Virginia Tech
description: Publicado por Manuel Dávila Galindo Olivares lunes, abril 16, 2007 En honor a lo ominoso Hoy vemos en el mundo el reflejo de lo que somos. Han muerto más estudiantes que caminaban por los pasillos de su escuela a manos de otros estudiantes que disparaban por los pasillos de su escuela. No hay lugar a dudas de que todo lo que hemos realizado a nuestro alrededor, es una simulación de la sociedad que nos gustaría ser. Consejos, anuncios, libros, películas, pláticas, conferencias, noviazgos, padres, amistades, todo gira alrededor de este mundo utópico que nos estorba a casa paso que damos. Por todos los lugares hay una figura que debemos imitar, un peso que debemos alcanzar, una cosa que debemos ignorar; la pobreza y la violencia son la verdadera naturaleza de nuestro presente, aún metidos en un café multinacional de la condesa, encontramos restos de esta sociedad que nos persigue y nos obliga a un cinismo pasmoso. Un estudiante, podrían ser dos, entra a su escuela a las 7 de la mañana. En la escuela camina por los pasillos buscando el lugar donde comenzará a disparar. Cuándo está ahí abre fuego ante la mirada atónita de sus compañeros, muere baleado y no se sabe si alguien más le disparó o se suicido. Más de tres decenas de estudiantes muertos en una universidad que podría ser cualquiera, incluso ésta. El presidente George W. Bush llama a lo sucedido en Virginia Tech una tragedia y ofrece sus condolencias, seguramente utiliza el mismo formato que con los soldados que fallecen diario en Irak. Para muchos es la mayor tragedia en la historia universitaria americana, para otros es un tiroteo más de los muchos que se han suscitado en los últimos diez años. Podemos analizar este evento desde muchas perspectivas, sin embargo entre la búsqueda del análisis olvidaremos la más importante: Más de treinta personas fallecieron porque alguien decidió matarlos. ¿Qué hizo a este ciudadano zero tomar un arma, probablemente semiautomática, y disparar a p…
creator: Manuel Dávila Galindo Olivares
date: 2007-08-09
contributor: Elva Orozco
rights: Creative Commons Atribución-No Comercial-No Derivadas 2.5 México
language: spa

Solemnes momentos de recordación
description: Actividades en honor a los fallecidos marcan el regreso a virginia tech Publicado por María Luisa Azpiazu EFE 04-24-2007 Washington, D.C — Mucho dolor, impresionantes minutos de silencio y 32 campanadas en memoria de las víctimas de la peor matanza de la historia estudiantil de E.U. marcaron ayer el regreso a clase de los alumnos de la Universidad Politécnica de Virginia. Fueron miles los alumnos que regresaron ayer para rendir tributo a sus compañeros y profesores fallecidos. Justo una semana antes, Cho Seung-Hui, un estudiante coreano de 23 años, decidió cambiar el ritmo devida en esta Universidad del sur del estado de Virginia y mató a 32 personas. Las solemnes conmemoraciones comenzaron muy pronto. El primer minuto de silencio se guardó a las 7:10 de la mañana en el edificio en el que Cho cobró sus dos primeras víctimas. Algo más de dos horas después, la gran concentración se llevó a cabo en el campus central, donde los estudiantes colocaron miles de recuerdos, flores, velas y escritos en recuerdo de las víctimas. Entre los objetos, alguien puso una bandera de Perú y otra de Israel en memoria de dos de las víctimas, el estudiante peruano Daniel Pérez Cuevas y el profesor Liviu Librescu, quien, según testigos, bloqueó con su cuerpo la entrada a su clase del agresor y salvó la vida de varios de sus alumnos, aunque perdió la suya. La mañana fue brillante, soleada y cálida, lo que contribuyó a que el acto fuera aún más solemne. Los estudiantes portaron 33 banderas blancas que representaban tanto a las víctimas como al agresor. Una pequeña banda de música interpretó el himno "America the Beautiful" cerca del lugar donde se había instalado un semicírculo con 33 piedras en recuerdo de los fallecidos. Junto a la piedra del agresor, alguien colocó una carta en la que se asegura que este joven "subestimó nuestra fuerza, coraje y compasión" y en la que se asegura que "rompiste nuestros corazones pero no nuestros espíritus". Este es e…
creator: María Luisa Azpiazu
date: 2007-08-13
contributor: Elva Orozco
rights: Jorge Mederos Executive Editor La Raza Chicago Inc. jorge.mederos@laraza.com August, 13 2007
language: spa

