Each victim has their own spot where friends and families have left notes, photos, and personal items. Original source: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/slideshow?a=67b0de21b3292af30542&auto=0&idx=25&m=1&d=1180360320983 Photo courtesy of Krissy Watson
Photo courtesy of Krissy Watson krissywatson@gmail.com
This photo captured Ryan Clark's hokie stone. Photo Courtesy of Garry Thompson
Permission: Garry Thompson sthomp2813@aol.com
Friends and loved ones have placed several items by Ryan Clark's Hokie Stone. Original source: <ahref=" http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093007661"> http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093007661 Photo courtesy of Frank Eak
Permission: Frank Eak feak@va.metrocast.net
Permission: Photo courtesy of Frank Eak http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093007661
S-a sacrificat pentru studentii americani!
17 Aprilie 2007 Cristina Botezatu Liviu Librescu, profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din Virginia, a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Tragedia, produsa ieri, s-a soldat cu cel putin 33 de morti si 29 raniti. Conform ultimelor date oferite de politie, numarul victimelor se ridica la 33, inclusiv autorul atacului care s-a sinucis inainte de a fi prins de politie. Din primele date, atacatorul era un student chinez, de 24 de ani, care venise in SUA cu o bursa, in august 2006, din Shanghai. Unul dintre motivele vehiculate este prietena sa, pe care o banuia ca il insala. Cei doi s-au certat, o alta persoana intervenind pentru a stinge conflictul. Atacatorul i-a impuscat pe amandoi si a parasit caminul. La scurt timp a avut loc atacul in cladirea Noriss Hall, unde se tin cursurile Universitatii Tehnice. Politia nu a stabilit inca daca cele doua incidente au avut acelasi autor. "Avea ca 1,80 metri, infatisare asiatica, era imbracat ciudat, aproape ca un cercetas", a povestit pentru CNN Erin Sheehan studenta in primul an la inginerie mecanica. Politia federala Americana (FBI) a anuntat ca nu exista indicii care sa sugereze ca atacul ar fi un act terorist, dar ancheta nu exclude pentru moment nicio pista. Conform Star Tribune, unul din lectorii din sala de cursuri in care s-a dechis focul era roman: Liviu Librescu, profesor de aeronautica si specialist in mecanica fluidelor, numit Doctor Honoris Causa de catre Institutul Politehnic din Bucuresti in anul 2000. Romanul a murit incercand sa blocheze usa pe care a intrat agresorul, conform unor surse apropiate familiei. (Stefan Oprea) Un individ inarmat a facut cel putin 33 de morti intr-un campus universitar din Virginia, apoi a fost impuscat si el. Printre studentii si profesorii universitatii se numara si romani Un macel de proportii fara precedent s-a produs ieri la Universitatea Tehnica Virginia, din Blacksburg (estul Statelor Unite), cel putin 33 de tineri pierzandu-si viata impuscati, potrivit primelor indicii, de un agresor care a fost doborat in cele din urma de politie, a anuntat canalul de televiziune Fox News, citand surse federale. Spitalele din zona universitatii au declarat un total de cel putin 21 de raniti, din care o persoana in stare critica. „Astazi, universitatea a fost lovita de catre o tragedie pe care noi o consideram a fi de proportii monumentale", a declarat rectorul universitatii, Charles Steiger. „Avem cel putin 20 de morti", s-a rezumat sa spuna Wendell Flinchum, seful politiei campusului, adaugand ca o mare parte a victimelor au fost ucise intr-o singura sala de curs si ca ucigasul se numara printre morti, desi inca nu se cunoaste identitatea acestuia. "Deocamdata nu stim daca tragatorul era unul dintre studenti sau nu", a declarat Flinchum. Macel in doua episoade Cele dintai focuri de arma au fost semnalate la primele ore ale diminetii, cand un student a fost ucis si alti cativa raniti in caminul universitar West Ambler Johnston Hall, care gazduieste 895 de studenti. In urma focurilor de arma, in camin s-a declansat un haos general, au relatat reporterii ziarului universitatii. „O gramada de studenti alergau de colo-colo, ingroziti, in vreme ce politia incerca sa convinga pe toata lumea sa se culce la pamant, pentru a tine situatia sub control", au relatat reporterii citati de CNN. Doua ore mai tarziu, macelul a fost reluat la Norris Hall, una din cladirile complexului care adaposteste catedrele de inginerie mecanica. Mai multi dintre martorii intervievati de posturile de televiziune americane au declarat ca au auzit „zeci de focuri" trase in incinta campusului si ca au vazut personal manifestari de panica in cladirile adiacente. Unii dintre studentii raniti spun ca au scapat cu viata numai sarind pe geam de la etaj, dar ca nu au vazut cum arata atacatorul. Panica in masa Matt Waldron, unul dintre studentii aflati in cladire, descrie scena de panica izbucnita dupa ce cursantii au vazut afara politisti adapostindu-se dupa copaci. „Ne-au spus sa iesim afara si sa traversam campul din fata cladirii, cat de repede posibil. (....) Au urmat scene de cosmar. Era infricosator. Doua colege si-au pierdut controlul din cauza panicii si au sarit de la fereastra salii aflate la etaj. Una din ele si-a rupt glezna, iar cealalta a ramas intinsa la pamant", a povestit Waldron. Universitatea Virginia Tech, situata la 400 de kilometri sud-vest de Washington, gazduieste nu mai putin de 25.000 de studenti. Acestia au fost sfatuiti ieri sa ramana in cladiri si sa nu se apropie de ferestre pana la identificarea eventualilor alti agresori. In zilele de 2 si 13 aprilie, campusul a fost evacuat din cauza a doua alerte cu bomba, ambele dovedite false, administratorii promitand o recompensa de 5.000 de dolari pentru deconspirarea farsorilor. Masacre in scolile americane Atacul de ieri este cel mai grav de acest gen produs intr-o institutie educationala din SUA. 1. August 1966: Charles Joseph Whitman, un fost puscas marin de 25 de ani, a ucis 13 persoane la Universitatea Texas, inainte de a fi impuscat de politisti. 2. Martie 1998: Doi baieti, de 11 si 13 ani, impusca mortal patru fetite si un profesor in Arkansas. 3. Aprilie 1999: Doi adolescenti ucid 12 elevi si un profesor de la Scoala din Columbine, Colorado, inainte de a se sinucide. 4. Martie 2005: Un elev al unei scoli din Minnesota isi impusca mortal noua colegi si se sinucide. 