Leaders consider responses to tragedy

Sonia Rao
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News

In light of the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy Monday, student body president Liz Brown asked members of the Council of Representatives (COR) for input Tuesday on how the Notre Dame student body could show its support to the campus located in Blacksburg, Va.

"Immediately after this happened, [student body vice president] Maris [Braun] and I started talking about what we should send as a student body," Brown said, noting that both she and Braun had already received e-mails from concerned students with suggestions.

"One of the ideas that has been tossed around is some kind of letter that we would write and solicit signatures from the student body from a variety of points on campus," Brown said. "We just want to get as many signatures of support as possible to send in one package. We could also have blank cards at those sites that people could write messages on."

Braun said she looked on Virginia Tech's Web site and saw the school was observing National Maroon and Gold Day.

"I think that it would be a really cool thing if we could get Notre Dame students to observe this day sometime next week or something ... maybe notify them through advertisement in The Observer, sending an e-mail out or whatever," she said.

In addition to these ideas, members suggested that the student body observe a moment of silence sometime next week, either at a designated location or just during first minute of class at a certain time.

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Sonia Rao

2008-02-25

Kacey Beddoes

Christopher Hine <chine@nd.edu>

eng

Mass for Virginia Tech provides consolation, hope

Students, community members fill Basilica

John Tierney

Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News

Only a week after Easter, the Notre Dame community once again "finds [itself] at the foot of the Cross," said Father Pete McCormick during his homily at a memorial Mass for the Virginia Tech community Tuesday night at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

"We always have the Cross in our life, but we do not grieve without hope," said McCormick, the assistant rector of Dillon Hall, who was just ordained on Saturday.

The Mass, presided over by Vice President for Student Affairs Father Mark Poorman, was organized Monday after news of the 33-person massacre at Virginia Tech broke. Students were informed of the Mass by an urgent IrishLink email from Poorman late Monday.

The Basilica was packed to a standing room only capacity, with the entire rear lobby of the church completely full. The Mass drew more people than last fall&#39;s 9/11 five-year anniversary Mass.

The congregation was made up largely of students, although many members of the outside community were also present. Some students came straight from the library, carrying their backpacks, while many dressed nicely for the service. Following the Mass, many students visited the Grotto to pray and reflect on the massacre.

In his homily, McCormick emphasized the powerful emotions many Americans have felt in the past few days in response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

"We have been overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. [...] We are shocked, we are fearful, and we are angered," he said.

McCormick also underlined the similarities between the Notre Dame and Virginia Tech communities.

"We&#39;ve heard the stories of students, staff and professors who died, and we realized that their goals and ambitions are not that different from our own," he said.

Because of these similarities, McCormick said he believes the Notre Dame and Virginia Tech communities are "of one thought and mind." Like those at Virginia Tech&#39;s candlelight vigil Tuesday night, the members of the Notre Dame community worshiping at the Basilica and praying at the Grotto "gathered to pray for the lost souls and for peace in their hearts, and in our own," he said.

The Mass was meant to represent the concern for the spiritual unity of all humankind.

"When one part of the human community suffers, we all suffer," McCormick said.

McCormick said he believes members of the Notre Dame community can take strength in the Holy Spirit after Monday&#39;s tragedy, which was the largest mass shooting in U.S. history.

"The Holy Spirit allows us to move from a state of fear to faith," McCormick said. "We may be fearful, but it is faith, not fear, that transforms and heals our wounds."

While Monday&#39;s events were undoubtedly tragic, McCormick stressed the ability to overcome disaster and increase spiritual strength.

"It is only for us now to find how even the Cross can be borne as a gift," he said to close his homily.

The message of the Mass was not one of depression, but a more hopeful state of solidarity with fellow humans.

"We must be a community with hope to bring. There is no failure that the Lord cannot reverse," McCormick said.


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Original Source:
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John Tierney

2008-02-25

Kacey Beddoes

Christopher Hine <chine@nd.edu>

eng

Campus reacts to Virginia Tech massacre

ND students directly affected by shootings through ties to VT

Aaron Steiner

Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: News

Virginia Tech is more than 500 miles from Notre Dame, but the effects of what reports call the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history have been felt here on campus.

A lone gunman shot and killed more than 30 people and injured dozens more on the Blacksburg, Va., campus before committing suicide Monday, according to Associated Press reports. Officials told AP that the gunman killed two people in a dormitory approximately two hours before staging a separate attack on a classroom building.

Nearly 30 people were estimated to have been injured, according to area hospital officials, CNN reported.

The Notre Dame community is saddened by the tragedy, Assistant Vice President of News and Information Dennis Brown said Monday.

"Our prayers go out to any people affected," Brown said.

Notre Dame will hold a memorial Mass for the victims tonight at 10 at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

Brown noted that members of the administration know people at Virginia Tech and said the University sends its support and prayers.

Students reported hearing the news through various sources throughout the day Monday, with some hearing from friends and family directly tied to Virginia Tech.

Graduate student Patrick LaFratta, a 2005 Virginia Tech alumnus who said one of his friends had died in the shootings, said he had been in contact with friends from the school throughout the day by phone and online.

LaFratta said he first heard the news of the shootings from his girlfriend, a Virginia Tech alumna, around 10 a.m. LaFratta confirmed that his girlfriend&#39;s sister, a current Virginia Tech student, was safe, as well as the safety of several close friends.

"When I first heard, they were reporting there was only one death," LaFratta said. "I thought, &#39;It&#39;s a really sad event and I want to know what is going on.&#39;"

Soon, the news coverage took a personal tone.

LaFratta said he eventually heard that one acquaintance had been killed in the first incident in the dorm. By Monday night, LaFratta said he had seen pictures on television of his slain friend.