Mourners pack Tech after attack
description: Community tries to come to terms with horrific attack Maria Tchijov, Cavalier Daily Life Editor BLACKSBURG, Va.-- In a day filled with a constant barrage of media images of the shooter who took the lives of at least three of her friends and 29 others,Behnaz Bonyadian took solace as thousands of people patiently filed into Cassell Coliseum and Lane Stadium yesterday afternoon. The convocation ceremonyincluded remarks from U.S. President George W. Bush and Gov. Tim Kaine. It was a "massive display of respect," the Virginia Tech junior said, observing the crowd. Nearly all entering the somber event wore Hokie maroon and orange as they donned memorial ribbons. During the ceremony, various public officials including Bush and Virginia Tech President Charles Steger offered words of solace to the community. "No words truly express the depth of sadness we feel," Steger said after he received a prolonged standing ovation. "Words are very weak symbols of our emotions at times like this." President and Laura Bush were in attendance at the event, and Bush addressed the university on behalf of the nation. "We've come to express our sympathy," he said. "In this time of anguish, I hope you know that people all over this country are thinking of you and asking God to provide comfort for all who have been affected." Throughout the southwestern Virginia campus, students, university employees and faculty members tried to comprehend the senseless tragedy. Choices Monday morning Senior Kate Stuck of Granby, Conn. was sitting in class in Pamplin Hall Monday morning when she heard about the situation. One of her classmates, who had a laptop, received the first e-mail sent out at 9:26 a.m. "We knew something was going on," Stuck said. Her fears were confirmed when her boyfriend, under lockdown in Randall Hall, called her cell phone. Unlike Stuck, Chris Cooke learned about the shooting first-hand through the first e-mail sent out about the attacks by the administration, and he decided not to …
creator: Maria Tchijov
publisher: The Cavalier Daily
date: 2007-07-31
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Meggie Bonner <meggiebonner@gmail.com>
language: eng

Police identify Norris Hall shooter as Va. Tech student
description: Cho attended Northern Va. high school, peers describe him as 'loner' Maria Tchijov and Thomas Madrecki, Cavalier Daily Senior Writers BLACKSBURG, Va. -- Police identified Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old Virginia Tech student, as the gunman responsible for killing 30 victims Monday in Virginia Tech's Norris Hall. Some who knew him described Cho as "a complete loner" and the author of "disturbing" and "excessively violent" plays. Cho was found dead among the carnage that spanned four rooms and a nearby stairwell in Norris Hall. Cho, a native of South Korea, was linked to the murder weapon through a fingerprint contained in immigration documents. Ballistics tests confirmed that one of the two guns found at Norris Hall was also used at the shooting that took place two hours earlier in West Ambler Johnston dormitory. While police said it is likely that the two shootings are related, the investigation is ongoing. An ongoing investigation Cho was an English major at the university from Centreville, Va. Peers from Cho's middle school in Centreville said he was quiet, shy and withdrawn. "He was made fun of a lot by everybody," said Samuel Linton, a homeroom classmate of Cho's during seventh and eighth grade. "He was a complete loner, he never said a word ... he had no interaction with teachers -- he just stared like he wasn't paying attention." David Gearheart, who also attended middle school with Cho, said he talked to Cho once or twice, but that talking to him was just that -- talking to somebody rather than with somebody. "He had a lot of crazy writings in his notebook and stuff, how he hated Americans," Gearheart said. Linton said Cho was once reported to the principal for writing down the names of people he was supposedly planning to kill. "It was like a hit list," Linton said. "They found one in his locker." Linton said people "constantly" talked about how Cho might be the type of person that would one day attempt to kill someone. Officials at a press conference yesterday…
creator: Maria Tchijov and Thomas Madrecki
publisher: The Cavalier Daily
date: 2007-07-31
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Meggie Bonner <meggiebonner@gmail.com>
language: eng