5. Octombrie 2006: Un individ de 32 de ani ucide 5 fete la o scoala amish din Pennsylvania si isi pune capat zilelor. MARTURII Un film de groaza trait pe viu Inainte de terminarea oficiala a tragediei, mai multi studenti de la Virginia Tech si-au facut publice impresiile pe miniforumul BBC alocat „macelului din Virginia". Intre ei, primul pe lista, romanul Mihai Alexe: „Sunt student la Virginia Tech si, din fericire, m-am hotarat sa nu ma duc in campus in dimineata aceasta. Am fost instiintati foarte rapid de primul incident, fiind sfatuiti sa stam in camere si sa fim extrem de atenti. Una dintre prietenele mele era la un curs in Norris Hall, unde s-a produs cel de-al doilea incident. Mi-a trimis un e-mail si un mesaj spunandu-mi ca s-a intalnit din intamplare cu faptasul si ca era sa fie impuscata din greseala. A reusit in cele din urma sa se refugieze cu alti studenti intr-una dintre sali si, din cate stiu pana acum, este in siguranta". Mihai Alexe „Scena de aici este suprarealista. Te uiti la TV si pe internet si stii ca toate astea se intampla la tine in campus. Dar, mai ales ca student, nu-ti dai seama de asta, nu pe de-a-ntregul. Am avut un prieten in salile in care s-a tras, iar scenele pe care le descria el erau de cosmar. Semanau cu scenele din filmele de groaza, ceva la care te uiti, dar nu te-ai astepta vreodata sa ti se intample chiar tie". Brandon „Suntem inca in soc total, departe de a ne fi revenit. Faptul ca 20 de oameni au fost impuscati in campusul meu mi se pare de neconceput si incredibil. Parca e ceva dintr-un film, numai ca real. Este o tragedie ingrozitoare, una care va avea un impact asupra acestei universitati in anii ce vor veni". Timothy Owen „E oribil, realmente oribil. In clipa de fata stau chiar in fata campusului. Atat de multi dintre prietenii mei sunt inauntru, fara sa stie ca e oribil. Inca nu-mi vine sa cred ca peste 20 dintre noi au murit...". Richard Allnutt Cititi si "Profesorul-erou, inventator si reputat om de stiinta" -- Sursa Originala: http://www.evz.ro/article.php?artid=300908
The focus of a discussion between public safety officials on area crime issues quickly turned to Virginia Tech at the 2007 Chapel Hill-Carrboro-Orange County Forum sponsored by WCHL. The forum was intended as an opportunity to discuss local issues, but the Monday shootings left leaders reflective. Chapel Hill has experienced similar incidents on a smaller scale, such as when alumnus Mohammad Taheri-Azar drove through the Pit in March 2006, injuring nine students, and the 1995 Wendell Williamson shooting, in which a law student opened fire on Franklin Street, killing two and injuring two others, including a Chapel Hill police officer. "This community can associate somewhat with the community of Blacksburg because we've come so close ourselves," said Dan Jones, Chapel Hill fire chief. Interim Chapel Hill police Chief Maj. Brian Curran said he also noted the similarities between the two campuses. "It's something that we're afraid could have happened here." Panelists discussed the town's preparedness to handle such an event if something similar was to happen at UNC. Jones noted how difficult it would be to secure the campus. He said every exit door to every building would need to be guarded, in addition to every intersection, sidewalk and open area. "It's easy to see that in a matter of minutes you'd need over 1,000 officers to close off the campus," Jones said. "That'd be just about every officer in Orange, Chatham, Durham and Wake counties on any given day." Capt. Charles Blackwood, of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, said he felt the Va. Tech emergency response was the best it could have been given the magnitude of the tragedy. "I think they did as good a job as they can, and I think we would do the same," Blackwood said. "You try to have a good plan in place, and you hope you can respond in such a situation." Many of the participants noted how failures in addressing mental health issues lead to safety issues, both for the individual and for the town residents. Joyce Kuhn, executive director of Orange Chatham Alternative Sentencing Inc., said it is important to provide services for those in need, something panelists agreed has become more difficult to do as more of the burden is shifted to local municipalities. "There has to be more of these things so people have the care they need," she said. District Court Judge Joe Buckner said that only an estimated 1 percent of those held at Orange County Jail for misdemeanors are repeat offenders, with 10 or more charges, but that they create problems for the entire criminal system with their recurring offenses. Curran reiterated that point, and said what frustrates police is their relative inability to intervene in situations where an individual has not committed a crime and is unwilling to seek mental help. "We're dealing with a relatively small population, but we're dealing with them over and over again," Curran said. "We just kind of stand by and watch these folks spiral out of control - there's really very little we can do." And arresting individuals with mental health issues on minor offenses creates overcrowding in the jails and forces the county to assume costs of treating and housing the individuals. "You can't really arrest yourselves out of a problem," Curran said. Public safety incidents have risen in all areas of the county, and many attribute the increases to the influx of residents into the region. "Growth is all across the public service spectrum," Jones said. "We're seeing a more transient population that makes all of these issues ... more difficult." Part of approaching those difficulties more successfully includes adjusting to the fact that Chapel Hill is growing. "People still think they're living in a small town," said Donna Kay Smith, executive director of the Family Violence Prevention Center. "People are having to make that transition of recognizing that this is not a small town area anymore." -- Original Source:Daily Tar Heel - April 19, 2007
Saint Gertrude High School, Richmond, VA, Summer Alumnae News
Dear Saint Gertrude Family, When I was asked to write a letter on behalf of our alumnae sisters at Virginia Tech, emotions at every level filled my heart and mind. There are no words to describe the events of April 16th nor are there appropriate words to share how your support helped each of us to deal in our own way with the days that followed. I speak for all of us when I say that the outpouring of love and concern was undeniably the strength behind our personal ways of coping and our ability to remain strong for all who needed us then and for all who need us now. The spirit of St. Gertrude High School emerged at a level that was both unbelievable and phenomenal ... the photo taken in the gymnasium is just one example; your e-mails, cards, and calls were yet another. The insert below was taken from a note that I had sent to family and friends in the early days, which continues to best describe the feelings that we faced and ultimately had to accept in the aftermath: "For those of you who watched the convocation on TV, it was perhaps your first "real" emotional connection to the tragedy of seeing your beloved alma mater in pieces. You were able to sit amongst your Virginia Tech family and feel the personal impact that this devastation created, while celebrating together in the true spirit of Ut Prosim. For those of you who did not go to Virginia Tech and may never have really thought too much about it prior to Monday, you can now call yourselves Hokies for you have shared with us and were able to feel the pain and strength of our ---your--- Hokie Nation. I was merely a symbol of the love that you feel for Virginia Tech and your deep emotions for our shared loss. Seeing me, someone you have a bond