Take time to reach out to someone at Virginia Tech

Posted: 4/26/07

TO THE EDITOR:

In the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, we have the opportunity to reach out and touch the lives of the students affected by this tragedy. Eve Carson made the suggestion to find someone at Virginia Tech to "adopt".

For student groups, search for a "sister organization." Student leaders, look up your counterparts in Blacksburg. Then, make some contact with them. Let them know they are in our thoughts. Need somewhere to get started? Get a shoe box, throw some candy and some pictures in it, and then write a letter. Be creative. Be genuine. Be yourself.

If you need any help, we are personally available and extremely willing to do anything we can. We are not experts, but we will call upon what resources we have. We are available by e-mail, Facebook and phone. We also urge you to call upon your fellow students here in Chapel Hill and take advantage of this opportunity to grow closer to those in the UNC community as well.

As the school year draws to a close, keep in mind that time is of the essence. This is a call to action. We know many people feel helpless, but this is simple, cheap and easy yet personal way to positively affect the Virginia Tech community.


James F. Eby
Carolina Advocacy, Executive Branch

Logan Liles
Carolina Advocacy, Executive Branch

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Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/04/26/LettersToTheEditor/Take-Time.To.Reach.Out.To.Someone.At.Virginia.Tech-2881893.shtml>The Daily Tar Heel - April 26, 2007</a>

James F. Eby

The Daily Tar Heel

2007-07-16

Sara Hood

Kevin Schwartz <kschwartz@unc.edu>

eng

Wear orange and maroon today for Va. Tech

Members of the Vanderbilt community are encouraged to wear orange and maroon today to honor those killed in the tragic events on the Virginia Tech campus. Commemorative ribbons will be distributed on the Sarratt Promenade from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At noon, a moment of silence will be observed across campus as the Kirkland Hall bell toll once for each of the victims of the shooting.

Members of the Vanderbilt community are encouraged to sign a bound leather volume with a Vanderbilt University seal, located at the Sarratt desk. It will be sent to the Virginia Tech Student Government. For times when it will be available to be signed, click here.

Vanderbilt Student Government is sponsoring the campus-wide orange and maroon day.

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Original Source: <a href= http://www.vanderbilt.edu/register/articles?search_string=virginia+tech&x=29&y=9&id=34164>Vanderbilt Daily Register - April 19, 2007</a>

Vanderbilt Staff Member

2007-07-11

Sara Hood

Joan Brasher <joan.brasher@vanderbilt.edu>

eng

Sign at Cox&#39;s Golf Driving Range

Cox Driving Range on Prices Fork expresses its support for Virginia Tech.

Orginial Source <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/467693906/in/set-72157600091083431/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/467693906/in/set-72157600091083431/</a>

Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris

Kelly Harris

2007-07-06

Chad Newswander

Permission:
Kelly Harris
kellybeth7@gmail.com

eng

Old Navy

The Old Navy in the Roanoke Mall expresses its support to the Virginia Tech community.

Orginial Source <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476245394/in/set-72157600091083431/ "> http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476245394/in/set-72157600091083431/ </a>

Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris

Kelly Harris

2007-07-06

Chad Newswander

Permission:
Kelly Harris
kellybeth7@gmail.com

eng

Virginia Tech, our thoughts are with you

Editorial
Posted: 4/17/07

Horrified silence saturated campuses across the country yesterday, as the death toll at Virginia Tech climbed to at least 32 fellow students. The deadliest mass shooting in United States history can be described only as a true tragedy.

To begin, as members of the Duke community we express our sincerest condolences to families and friends of the deceased and wounded and to the entire Virginia Tech campus. Our hearts go out to all of those in the Virginia Tech community and all of the students here at Duke who have been touched by this shocking disaster in one way or another.

A tragedy like this makes us pause to reflect upon our own mortality. Days like yesterday-filled with images of bloodied young bodies, terrified faces and drawn guns-bring violence and death close to home. As young men and women now in college, we can only hope (although likely and sadly in vain) to never see a day like this past Monday again.