‘Era un buen amigo y un ser excepcional’
description: Primo de Ramón Ortiz, víctima en virginia tech, lo recuerda como un joven ejemplar Publicado por Maribel Hastings Corresponsal La Opinión 04-19-2007 Washington, D.C.— Juan Ramón Ortiz Ortiz era un joven ingeniero de 26 años, amante de su familia, de la música, de su carrera. "Ramón era un chico prometedor y un ser humano excepcional que por causas de la vida se le privó de ciertamente ser un ciudadano modelo y ejemplar". Así se expresó Óscar Marrero, primo de Ramón, como le llamaba, un puertorriqueño que el lunes fue una de las víctimas mortales de la matanza de la Universidad virginia tech, a la que asistía junto con su esposa Liselle Vega. Casados hace apenas año y medio, el joven matrimonio —ambos ingenieros— se trasladó en agosto de 2006 a virginia tech a cursar sus maestrías. Como todos los días, la pareja se despidió y cada uno se dirigió a sus respectivas clases, cuando se divulgó la noticia del tiroteo. Liselle llamó al teléfono celular de Juan Ramón y le envió correos electrónicos. Al no tener respuesta temió lo peor. Así fue. Marrero conversó con La Opinión vía telefónica desde Puerto Rico. Los padres de Juan Ramón viven en Bayamón. El primo de Juan Ramón, con voz pausada y temblorosa por el dolor de la muerte de su familiar, dijo: "Juan era un muchacho completamente sano, sin ningún tipo de vicios, un muchacho extraordinario y muy aventajado en el área académica, que era un buen amigo, un buen hijo". Y añadió: "Es una pérdida muy grande que todavía no acabamos de entender, y si no la acabamos de entender no la hemos podido asimilar... Y si no la hemos podido asimilar, pues tampoco nos hemos podido reponer". "La familia está devastada. Ha sido un golpe contra la valla. Una situación muy lamentable que no esperábamos", agregó. Juan Ramón estudió ingeniería en la Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico. Siempre fue un alumno y un profesional sobresaliente lleno de aspiraciones, afirmó su primo. "No era…
creator: Maribel Hastings
date: 2007-08-14
contributor: Elva Orozco
rights: Jorge Mederos Executive Editor La Raza Chicago Inc. jorge.mederos@laraza.com August 13, 2007
language: spa

Comunidad coreana teme tras matanza en Virginia
description: Pide no centrarse en el origen del agresor, sino en el problema de las armas en el país. Publicado por Maribel Hastings Corresponsal La Opinión 04-18-2007 Washington, D.C.— A partir de la revelación de que el supuesto responsable de la matanza en la universidad virginia tech es un residente legal originario de Corea del Sur, se ha generado cierta preocupación entre las comunidades coreana y asiática en general de Estados Unidos y entre los grupos que las representan por temor a repercusiones negativas hacia este sector de la población. Personas entrevistadas coincidieron en que la raza, el origen nacional o la situación migratoria de Cho Seung Hui, de 23 años, no debería opacar la raíz del problema, ya sea la situación mental que lo llevó a cometer tal acto o la facilidad con que obtuvo armas de fuego. Cho llegó a Estados Unidos en 1992 procedente de Corea del Sur. Era residente permanente y se reportó que renovó su documento migratorio por última vez en octubre de 2003. De momento, líderes de las comunidades coreana y asiática indicaron a La Opinión que han recibido reportes sin confirmar de incidentes aislados. "Estamos preocupados. Desafortunadamente hemos recibido reportes de algunos incidentes, pero nada ha sido confirmado", dijo a este diario Aimee Baldillo, directora de programas del Centro de Justicia Asiático Americano con sede en Washington, D.C. Agregó: "Nuestra preocupación inicial es estar presentes para la comunidad de virginia tech", como lo han estado, aseguró, en oportunidades previas para atender asuntos de otras comunidades. Por su parte, Eun Sook Lee, directora ejecutiva del Consorcio para la Educación al Servicio de la Nación Coreana (NAKASEC), con sede en Los Ãngeles, indicó a La Opinión que no han recibido reportes específicos de incidentes en contra de coreanos, pero que ha sido tema de discusiones entre las diversas organizaciones y se ha discutido en programas de radio. Añadió que, sin embargo, la raza, el or…
creator: Maribel Hastings
date: 2007-08-14
contributor: Elva Orozco
rights: Jorge Mederos Executive Editor La Raza Chicago Inc. jorge.mederos@laraza.com August 13, 2007
language: spa