with, on national television allowed you to grieve at another level, one that I know many of us unconsciously resisted for that would mean admitting what had happened was for real. It was." Yes, it was definitely real. That reality grew even stronger when it was discovered that one of our SGHS alumnae was personally involved. We were all relieved when word was shared that she was in good condition at the local hospital, went home to Richmond to recuperate, and then returned to Virginia Tech the following week to continue with her classes. As a faculty member at the university and a St. Gertrude alumna, it was important to me that all of the women on campus know that they have someone here for them and thus, our first SGHS-VT reunion took place. Amidst classes, exams, and students leaving for the summer, we were able to organize a small pizza gathering. Together we walked down the halls of both SGHS and Virginia Tech, sharing stories and camaraderie. At the conclusion, a unanimous decision was made that we would gather together again in the fall and welcome our newest SGHS alumnae Hokies. I couldn't have asked for a more special celebration of life than this. With summer rapidly approaching, the campus starting to thin out, and memories of a day that will never be forgotten still vivid in our minds, know that you were all the reason for the Hokie hope that the country bestowed upon us. Through your love and expressions of compassion, our healing continues. As shared in the conclusion of my note to family and friends, "Hearing from you all, many of whom I haven't spoken with in years, has been so reassuring to me that although time and distance may separate us, our hearts remain united through all that we shared during our time here, together. You have all brought me so much happiness over the years. In turn, please let this note return that emotion at a time when --- We ARE Virginia Tech! And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand." Thank you, St. Gertrude High School, from YOUR Hokie Nation. ~Dr. Judi M. Lynch SGHS '83, VT '93 (MAEd), '03 (PhD)
Salem State rallies behind Virginia Tech
By Lisa Guerriero/salem@cnc.com GateHouse Media Fri Apr 20, 2007, 04:30 PM EDT SALEM - The flags at Salem State College flew at half-mast for three days this week in a show of solidarity for the 32 victims of the tragic shooting at Virginia Technical University on Monday. The gesture was perhaps the subtlest undertaken on a campus that was deeply affected by the shootings in Blacksburg, Va., the deadliest campus massacre in the nation's history. "It's sad and kind of shocking, because you don't know if it could happen here," said SSC sophomore Jenn Runyan. Police have identified the shooter as Cho Seung-Hui, a South Korea native and VT senior who went on a brutal shooting rampage and then turned the gun on himself, bringing the death toll to 33. The tragedy hit home for Salem State's faculty and students, as it did at other colleges, and even more so because one of the victims was a Saugus resident, 20-year-old Ross Alameddine, a graduate of Austin Preparatory High School in Reading. A number of SSC students have friends at Virginia Tech, and one professor taught there before coming to Salem State, said Bruce Perry, the director of the SSC campus center. "So there's ties and connections," he said. The president of the Student Government Association, Michael Mitchell, helped coordinate several events and tributes in response to the tragedy and received some 50 e-mails from students offering to help organize a memorial. "We had a meeting (of the Student Government Association) and it came up that we, as students, can't sit by and let this go unnoticed," said Mitchell. Salem State was on break for Patriots Day when the shooting happened on Monday, and when students returned Tuesday, campus was buzzing as students exchanged information and pieced together what had happened in Blacksburg. By Wednesday, the effort to support Virginia Tech was already under way. Perry received an e-mail from Julie Walters-Steele, the director of university unions at VT, asking colleges and universities across the country to send cards and messages. A spot had been cleared at VT to display the tokens of support, and Salem State is doing its part to fill that spot. "I think people were looking for something positive to do, some way to express their emotions around it," Perry said. Salem State rolled into action, setting up posters at hotspots around campus. Large posters bore the outline of the Virginia Tech logo, with ribbons decorating the inside of the letters "VT." The posters read, "4-16-07 Today We're All Hokies," in honor of the name of Virginia Tech's turkey-like mascot. That day, students in the dining hall crowded around one of the posters to write messages and pin on flowers and white ribbons. "To the Virginia Tech community - Salem State will keep you, the victims and their families in our hearts," one wrote. Students in the dining hall on Wednesday evening told the Gazette the shooting summoned feelings of sadness, sympathy and even a degree of fear. "We relate to it more. Just because we're on a campus, and it could happen here," said Emily Marte, a sophomore who will be a resident advisor next year. She noted that an RA was one of the first killed during the Virginia Tech shooting. "It makes you feel different when you look at people," added Stephanie Baez, a sophomore. Students and faculty found another outlet to express themselves and show support through Facebook, the social networking Web site used by colleges around the country. Mitchell, the Student Government Association president at SSC, had seen a Facebook group created after the 1997 high school shooting in Bowling Green, Ky. Mitchell took the lead from them and created a Facebook group called "Salem State Remembers Virginia Tech." The image for the group is a hybrid of the Salem State and Virginia Tech logos. Mitchell sent out a message to about 300 people affiliated with his Facebook, who in turn passed the information along to their friends and peers. Within a day, 700 Salem State students had joined the group, posting messages of sympathy for the VT community and making suggestions for how Salem State could contribute. "It's really powerful to see in one day, one-fifth of the campus come to stand behind Virginia Tech," Mitchell said. SSC student Pat Reidy said many Salem State students changed the images on their Facebook profiles from their own photos to the VT logo. "It got around really quick," Reidy said. One of the most important messages shared was a call for the college to organize a vigil. Just as quickly as the posters were created and the Facebook group formed, faculty and students at SSC organized the vigil, which is scheduled for Monday, April 23 at 7 p.m. outside the Central Campus residence hall. Organizers made the decision to open the vigil to the public, to anyone who wants to show support and reflect on the tragedy. "It's a time for the community to come together to express their emotion