Virginia Tech Shootings

April 16, 2007

Yesterday morning I had a very short shift at work, so I was home by 11:15a.  I turned the news on to see what was going on, and immediately became engulfed with all kinds of emotions when I learned what had happened at Virginia Tech.  I was sick to my stomach all day as the death toll rose.  To be honest, I had mixed emotions when I learned that the gunman was killed.  I was angry that he acted like the coward that he was and wouldn't be able to live to deal with his punishments.  I was also relieved because obviously, with the gunman dead, Virginia Tech could begin to deal with the tragedy.  My heart just breaks for the people affected by this tragedy.

For those of you who belong to Facebook.com, there is a group called "Pick a Hokie."  This group suggests that anyone find a Hokie from Virginia Tech on Facebook and send them a message to let them know that people are praying for them.  I have messaged Melissa MacNabb, a freshman from Virginia Tech, and am hoping to hear from her just so that I can put my mind at ease knowing that she is alright.

This tragedy makes me question so many things.  Did the people who were killed know what was happening to them, or were they killed instantly, without feeling pain?  Did the students get to talk to their parents for one last time?  What would have happened had the gunman been stopped before he moved onto the engineering building?  What was Cho Seung's motive for committing this horrible, horrible crime?

I am pretty sure that I'll be going to church this Sunday to pray for the people affected.  I spent this afternoon watching the convocation ceremony and was amazed by how brave the students were to be dealing with this in such a public way. 

I will also be donating money to the Virginia Tech Family Fund and I encourage all of you to do so.  There is information on the Virginia Tech web site.

I know that I don't know many of you in person; we are only friends through the Internet and don't talk all that much or even know that much about each other.  However, I want you all to know that I am so thankful to know you and consider each and every one of you a good friend. 

As for me, I'm curious to find out what my university's measures would be if something like this were to happen on our campus.  I just received an email from our President, Bernie Machen, but it is very vague (for obvious security reasons).  For those of you who are college students, I urge you to speak with the higher-ups in your college community and tell them that it is your right to know, as a paying college student, what security measures and safety procedures would take place if a situation like the one that occurred yesterday at Virginia Tech happened on your own campus.

I'm going to turn the TV off and try to get some homework done, despite the fact that I cannot get yesterday's tragedy out of my head.  It absolutely amazes me how these sorts of things can affect someone like me, someone who wasn't even directly involved.

And if any of you know how people can get further involved in helping Virginia Tech in any way, please let me know.