https://www.april16archive.org/items/show/60
description: This is a banner from another university that was at the memorial.
creator: Marie Baraldi
date: 2007-04-30
contributor: Marie Baraldi
language: eng

Daisies on the drillfield
description: I took a picture of these flowers on the drillfield near the memorial.
creator: Marie Baraldi
date: 2007-04-30
contributor: Marie Baraldi
language: eng

"SOLO LE PIDO A DIOS"
description: Publicado por Mariluz Barrera González viernes 20 de abril de 2007 Siempre pienso en mi padre, en cualquier instante de mi vida, siempre está presente. Sobre todo en los momentos más difíciles o cuando siento que las cosas empeoran cada vez más. A veces siento que el espíritu pierde fuerzas, se agota o debilita ante tantas circunstancias, tantos eventos que me cuestionan si ser tan objetiva y sensible a nuestra realidad vale la pena, en un mundo donde ya nadie quiere serlo, y donde al parecer serlo me convierte poco a poco en un ser fuera de lugar, principalmente en mi lugar de trabajo. Me preocupa dejar de ser sensible, he comentado que en mi trabajo y en mi profesión la realidad es algo que se muestra con mucha crudeza y dolor la mayoría de las veces; y sin embargo se me hace difícil entender que aún así a las personas les cueste trabajo aceptar ayuda y peor aún querer terminar con esa situación que les provoca sufrimiento. Entonces entiendo por que la humanidad atraviesa por tantos problemas que aún no se resuelven. La matanza de Virginia es para mí una consecuencia muy grande del grado máximo al que podemos llegar ante lo peor de la indiferencia, dejar de mirarnos como personas a nosotros mismos y por consiguiente a los demás. Dejar de hacerlo nos convierte en seres que no me atrevería a decir de que tipo. Creo que el asesino de Virginia sintió que definitivamente ya no era mirado ni tratado como tal (Aunque por los antecedentes que tenía tal vez nunca lo fué) y como consecuencia pensó que este acto ruin y terrible era una llamada de atención para ser observado aunque sea por un instante y no pasar desapercibido, en un mundo donde ya nadie se mira; donde nos tratan y nos tratamos como objetos. En terapia muchas veces les he preguntado a mis pacientes adictos que diferencia existe entre ellos y una silla y sorprendentemente no tienen una respuesta, a veces me contestan que la silla tiene 4 patas y ellos dos. Reconocer nuestra humanidad ya n…
creator: Mariluz Barrera González
date: 2007-08-11
contributor: Elva Orozco
rights: Creative Commons Atribución-No Comercial-No Derivadas 2.5 México
language: spa