in regard to the tragedy that happened," Perry said. The student government and the college pooled some money to purchase 1,100 white T-shirts that say the VT logo and the phrase "4-16-07 Today We're All Hokies," as well as 1,000 white ribbons for participants to pin on their shirts or bags. The college plans to line up participants to spell out the VT that is the Virginia Tech logo, and take an aerial photo to send to the university. SSC President Nancy Harrington will attend, and several student leaders will offer brief remarks. Mitchell hopes one of the deans, who is also a pastor, will lend his services. Perry said his office teamed with the Residence Hall Association, faculty members and the Student Government Association to coordinate the events, but students were the driving force. "The whole idea has sprung from the students," Perry said. Mitchell said he hasn't seen the student community so collectively moved since the terrorists attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He sees a few core reasons for the outpouring of support. It hits home that a victim was from a neighboring town and that students and a professor have ties there. "That, coupled with the fact that the victims are all their age," Mitchell said, "and it happened on a campus - it could have happened here. It really could have." The public is invited to a vigil for the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting and their families, hosted by Salem State College. The vigil will be held Monday, April 23 at 7 p.m. outside the Central Campus residence hall. A memorial fund has been established to remember and honor the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. The fund will pay for counseling, memorials and other expenses. To contribute, visit www.vt.edu/tragedy/memorial_fund.php. -- Original Source: http://www.townonline.com/salem/homepage/x1160276354 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5.
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April 20, 2007 By Jack Salisbury The last two weeks have been rough on the world of sports. Meat-headed Don Imus, thinking he was being clever and funny, showed us that race and racism is still a paramount issue in today's America with his description of the Rutgers women's basketball team as "nappy-headed hos." Then, NBA superstar and supposed role model Tim Duncan was challenged to a fight by veteran referee Joey Crawford. The scene had its comic elements to it, but it was still fairly disgusting with the raw angst and hate between the old Crawford and the robust Duncan. In a time when nuclear weapons programs abound, people are killed over the outcomes of Little League games and enormously wealthy NBA players' demand salary hikes citing the "need to feed their family," you sometimes have to wonder where our neurotic society is going. And then Virginia Tech happened. Virginia Tech. The Hokies have been a mainstay of college athletics for years. Head football coach Frank Beamer built his program based on hard work and excellent special teams play. By the time a kid named Michael Vick stepped onto the Blacksburg campus in the fall of 1998, Beamer's program had reached the status of national power. Since then, Virginia Tech has always been a mainstay of college football, competing in the national championship and appearing at numerous New Year's Day bowl games. Under Seth Greenberg, Tech's basketball program has also risen, beating both Duke and North Carolina this year in ACC play and making the NCAA Tournament as a five seed. It has never been hard to root for the Hokies; they have up-and-coming programs. And after all, who can resist rooting for a Hokie? Part of the allure in rooting for the Hokies was that you often didn't know what a Hokie was. For the record, Hokie is a fictional mascot masquerading itself as a maroon bird. But there's even more reason to root for the Hokies now. We all know about the tragedy that took place this Monday. I can't imagine what it's like to be a student at Virginia Tech right now, to know someone who was shot or injured, to be around the university or to even be an alumnus. The inexplicable tragedy has moved our nation, brought people together, but most of all, it's left us asking: Why? There isn't an answer, though. That's the hardest part. It's times like these when sports are therapeutic, taking people away from the harsh reality of the world we live in. A touchdown, last-second shot or an interception can make people forget, for just a moment, what has happened. What I'm saying is: Sports can be trivial, but for the most part, they're not. A 45-yard touchdown run or a 50-yard field goal? Sure, they're pretty meaningless in the long run, but when you realize who they're affecting and how they're affecting them, they suddenly take on a whole new meaning. After the city of New Orleans experienced the devastating disaster of Hurricane Katrina, it rallied around the hometown Saints. The Saints received coverage around the country for their heart-warming story; and unlike a lot of things dramatized in sports, the Saints' story was truly heartwarming. Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston rejuvenated a city, a region and a country by bringing the Saints to the doorstep of the Super Bowl. They understood the responsibility on their shoulders and acted accordingly, being active in their communities and setting new standards for what it meant to be role models. And in the process, they showed that sports aren't just sports. Sports bring people together. They may not seem to have that same effect in a place like California, but trust me: If you go to Tuscaloosa, Chapel Hill, or even Blacksburg, sports are a huge thing. They're more than just a game. I'll be rooting for the Hokies every chance I get next year. I can only hope that the city of Blacksburg, the state of Virginia and the whole country will rally around Virginia Tech and its athletic program in moving on from this senseless tragedy. It was hard to not root for the Hokies before. Now? It's impossible. Jack Salisbury is a freshman. Contact him at jack24@stanford.edu. -- Original Source: Stanford Daily - April 20, 2007
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Memorial stone of Reema Joseph Samaha on 4/16/08. Photo by Brian Sewell. -- Original Source: http://flickr.com/photos/briansewell/2419169989/in/set-72157604577382666/
The parking lot of the convention center bristled with satellite dishes. Dozens, maybe hundreds, sprouted from the tops of the vans. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/463569272/in/set-72157600088262276/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Permission Contact: Waldo Jaquith (http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldoj/463569272/in/set-72157600088262276/) Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
Satellite Trucks at the Virginia Tech Inn
Photo taken April 18, 2007. -- Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cipherswarm/1483116677/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic.