And during such times, there is a very human urge to point fingers-to place blame on administrators for not responding effectively or efficiently. But scenarios like those that played out yesterday are extremely hard to prepare for. Hindsight is 20/20, and we cannot judge the Virginia Tech administrators with the knowledge we now have. We trust they had students&#39; best interests in mind and do so still as they seek to recover from the shock and horror of a day nobody can ever really anticipate.

Monday&#39;s tragedy does, however, provide an opportunity for Duke&#39;s administrators to examine their own emergency response procedures. We depend on Duke administrators to keep us informed when urgent situations arise. Although mass e-mail lists serve great informative purposes, a faster mass communication system must be devised to alert students in times of emergency. Because many students come from differing parts of the country, Duke must also devise a plan to inform families quickly or to make themselves available for inquiries in situations of mass chaos.

As members of a media publication, in the face of this tragedy we were dismayed to find that some media outlets displayed an almost-salacious interest in this story. The Washington Post ran an article titled "Virginia Tech&#39;s Reputation Had Recently Been Soaring," which inappropriately dehumanized the catastrophe as something that could have an effect on image and ranking rather than something that did have a profound effect on human lives. Similarly, a reporter at a press conference asked what sort of effect this event will have on the school&#39;s admissions. Such questions were both inappropriate and unanswerable. Subjects like Virginia Tech&#39;s reputation can be addressed during another, more appropriate period.

Although yesterday&#39;s tragedy is in no way comparable to the Duke lacrosse case, the response of some reporters to the Virginia Tech shooting is yet another example of a fact we as Duke students know all too well-how shallow the media can be. The media must remember there is a human element to every event, particularly this tragic event, and they should not rush superficial sensationalism nor dehumanize questions of status.

Even though the media has immense power in portraying events and situations, we must remember that a period of coverage does not characterize or define a school in its entirety. No matter how the media portrays a singular event, our schools are not defined by one moment. They are defined by their people, their resolve and their ability to overcome.

Virginia Tech, Duke&#39;s thoughts are with you.

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Original Source: <a href=http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2007/04/17/Editorial/Virginia.Tech.Our.Thoughts.Are.With.You-2846256.shtml> Duke Chronicle - April 17, 2007</a>

Editorial Staff

2007-06-24

Sara Hood

David Graham <david.graham@duke.edu>

eng

If we had hinges

Display of support painted on front window of Imaginations Toy and Furniture Company, South Main Street, Blacksburg. The poem reads:

If we had hinges in our heads
There wouldn&#39;t be no sin.
&#39;Cause we could take the bad stuff out,
And leave the good stuff in.
- Shel Silverstein

Photo taken by Brent Jesiek on June 9, 2007.

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Licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0</a>.

Brent Jesiek

2007-06-13

Brent Jesiek

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0

eng

In Remembrance

A remembrance board has been set up inside the main entrance to Squires, with excerpts from e-mails across the world and space for people to scrawl their thoughts.

Original source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/463567641/in/set-72157600088262276/ "> http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/463567641/in/set-72157600088262276/ </a>

Licensed under <a href=" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0</a>

Waldo Jaquith

2007-05-25

Chad Newswander

Permission
Contact: Waldo Jaquith
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/463567641/in/set-72157600088262276/ )
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0

eng

We're praying for you

Front and back of postcard distributed by Valiant for Truth (www.valiantfortruthonline.com). Found on April 27, 2007 in Holden Hall bathroom.

Valiant For Truth / Temple Baptist Church

2007-04-30

Brent Jesiek

eng

Hokie Nation

Message of support on a wall at the Blacksburg Rescue Squad complex. Photo taken Friday, April 20.

Brent Jesiek

2007-04-26

Brent Jesiek

eng

A Resolution to support the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Community

Draft of resolution passed by the George Mason Student Senate to support the greater Virginia Tech Community.

Sheila Brennan

2007-04-25

Sheila Brennan

eng