Create a Violence-Free Society
description: By Marissa Camilon Staff Writer Amidst the midterms, papers and parties, college students can find it hard to believe that just a 20-minute period can actually make our lives stress-free and easier. This was the message that was emphasized during the Art of Living Organization's talk, "Creating a Violence-Free Society." With guest speaker international humanitarian Swami Pragyapad, this event strived to reach out to the UC Irvine community in order to establish a more peaceful and more harmonious environment for students and faculty. While the talk was open to the public, it proved to be an intimate atmosphere for the organization and event-goers. Sitting in a simple white chair in the front of the room, Pragyapad comfortably addressed real life issues that we struggle with in our everyday life. According to Pragyapad, we begin our lives as children constantly being told that we are to be calm and quiet, but never told how. If that wasn't enough of a predicament, it is also human nature for us to constantly think about the things that we are told not to think about. These inner conflicts can cause us to feel immense stress and when the mind is disturbed, the effects can be seen in all aspects of life. Pragyapad went on to explain the four factors that affect our state of mind. The type of food we eat can be very important. As a "gas" for our bodies and brains, eating the wrong kind of food can alter our behavior. Secondly, the quality of sleep that each of us receive can have a heavy impact on our lifestyle. Also, our breathing pattern can change our mindset. It is for us to recognize that when we are in a state of fear or anger, we can breathe a certain way. We should also recognize that intentionally taking calm, deep breaths can help change our attitudes. In addition, our understanding of what our lives are about and who we are can have an effect on our state of mind. The more we feel we have a grasp on life, the more our minds can be at ease. Just as a disturbed…
creator: Marissa Camilon
date: 2007-08-19
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Zachary Gale <newueic@gmail.com>
language: eng

Second Life Virginia Tech Memorial
description: 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.
creator: Mark Bard
date: 2007-06-06
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.5
language: eng

Provost Update September 10, 2007
description: Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 08:50:15 -0400 From: Provost@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: Provost Update September 10, 2007 Monday, September 10, 2007 Colleagues, On behalf of President Charles Steger, I have convened and will chair an ad hoc task force to develop recommendations for the future use of the seven former classrooms on the second floor front wing of Norris Hall. The task force membership includes faculty, staff, students, and administrators who represent broad university interests and are sensitive to the impact of the April 16 tragedy. The charge to the task force is to seek input regarding potential uses of the specified space in Norris Hall, review proposals, and to make recommendations. The task force is advisory to President Steger as he prepares to finalize a decision about the allocation of space in Norris Hall. The amount of assignable space is approximately 4,500 sq. ft. The remainder of Norris Hall (approximately 35,000 sq. ft.) is occupied by the College of Engineering programs, and includes academic and administrative offices, laboratories, storage and support facilities, and computer rooms. The specified rooms will not be reassigned to their former use, nor will they be a site for a public memorial or museum commemorating the April 16 tragedy. The task force will consider issues of scope, cost, impact, programmic relationships, the strategic plan, long-term vision, access, security, etc. in considering proposals. Because the rooms under consideration are contiguous with the other spaces, the infrastructure issues and potential uses must take the impact on the entire building into account. I am pleased to announce that the task force is accepting pre-proposals at this time (one to two pages with an emphasis on ideas and concepts). We welcome and encourage all ideas and proposals. Fully developed proposals (i.e., architectural renderings, cost estimates, etc.) will be requested selectively after initial reviews. W…
creator: Mark G. McNamee
date: 2007-09-10
contributor: Brent Jesiek
language: eng

Peace in a World of Massacre
description: What Jesus calls us to when we're most frightened. Mark Galli | posted 4/17/2007 11:35AM When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." —John 20:19-21 Hiding is an inescapable part of the human condition, and it started early: And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden (Gen. 3:8). In last Sunday's lectionary reading from the Gospels, we see a similar pattern. The disciples hide in a house behind locked doors, because they are afraid of the authorities who had just murdered their master. After Monday's horrific massacre in Virginia, most of us will want to go and do likewise. We'll want to hide from God, from others, and from ourselves. The massacre disturbs us not because it's unusual but because it reminds us of the many slaughters inflicted on innocents everyday across the globe. It is a frightening icon of our vulnerability and mortality. We are right to be afraid. The enlightened, scientific, rational ethos that pervades our culture hypnotizes us into believing that with every biomedical breakthrough and fresh psychological insight we are progressing as a species. That's a lie. Psychologists work mightily to shape relationships and convince us we really are "safe." But we're not safe. It's as simple as that. We're vulnerable. And we know it. And so we hide. * * * The man and woman hid themselves "among the trees in the garden." That pristine garden. A perfect garden. That spot "among the trees" must have been beautiful. The disciples hid themselves in a hou…
creator: Mark Galli
date: 2007-06-18
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Becky Custer, Editorial Coordinator (bcuster@christianitytoday.com)
language: eng

