peeps it's the first time you get to step out, live away from home and get your first taste of adulthood. It's the last time in your life when the only responsibilities you have are to get up, go to class and study your butt off unless you also have a job you're juggling to help pay your tuition.
I guess it's why I enjoy walking around on various college campuses when I do <a href="http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2007/01/sabre-child-running-wild.html">follow Dawn to various fencing tournaments</a>. It takes me back to my own college days in that respect. It's hard for me to imagine what it would have been like to have that peace of mind shattered by a gunman suddenly popping up in one of my classes, firing shots at me and my classmates, then to discover a day or so later that he was a classsmate that peeps had been seeing <a href="http://www.blackamericaweb.com/site.aspx/bawnews/vtshooter419">disturbing behavior patterns</a> about for two years leading up to that horrific incident.
Even the folks who weren't in those Norris Hall classrooms that morning are haunted by 'That could have been me' thoughts. I can only imagine what was going through people's minds as their buildings were on lockdown wondering if the incident was over of if their building was next on the shooter's target list.
What about the peeps who for some reason decided not to go to class that morning? I know they feel just as hurt as the gun shop owner who sold Cho the weapons he used.
How would I feel about that? How do you put that behind you and move on with llfe, if you ever do? It's also tough at that age to lose a classmate because up until you get past your college years and your ten-year high school reunion you have this false feeling of immortality. You walk around in your late teens and 20's with this attitude that you have plenty of time to accomplish the things you want to do or get your life together.
There are 32 people that have been tragically taken from us including Cho. But to the Virginia Tech students who may be reading this blog, life does go on. In 1966 The University of Texas suffered a similar <a href="http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/mass/whitman/index_1.html">tragedy</a>. It took a while but people eventually forgot until Monday that a deadly shooting occurred on its campus. It brought back the flood of memories in Austin and on the UT campus of what Charles Whitman had done almost 41 years earlier.
It was interesting to read Nikki Giovanni's account of her 2005 encounter with Cho in <a href="http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2007/04/nikki-giovannis-encounter-with-cho.html">her writing class</a> she was teaching at Virginia Tech. I think what needs to happen in the wake of this tragedy is to strenghten the ability of college professors and administrators to compel folks with disturbing behavior patterns to undergo counseling once its verified.
Would that have prevented the shooting? That's a debatable question. As far as the <a href="http://news.bostonherald.com/international/asiaPacific/view.bg?articleid=195549">gun issue</a> I'm going to deal with that another time. In this post I want to continue focusing on the 32 people we lost, the folks at Virginia Tech and their families who are grieving and trying to make sense out of an irrational situation.
We will never know what types of contributions those fallen people would have made to our society and others around the world. We can only guess about that as we mourn them, memorialize them and sadly have to move on.
Posted by Monica Roberts at 1:39 AM
Originally posted on TransGriot blog:
<a href="http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2007/04/virginia-tech-tragedy.html">http://transgriot.blogspot.com/2007/04/virginia-tech-tragedy.html</a>
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The Virginia Tech Tragedy
blog
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