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Community members criticize level of communication during Wednesday's incident By Edward Truong Friday, May 18, 2007 Some students and staff expressed concern that the university did not communicate quickly enough with the community following Wednesday's weapon scare in Westwood. But officials said the community was not in danger and so they focused on controlling rumors. L.A. police shut down several blocks in the North Village in response to reports of an armed individual in the area Wednesday afternoon. In the investigation, police found a crossbow rather than a gun, and university officials did not take any formal action on campus. Nancy Greenstein, director of police community services for UCPD, said it was a "self-contained potential incident. ... The police (had) it under control." "There appeared to be no risk to campus or population," she said. But some believe the university should have informed students and staff about the incident sooner. Ruth Tesfamichael, a second-year English student, said she had no real information about what was going on, except she heard rumors from another student that there was a gunman in the area. "Word of mouth spread really quickly," she said. "Everyone was misinformed." She said she hoped the university would have found a way to reach students. "I expected an e-mail (from the university), but didn't get anything," she said. Nancy Chakravarty, director of admissions for Corinne A. Seeds University Elementary School, said she was especially concerned about the lack of communication because parents were calling in to the school with questions and she was able to offer no response. "We had no idea that anything was going on," Chakravarty said. "One of our teachers came up and asked what ... the helicopters (flying around the area) were for." She said her staff was entirely unaware of the situation until concerned parents started contacting the office. "Parents had called and said there had been a shooting on campus." Lawrence Lokman, assistant vice chancellor of University Communications, called the incident a "rumor-control" issue for the university. He said media relations officials spent Wednesday contacting City News Service and other media outlets to correct reports, such as KCBS's report of a "UCLA Gunman" which was later removed. "We all realize we're in a fast media environment," he said. "These kinds of things always drive home (a) level of angst. ... (It's) important not to add to the angst." Greenstein said e-mails were later sent out to various mailing lists or list-servs that went to building coordinators and residence halls. "The e-mail that people are talking about was addressing the rumor control," she said, referring to the list-serv notice at around 4 p.m., after the incident was over. E-mails were not sent out to the entire UCLA community. "One thing (we) want to avoid is over-noticing people. Focus groups (formed after the Virginia Tech shooting) have said if they get too much information or bulletins, they stop looking at them," Greenstein said. "When it's really important, we're going to tell you." Chakravarty contacted UCPD and was told there was no shooting and the students were not in danger. There are 435 students who attend the on-campus elementary school, which is the laboratory school of the UCLA Graduate School of Education & Information Studies, according to the school's Web site. The school day ends at 2:40 p.m. and students wait to be picked up in the carpool area at 2:45 p.m. The incident was first reported at around 1:30 p.m., according to witnesses, and police re-opened the streets by 3:20 p.m. She said it was good that officials tried to lower people's anxiety, but believes she should have been notified immediately, even if her school was not at risk. "(It's) important that we be informed so that we can take action if we need to, and we can allay the fears of the parents," she said. "Parents hear things, they get worried, they call us and they expect us to know." Since the Virginia Tech shooting on April 16, university campuses nationwide have been sensitive to campus safety issues. Greenstein said Wednesday's incident was not an issue of public safety and was not similar to the events at Virginia Tech. But she added that emergency protocols would have been enacted had the situation been similar to the Virginia Tech shooting. "(They are) totally not comparable situations," she said. Lokman said there are trained officials and processes in place if there had been a more serious incident. He said that depending on the situation, university administrators could choose to use one or more different means of mass communication for safety purposes, such as loudspeakers on police cars, and the campus television station on channel 3 and the emergency radio station, 1630 AM. He said there is also technology in place, created before the Virginia Tech shooting, that would allow the university to instant message the community and override Web sites such as the UCLA home page and MyUCLA. "That is technology we're evaluating to add to our mix of options," he said. Gabe Rose, Undergraduate Students Association Council president-elect, said university administrators should consider alternative methods of communication. He said since students do not constantly check their e-mails, "(it's) important to look for other ways to distribute the message. ... E-mail is not effective." Instead, Rose said student leaders and university officials should rethink the current policies to come up with different ways to reach students in case of emergencies, such as a text-message system. "It's important to not get caught up in the status quo, but to be creative and think harder," he said, adding that students should express their concerns and share ideas with student government leaders on how to make the campus safer. "If you don't feel safe on campus, that's a huge problem," he said. Greenstein said it is important to distinguish between rumors and official university notices but said the incident on Wednesday was relatively minor. "(There were) very few people who had issues. ... Many people saw it for what it was worth," Greenstein said. -- Original Source:The Daily Bruin - May 18, 2007
School security proposal shoves aside prevention