Media doesn't always know best
description: By Mark Humphrey Monday, April 23, 2007 It's no secret that the news media exercises bad judgment at times. Granted, we, as journalists, try to make informed decisions about what to cover and how. For example, during summer training at the Daily Bruin, we did a news-judgment exercise involving an actual story. The story was about a baby who had been murdered by her father, and the story also highlighted how a welfare program had failed the family. The issue was whether to run a photo of a coroner holding a bag that had the baby's body in it - was the photo just simply shocking, or did it further the purpose of the story? We ultimately decided we would run the photo. Our reasoning was that the photo, while shocking and potentially in poor taste, further hammered home the main point of the story - how social programs had failed this family so terribly. Judging by the mainstream media's recent coverage of certain events, I think many journalists would do well to take part in this same exercise. In the past few weeks we've been bombarded by three stories. First came radio douche bag Don Imus' derogatory remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Then came NBC's decision to broadcast Virginia Tech killer Cho Seung-Hui's videotaped rantings. Finally, there came Alec Baldwin's disturbing phone message to his daughter. Aside from showing the ugly side of humanity, these stories have one thing in common: They were all covered in a misguided fashion. With Imus, people were right to be up in arms. He defamed a group of talented young women at what was supposed to be their finest moment. Unfortunately, this story got hammered into the ground, filling the airwaves at every single second of the day. Why was this a problem? Because of media hypocrisy. One of the main reasons the media gave for covering this so relentlessly was to right Imus' wrong: defaming a group of women because of what he thought of their physical appearance. Yet, by covering this so excessively, Imus'…
creator: Mark Humphrey
date: 2007-07-15
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Saba Riazati <editor@media.ucla.edu>
language: eng

Letter from a VT Student
description: Today was by far the most trying day I've experienced in my life. On April 16, 2007 33 people were killed, with 15 more wounded on the Virginia Tech Campus. I know that this is likely not new information, but I repeat it just to add strength to my message. There are not words to properly express just what feelings this day has brought. Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it. I've spoken to more people on the phone today than I have in any day I can remember. The hours spent in the dorm just waiting and watching, seeing the events unfold and hearing the number of dead and wounded climb higher was the epitome of helplessness. This was a tragedy the likes of which have never been seen before, and hopefully will never be seen again. We heard it over and over again. The worst school shooting in US history, they said at first. Then, the worst mass murder in US history as the numbers climbed. Any attempt to convey the emotions and thoughts which barraged my mind today would be futile, vain, and ultimately trite. This was a dark day, near black as night. That said, I have every confidence in this university and this community. I believe this town is capable of rising to the occasion and overcoming this monumental tragedy. I have no idea what the coming days and weeks hold in store, or even the slightest notion of what will happen as time transpires. There is no set procedure for handling something of this magnitude, by sheer virtue of the fact that it has never happened. In spite of that, I feel we, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, students, faculty and staff all, and the town of Blacksburg, are capable of bonding together to lift each other over this hurdle. We will pay our dues and respects to those deceased. We MUST pay our dues and our respects. Anything less would be a mark upon our record. It is only then that we can hope to begin the rebuilding and healing process. It will be a long time before any student can step into Norris Hall without imme…
creator: Mark Malloy
date: 2007-05-24
contributor: Brent Jesiek
language: eng