He said he knew the friend from Virginia Tech&#39;s marching band, where LaFratta played trumpet.

Other students with friends at the school expressed their concern Monday afternoon.

Sophomore Amelia Gillespie heard the news from her roommate before going to class Monday morning.

"I was in shock. I have a couple of friends that go there, and I&#39;m still waiting to hear back from them," Gillespie said. "I tried to call them, but they haven&#39;t called back. I think they&#39;re okay, because I&#39;ve heard from other friends."

Freshman Tracy Jennings also has friends at Virginia Tech.

"One of my friends called me around 2 p.m.," said Jennings, who is from Richmond, Va.

The friend who initially called Jennings was not a student there, but the freshman received calls from Virginia Tech students shortly thereafter.

"As soon as one friend called, another did, and more," Jennings said.

The students couldn&#39;t give many details about the incident, she said.

"All [they] said was that there was a shooting ... and at least 20 kids had been killed and at least 20 injured," she said. "As far as I&#39;ve heard, everyone I know is OK."

Jennings said she couldn&#39;t contact some of her friends there Monday afternoon because phone lines were busy.

Monica Tarnawski, a sophomore, said she heard here from a friend who attends Virginia Tech Monday afternoon through the social networking Web site Facebook.

"She actually composed a note that said &#39;I&#39;m fine,&#39; and we all saw it," Tarnawski said.

Like Tarnawski, Jennings and Gillespie, LaFratta said that initially, all reports about his friends had been positive - until later Monday evening, when he first heard his friend had been killed.

LaFratta was watching television news coverage of the shooting when he learned there were more deaths that initially reported.

"At around 12:15 p.m. or so ... all of a sudden, one of the three [channels] reported that there were at least 20 dead," LaFratta said. "I just really hoped it was a mistake."

LaFratta said he soon realized the situation was much more complex than the initial single death, and he said he then felt a "tremendous amount of sorrow."

LaFratta took classes in the academic building where the majority of the deaths occurred.

"A few years ago, I was there," LaFratta said. "It hits home - these things really do happen."

LaFratta said it was hard to imagine a scare on Virginia Tech&#39;s campus last year while a convict was loose in the area. This tragedy, he said, is even harder to picture.

"The magnitude of the event is just so overwhelming," LaFratta said.

LaFratta said he would have never predicted anything like this at a campus he described as "exceptionally peaceful."

Students at Notre Dame said they feel safe on campus but recognize that an event like Monday&#39;s could happen at anywhere, Notre Dame included.

"Things like that, especially on television - it seems so far away ... [but] I think it could happen anywhere," said Chris Heckett, a visiting graduate student. "To think otherwise would probably be thoughtless."

Erin Smith, a senior, echoed Heckett&#39;s thoughts.

"It makes you realize that it could happen anywhere, on any college campus," she said. "It kind of makes you think about the security here at Notre Dame, or at any college campus."

Brown declined to comment on Notre Dame&#39;s policies or crisis management plans for any type of violent tragedy like the one Monday morning.

But Smith said she has never felt anxious about security at Notre Dame.

"I&#39;ve never felt unsafe at Notre Dame," Smith said.

Senior Paul Mitchell agreed.

"I still feel as safe here as anywhere," Mitchell said, stating, however, that his notions of safety do not make Notre Dame exempt from violence like Monday&#39;s tragedy.

Virginia Tech, with an enrollment of more than 25,000, is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 160 miles west of Richmond, Va. Jennings said Virginia Tech&#39;s location as a college town - not part of a large urban area - makes her think about Notre Dame&#39;s similar setting.


"Honestly, Tech ... is in the middle of nowhere - and it seems kind of like South Bend, which is a scary thought, being here. It&#39;s a pretty enclosed campus, like here," she said.

Gillespie said the incident "kind of just puts things into perspective."

"It makes me look outside the [Notre Dame] bubble a little bit," she said. "It&#39;s a small world."

Sophomore Katie Bergerow said the tragedy caused her and her roommates to consider their safety in the residence halls.

"We were talking about how we leave our door unlocked," Bergerow said. They probably wouldn&#39;t change that behavior, she said, but the tragedy "really shows that something like this could happen."

Students are also lucky to have a variety of support resources available, said Gaotam Shewakramani, a Notre Dame alumnus visiting campus. He said such resources could help avert a violent crisis, especially those available to students who are struggling emotionally.

"I think there are a lot of resources for those who are having difficulties," Shewakramani said. "I would be surprised if someone [who is struggling] wouldn&#39;t be reached out to."

Still, Tarnawski said, it&#39;s important to remember that you can&#39;t know what people are feeling.

"You never know what people are going through inside," Tarnawski said. "Someone after my English class was like, &#39;You know, I just wonder what was going on in that person&#39;s life that caused them to snap.&#39;"

That same thought crossed Mitchell&#39;s mind as well.

"My first question was why - why would someone do that, just asking questions to the psychology of that and what enables that sort of violence," Mitchell said.

Monday&#39;s massacre will go down as the deadliest campus shooting in national history. Previously, the largest was a rampage that took place in 1966 at the University of Texas at Austin, where 16 people were killed before police shot the gunman to death.

As the facts of yesterday&#39;s tragedy are investigated, some students say while there is little they can do, they can send their prayers and support.

"Right now, I&#39;m here to offer any type of support I can, get involved, bring any type of awareness," Gillespie said.

LaFratta said he has done "a lot of praying" and will continue to do so.

"My first reaction is to pray a lot - my thoughts go out to all those families," LaFratta said.

LaFratta said he plans to attend tonight&#39;s memorial Mass.

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Aaron Steiner

2008-02-25

Kacey Beddoes

Christopher Hine <chine@nd.edu>

eng