By:Anonymous Posted: 4/27/07 Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones urged April 19 that the Ohio state legislature and Governor Ted Strickland consider drafting a new law that would require armed guards in all of Ohio's schools, colleges and universities. In the wake of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute shootings, during which a crazed student killed 32 students and faculty, debate within the Ohio General Assembly has focused heavily on how future tragedies of this sort can be prevented. Nonetheless, the extraordinary cost of this program and its doubtful effectiveness makes it a proposal that the legislature should overlook in favor of more proactive approaches that would act to prevent another school shooting. The high cost of putting an armed guard in every Ohio school raises some serious questions regarding the state's ability to fund this program. Such a program appears to be a colossal waste of expenditures, especially given the fact that the state's budget is already in the red. Given the rarity of such attacks, it is neither prudent nor feasible to devote such a large amount of state resources to a program such as this and more cost effective measures can be implemented instead. Additionally, the presence of an armed guard is unlikely to dissuade a deranged and suicidal student from carrying out a planned attack. It is naive to think that a security guard is a deterrent strategy, or that he or she would be able to intervene in time to stop a determined shooter. Furthermore, Jones' suggestion that teachers and faculty members could be trained and equipped with firearms is a frightening proposition. The answer to school violence does not rest in turning Ohio's public schools into armed camps, thus creating a culture of anxiety. Placing armed contingents within Ohio's schools sends the wrong message that guns are the way to prevent violence. Indeed, Virginia Tech has one of the best campus police forces in the country. Rather, focus must be shifted toward a proactive preventive strategy that involves more funding for school counselors and an increased effort on behalf of teachers to spot troubled students and refer them to professional help. While schools should be allowed to place armed guards on their campuses and in their halls on a district by district basis, this decision should remain a local matter. Ultimately, Sheriff Jones' proposal is a reactionary measure that will do little except further Ohio's financial crisis and create an unnecessary police presence in elementary, high school and university buildings. -- Original Source: The Miami Student - April 27, 2007
"Skotzko, Stacey Nicole" <skotzksn@muohio.edu>
Sculpture by Darrien Lightworker in Second Life. Located at Virginia Tech memorial on Info Island. Lightworker's description reads: "One blood tear for each soul lost in Virginia Tech" Image provided courtesy of nwn.blogs.com
Se entrega medalla póstuma a estudiantes
Por Ricardo Valdivieso y Yolanda Puyana Viernes 11 de Mayo del 2007 Después de la tragedia ocurrida en Blacksburg el 16 de abril, Sigma Delta Pi chapter de Virginia Tech, así como el profesorado y cuerpo estudiantil de esta institución, continúa con su agenda de trabajo en la organización de la ceremonia de graduación hispana. Como en años anteriores, esta sociedad entregó la ceremonia de graduación y reconocimiento académico a 30 estudiantes hispanos de Virginia Tech. Estos graduados con grados de licenciatura, maestría y Ph.D.,fueron distinguidos con la medalla Gesta Hispana por parte de esta asociación. Este año, esta ceremonia de graduación adquiere un significado muy especial, ya que la misma se dedicó a los estudiantes Juan Ramon Ortíz Ortíz originario de Puerto Rico, candidato para la maestría de ingeniería civil, y al peruano Daniel Alejandro Pérez Cueva. Estos dos jóvenes hispanos a los que se les entregó su medalla en forma póstuma, fueron dos de las víctimas de la masacre en la que otros 30 estudiantes y profesores perdieron la vida. Los hechos trágicos del pasado mes, que han comovido no sólo a las comunidades de Blacksburg y Virginia sino al mundo entero, no deben ser un punto de referencia cuando se habla de Virginia Tech, una institución de un alto nivel académico y una de los mejores institutos politécnicos en el país. Esta universidad fué fundada en 1872 y cuenta con más de 60 programas de licenciatura y 140 maestrias y doctorados. También está considerada dentro de las 100 universidades en el país con mejores programas de investigación. Fundada en 1919, Sigma Delta Pi es una Sociedad Honoraria Hispana y miembro de Association of College Honor Societies. SDP honra a estudiantes que han completado tres años en el estudio del español a nivel universitario Antonio Fernández Vásquez, associate professor of Spanish y el director del Intensive Second Language Institute de Virginia Tech, y quien recientemente ha sido electado vice presidente regional de Sigma Delta Pi, mencionó que el capitulo de SDP de Virginia Tech se ha ganado la condecoración "Capitulo Honor y Mérito" los último tres años de entre más de 500 capítulos en la nación. La comunidad hispana del Valle de Roanoke se unió a la celebración de esta ceremonia de graduación, felicitando a los graduados hispanos, que al completar sus estudios superiores son ejemplo y modelos a seguir para muchos de nuestros niños y jóvenes. En un mundo como el de hoy, dinámico y voluble, es necesario recordar el papel de las universidades. Además de educar un rol importante de una universidad es el de establecer lazos comunicantes con la comunidad y ser un reflejo de la sociedad donde se encuentra. El pensador francés Michel Maffesoli cita en su libro Posmodernidad: "Toda Universidad debe aspirar a ser una ciudad, sólo así se podrá evitar la tajante separación entre el estudio y la vida diaria, entre el aula y la calle, entre el claustro y la urbe." Después de la tragedia, Virginia Tech continúa dinámicamente con su ritmo de vida, cumpliendo con su labor formativa y manteniendo estrechos vínculos con su comunidad. -- Fuente Original: The Roanoke Times Roanoke.com - Roanoke, VA. http://www.roanoke.com/columnists/spanish/wb/wb/xp-116444
Yolanda Puyana, Columnista mcyrp@hotmail.com Autorizacion: 22 de julio del 2007
Today, I had the opportunity to attend the Penn State Blue & White football game. What an experience to be blessed with after this terrible week's happenings. It was truly inspiring to see the support for Virginia Tech. Everywhere I looked, students and alumni, friends and family were wearing Hokie orange and maroon. It's so hard to describe the pride I felt seeing this rival school sending their love, prayers and respect to VTech. It is amazing how we as a society can come together and love and pray for those who are hurting - now wouldn't it be more amazing if we could do the same every day, good or bad? Everyone was wearing orange and maroon - as opposed to the usual blue and white. Original source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46278893@N00/467567500/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0
Rights Permission Contact: Lisa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/46278893@N00/467567500/) Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0
seattle PI guest column on the tragedy of virginia tech