Provost Update August 17, 2007
description: Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:25:23 -0400 From: Provost@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: Provost Update August 17, 2007 August 17, 2007 Dear Faculty and Staff Colleagues: You are probably noticing that the students are moving back to Blacksburg this week. (It is a good time to stay away from Washington Street.) The start of the fall semester is always an exciting time and we will be welcoming over 5,000 freshmen in the great new class of 2011. We will also be welcoming approximately 100 new faculty colleagues across all eight colleges. The first day of class will be a memorable adventure. Many departments and colleges have been busy this week with pre-semester retreats, planning sessions, and orientations. I realize that you are receiving multiple forms of communication about ongoing and new activities. I am going to highlight a few key issues and events recognizing that you have heard or will hear more about each of these items in different ways. 1. The three internal reviews requested by President Steger will be presented soon. James Hyatt chaired the group looking at infrastructure and security; Erv Blythe chaired the group looking at networking; and Jerry Niles chaired the group looking at the relationships among the academic, judicial, counseling, and legal systems. Each group will provide an overview of existing structures and programs and will make recommendations for enhancements. Some of the relevant items have been or are being implemented already (such as VT Alerts), and a comprehensive summary and outline of additional security enhancements was prepared by Executive Vice President James Hyatt. A note of immediate relevance to faculty instructors: the general assignment classrooms are being fitted with hardware that will allow rooms to be locked from the inside with automatic unlocking features when exiting. 2. The dedication ceremony of the memorial on the Drillfield will be held at noon on Sunday. All members of the univers…
creator: Mark McNamee
date: 2007-08-17
contributor: Brent Jesiek
language: eng

A Day of Remembrance: University events on April 16, 2008
description: Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:21:02 -0500 From: Provost@vt.edu To: Multiple recipients <LISTSERV@LISTSERV.VT.EDU> Subject: A Day of Remembrance: University events on April 16, 2008 Thursday, February 20, 2008 Dear students, faculty, and staff of Virginia Tech Three weeks ago, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger established a 21-person steering committee to guide the planning of on-campus activities to be held on April 16, 2008, marking the tragedy that occurred on campus one year earlier. The planning committee included students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members, plus students and family members directly affected by the events. Provost Mark McNamee chaired the committee and Jay Poole, director of the Office of Recovery and Support (ORS), served as vice-chair. Megan Armbruster from ORS provided administrative and operational support. The committee met three times and openly discussed a range of ideas for the official university observances of the April 16, 2007 tragedy. The committee welcomed input from those who wished to contribute, and benefited greatly from the advice and support of the affected families and students. Several major decisions emerged by consensus from the committee's deliberations: April 16, 2008 will focus on the lives of the 32 innocent students and faculty members who were killed on April 16, 2007; events will be simple and respectful; opportunities will be provided for anyone who wishes to honor the memories of the victims. In the spirit of these guidelines, the following events will represent the official university commemoration of "A Day of Remembrance" on April 16, 2008. ==> 10:30 a.m. to noon: University Commemoration Event, Drillfield (rain or shine): The names of each innocent victim and a few words about the special qualities of each person will be read aloud. President Steger will welcome those assembled. (The selection of readers and the format of the readings is still a work in progress.) ==> Sundown (approximate…
creator: Mark McNamee
date: 2008-02-21
contributor: Brent Jesiek
language: eng

Threat scrawled on desk chair found in Hyer Hall
description: By: Mark Norris, Editor In Chief, mnorris@smu.edu Posted: 4/25/07 A message scrawled on the back of a desk chair by an unknown person has prompted an investigation by SMU Police. The note says "I'm going to shoot up SMU on 8-06-07." The message was discovered Monday but was not reported to SMU Police until Tuesday morning. Authorities promptly responded, said Interim Police Chief Richard Shafer. "We have no leads and don't know who did it or why," Shafer said. The threat was discovered in Room 111 of Hyer Hall some time Monday. The professor of the class that meets there at that time reported the message to SMU Police. The message was written in pencil and still "looks fairly fresh," according to police. Shafer said the date of the threat is odd since classes are not in session at the time. The Summer II session is completed by then and the 2007-2008 school year has not begun yet. Police are looking at what classes meet in the room to determine if any names of interest appear on the class rosters. Shafer said the person who wrote the message probably has a warped sense of humor. "We don't think it's a viable or credible threat, but you never know," he said. The police investigation into the matter is still ongoing. This is the first threat made at the SMU community after the shootings at Virginia Tech. "Three weeks ago they probably wouldn't have thought about it," Shafer said. He said the police department is glad that the professor and students took the time to report the threat. He encouraged members of the SMU community to report anything they believe is suspicious. "Give us a call and someone will look into it," Shafer said. This story is exclusive to 'The Daily Campus.' Mention of this story by other media organizations must credit the paper. -- Original Source:SMU Daily Campus - April 25, 2007
creator: Mark Norris
publisher: SMU Daily Campus
date: 2007-08-24
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: "Norris, Mark William" <mnorris@mail.smu.edu>
language: eng