Beauty and Depravity | eugene cho's blog [eugenecho.com] Here's the guest column I had the privilege of writing for the Seattle Post Intelligencer [published for Tuesday, April 24, 2007]. I've also included some other reads I have personally found very moving and insightful. I was limited by time and a word count, but hoped that this 'guest column' would be a source of healing, deeper understanding, and blessing to many. I wish I did a better job, [and given them my own title], and spoken from a larger Asian perspective. One clarification I want to make - while I and other Koreans/Asians grieve and feel pain and 'shame' over Seung Hui Cho, we are not the victims in this tragedy. My hope was to convey that no matter who or what we are, we are all connected to one another - not just because of our ethnic identity but our larger human collective and narrative. Because of the invitation to address the larger Washington readership, I chose not to be preachy. Much of this editorial comes from some initial thoughts shared in a blog entry from last week entitled, 'Making Sense of the Senseless.' Worthwhile Relevant Reads: Cho Family Statement [Sun Kyung Cho], Guilt, Shame,and Corporate Identity [elderj], To Blame is Human [James Choung], A Lesson in Your Apology [Philadelphia Enquire Editorial], One of Our Own [Bo Lim], Nikki Giovanni Convocation Address [N. Giovanni], Making Sense of the Senseless Comment [rk], Va Tech Victims Pics & Stories [NY Times], and Silence of a Murderer's Mother [Diana Bass]. If you have a lot of time and are bored, here's the mp3 of the sermon [57.12] I shared last Sunday at Quest Church. I preached from 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Isaiah 1:17, and Matthew 5:9 entitled, 'Love Wins.' Yes, it is very long but I also have to stay true to my preaching nickname: 'Fiddy.' Here's the direct link to the Seattle PI column: Like everyone else — here (Seattle), there (Virginia), West (United States), East (Korea) and everywhere (the larger world), I have been shocked and horrified over the Virginia Tech shooting. I have been trying to make sense of something that is senseless. Personally, the emotions have been even more convoluted because of my bicultural identity. I was born in Korea, immigrated to the United States at the age of 6 and thus am Korean American. I am also a U.S. citizen; I am a Korean American male immigrant and even share the same surname as the gunman, Seung-Hui Cho. Once I discovered that the gunman was Korean American, I had some initial fears of racial backlash. As a proud citizen of this country, I do not believe there will be any overt backlash. It would be nonsensical for people to associate the heinous crime to Koreans or Korean Americans simply because of Seung-Hui Cho's ethnicity. In that same vein, it would have been preposterous and unjust for us to place blame on African Americans for the actions of John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo in the Beltway Sniper attacks of 2002 or to ask white Americans to share blame with Timothy McVeigh in the Oklahoma City bombings of 1995. But in the days after the identity of the gunman was revealed, many in the media and larger culture may have been perplexed by the responses of Koreans and Korean Americans. Many Koreans expressed embarrassment, shame and even guilt. State Sen. Paul Shinn fought back his tears as he apologized to fellow lawmakers. Even despite being reassured by others that an apology was not necessary, he continued. Although I personally don't feel the need to directly apologize for the actions of Seung-Hui Cho, I understand why Shinn and others feel the need to do so. Although not apologetic, I share in deep pain, embarrassment and shame. I share in the deep pain because when I see images of this young man, I don't just see a "crazy Asian killer," I also see someone whose life story sounds very similar to mine. Such words as lonely, isolated and quiet were often used to describe my younger life as I struggled to fit in as an immigrant. I share in embarrassment and shame because I see Seung-Hui Cho as a part of my larger community. As Koreans or Korean Americans, we share not only similar life stories but also a communal bond. Contrary to perhaps the more "individualistic" worldview of Westerners, Koreans have a certain communal identity. One can contend that to be Korean is to be communal. No one is an island to themselves. For that reason, Koreans tend to rejoice and mourn on the successes and failures of fellow Koreans. We rejoice with individuals such as James Sun ("The Apprentice"), Michelle Wie (LPGA golfer), Yul Kwon ("Survivor: Cook's Island), Hines Ward (NFL player) and Yunjin Kim (ABC's "Lost"). And because we are a communal culture — not only as Koreans but also within our Korean American immigrant experience — we mourn and feel deep pain and shame over Seung-Hui Cho. Last week, someone asked me "Why am I mourning? Is it because of the one or the 32″? For me, and many Korean Americans, the answer is both. We are mourning because of the 33. We are mourning because great pain and harm have been inflicted upon the lives of 32 individuals and their loved ones — each one with beautiful lives, stories, dreams and futures. We are mourning because the one, Seung-Hui Cho — a part of us — chose to commit a horrible act of violence and devastation. Last week, my wife and I have broken down in tears in random situations. We cry and pray for the 32, their families, the students and community at Blacksburg, but also cry for Seung-Hui Cho and his family. We cry because in him, we see a younger brother. And so, we grieve for the 33. Although I know that it is not necessary to apologize, I do want to share these words. On behalf of Koreans and Korean Americans, I want to extend our deepest condolences and love to all the families of those affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech. It is my sincere hope and prayer — that no matter who or what we are — we grow to understand we are all connected to one another. The Rev. Eugene Cho is lead pastor at Quest Church, a multiethnic church in Seattle (seattlequest.org);(eugenecho.wordpress.com). May each of us take to heart the ministry of reconciliation, the pursuit of justice for the oppressed and 'other' and be peacemakers. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We're Christ's representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God's work of making things right between them. We're speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he's already a friend with you. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 24th, 2007 -- Archived with permission of the author. Original Source: Beauty and Depravity | eugene cho's blog [eugenecho.com] http://eugenecho.wordpress.com/2007/04/24/seattle-pi-column/
04/19/07 95 words posted by Mark Bard at 11:19 AM The Librarians of Second Life have constructed a virtual memorial on Info Island to commemorate the victims of Virginia Tech. Pictures of the victims are displayed on a wall, and when visitors click on the picture they are directed to short biographies. There is also a pillar with a list of names and a place to leave virtual flowers. The memorial can be found right next to the Second Life Info Island Welcome Center. For those not yet on Second Life, I took some pictures, which are available on the ALA Washington Office's Flickr page. -- Original Source: ALA District Dispatch Blog http://blogs.ala.org/districtdispatch.php?title=virginia_tech_memorial&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5.
Security 101: Salem State and other campuses step up safety
By Dinah Cardin/salem@cnc.com GateHouse News Service Fri Jul 13, 2007, 12:29 PM EDT Salem - Paducah. Jonesboro. Columbine. They may sound like destinations toured by a small garage band, but if we reach back in memory, they are actually cities that have suffered at the hands of teenage angst combined with dangerous weapons. The Virginia Tech massacre this past spring was a wake-up call to institutions of higher education all over the world. High schools may have their metal detectors and movies starring Michelle Pfeiffer about tough street kids and their violent behavior, but colleges have so far been wide open to strangers and incident. As Shane Rodriguez, deputy director of the Salem State College Police Department, says, when Seung Hui Cho fatally shot 32 students and faculty at Virginia Tech, he created "our 9-11." Last July, campus police placed an officer on the task of emergency preparedness. But Virginia Tech put the wheels into rapid motion. "When people send their sons and daughters to college, the last thing they expect is that they will be gunned down in a classroom or residence hall," says Rodriguez. That's why on June 29, Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett convened the first annual Essex County College Summit, linking campus security departments with the state police and the FBI. Officers from Salem State, Northern Essex Community, Endicott, Marion Court and Gordon colleges discussed their various security measures and listened to Col. Mark Delaney from the state police outline a training program for dealing specifically with school shooters. One of the most unique questions posed to Delaney was whether students should be locked in or out during a hostile shooter situation. His answer? Less moving parts means less confusion for law enforcement. Lock the doors, get away from the windows and wait for the "cavalry." The cavalry could be any number of local, state and federal law enforcement officers. But getting them on campus can take a while. That's why it comes down to campus police to initially act in a situation. The FBI terrorism division told the officers to develop a plan and then stick with it, practice it and learn from it. Without being too invasive in students' lives. Part of this, says Rodriguez, involves reaching out to police departments in Swampscott and other surrounding towns, including them in the plan to call in every available law enforcement officer. Officers from Salem State College will participate in the state police's active shooter program later this month, along with officers from the Salem Police Department. The state-funded program involves donning swat team equipment and simulating locking down a school to reach the ultimate goal of eliminating the violent threat and saving lives. The only cost to police departments is for the paint balls they will be shooting out of their weapons. Being prepared Across the North Shore, college officials are working to tighten security in time for the fall semester. Of them all, Salem State is probably at the highest risk for a violent attack since the city is difficult to get in and out of, the college encompasses four separate campuses and two new residence halls are being built. It's not only the largest in the area and constantly growing, Salem State is a big commuter school and is soon going to university status. Needless to say, there is a lot going on. All of this poses a big challenge for safety. Arming officers at Salem State is simply a necessity to protect the students and staff, says the chief of campus police. They started carrying patrol pistols a couple of years ago. "We finally came to the conclusion it was time," says Salem State chief of police Bill Anglin. "We're our own little city now." Schools are also looking to use technology to keep students away from campus in case of such an emergency. For two years, the state is funding a text messaging system on all state college campuses that will alert students of emergencies as well as snow days. During registration, the college will be collecting cell phone numbers from students. It's been proven, says Robert Paterson, chief information officer at Salem State, that you only need 65 to 70 percent of student phone numbers for the system to work. There are enough students hanging out together that the word gets around. "The big thing that we learned from Virginia Tech is you need to have multiple channels of communication to the community," says Paterson. The lesson of overloaded communication channels has been learned on 9-11 and during Hurricane Katrina. Even on Thanksgiving, phone lines get jammed. The school is still working out the final cost when the two-year state funded initiative runs out. Salem State is the only college in Essex County with armed officers. But that could soon change. "We're moving closer in that direction," says John Soucy, environmental, health and safety officer at Gordon College. This might come as a surprise for a religious institution. "We like to think the Lord is protecting us," says Soucy. Still, he says, public safety is service oriented and having firearms makes you a better servant. "It's better than standing and watching it happen," he says. 'No warnings' At last week's summit, Julia Cowley of the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime told the assembled that there are three major categories of violent youth — the mentally ill, the antisocial and the "normal." They have often engaged in behavior that has caused concern for others. In a study of 41 offenders from 37 schools, the findings showed that the violent youth almost always felt bullied. Kip Kinkel, from Cowley's home state of Oregon, said over and over that he had "no choice" when he killed his parents and then shot students. Beware, said Cowley, of the "injustice collector." But school shootings can also result from the angry ex-husband of a faculty member, she reminded the group. In a slide presentation, she showed disturbing drawings done by the offenders. They were often dark and violent, showing the classic violent youth characteristics of narcissism and lack of empathy. They often tell no one beforehand if they are serious about doing the act and may plan it forever. "Eric and Dylan planned their attack for nearly a year and there were no warnings," she said of the Columbine shooters, speaking almost intimately about those in her area of expertise. Matt Gallagher of the FBI's Victim Assistance Program is someone school officials don't want to get to know. His office assisted Virginia Tech after the shootings. Gallagher spoke of the mistakes made there, like when faculty members were counseling one another. This summer, Salem State is refining their plan, talking about resources and grants. Rodriguez is putting in long hours during a relatively quiet time for a college campus. His enthusiasm for the topic of preparing for a school shooting seemingly has no bounds. "We don't want to be caught off guard," he says. "We want to be as prepared as possible. Virginia Tech forced us to take a real hard look at it. We're diligent now." -- Original Source: Boston, MA - Town Online http://www.townonline.com/homepage/x117549697 Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0