SMU says it's ready for campus emergencies
description: By: Mark Norris, Editor In Chief, mnorris@smu.edu Posted: 4/17/07 SMU officials say they are prepared if an incident like the one at Virginia Tech happens here. As recently as December 2006 an active shooter scenario exercise was held according to Lee Arning, the director of emergency preparedness and business continuity. But the shootings at the Blacksburg, Va., campus have changed things. "Today's event has rewritten the rulebook," Arning said in an interview Monday evening. A gunman killed 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in United States history. The victims were massacred in two attacks two hours apart on opposite sides of the school's campus, with Tech's police force unable to warn anyone before the carnage ensued. It ended with the gunman committing suicide - making the final death toll 33. Arning said he would attend a meeting Tuesday morning with other administrators to discuss the incident and its ramifications for the SMU community. At SMU, in the event of such an incident, the building managers would be responsible for either locking down their buildings or taking other measures necessary to keep its occupants safe according to Arning. They could also pass along information through a network of people within each building. The next wave of communication would come electronically: via e-mail, the official university Web site and phone tree messages. Any messages could also be announced on an intercom system; however, there is not a central intercom system and not every building on campus has one to begin with. One thing that will not happen, Arning said, is police officers driving around the campus notifying people over speakers or bullhorns. He said that would make the police cars and officers targets. SMU has emergency "Lockdown/Take Cover" guidelines that Arning said he discusses during the annual campus fire drills at buildings. The guidelines say if a person perceives a threat of violence to dial 911 immediately or call SM…
creator: Mark Norris
publisher: SMU Daily Campus
date: 2007-08-24
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: "Norris, Mark William" <mnorris@mail.smu.edu>
language: eng

Virginia Tech to dedicate April 16 Memorial on Sunday, August 19
description: By Mark Owczarski BLACKSBURG, Va., August 15, 2007 -- To coincide with the start of the new academic year, Virginia Tech will dedicate the memorial to the victims of April 16 on Sunday, August 19 at noon. At the conclusion of the approximately 30-minute ceremony, President Charles W. Steger will dedicate the new memorial site. All members of the Virginia Tech community and general public are welcome to attend. Those visiting campus for the memorial service are encouraged to park their vehicles in the parking lots located on Perry Street. While limited visitor and handicap parking spaces are available around the Drillfield, no parking will be available on the Drillfield Several water stations will be set up on the Drillfield to accommodate guests in anticipation of the warm weather. Grief counselors will also be present in the event guests seek that assistance. The dedication ceremony will be broadcast live on WDBJ-TV Channel 7 (campus cable channel 7) and can be seen in real time on the university homepage. The ceremony will begin with the presentation of colors by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets followed by the playing of the National Anthem by the Highty-Tighties, the corps' marching band. Vice President of Student Affairs Zenobia Hikes will follow with opening remarks. Speaking after her will be Adeel Khan, a junior majoring in accounting in the Pamplin College of Business and president of the (undergraduate) Student Government Association; and Joe McFadden, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Dairy Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and president of the Graduate Student Assembly. Valerie Hardcastle, professor of science and technology in society in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and president of the Faculty Senate, will follow the student leaders with remarks. Scott Cheatham, a May graduate of Virginia Tech and now a graduate student in mathematics education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, will foll…
creator: Mark Owczarski
date: 2007-11-20
contributor: Brent Jesiek
language: eng