Leaders draft letter to Virginia Tech
Group offers condolences, solidarity; discusses candlelight memorial service
Kaitlynn Riely
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News
At their first meeting following the shooting deaths of 32 students and faculty members at Virginia Tech, the Student Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to send a letter to the mourning community to express its condolences.
Student body president Liz Brown wrote the letter after she received several e-mails from students and senators asking the student government to do something in the wake of the tragedy.
The letter, signed by Brown and vice president Maris Braun as representatives of the Student Senate, expressed Notre Dame's shock and sorrow after Monday's events, when Virginia Tech senior Cho Seung-Hui opened fire - first in a dorm and then in a classroom building - before turning the gun on himself.
"Despite the many miles that separate our campuses, the victims of this tragedy, as well as the entire Virginia Tech community, remain at the forefront of our thoughts and always in our prayers," the letter reads. "No amount of words will take away the pain and suffering of these events, but we pray that God will guide you through this difficult time."
The letter also describes several memorial events the student government intends to hold today and in the next few days.
The student government plans to send posters depicting the mascots of each of the 27 dorms, signed by members of the Notre Dame community. Included with the posters, Brown said, will be a note of solidarity to say that Virginia Tech is included in the Notre Dame community.
Students can sign the posters today from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the main television lounge in LaFortune. Students can also sign the posters on Fieldhouse Mall today and Friday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Each person who signs the posters will receive a maroon or orange ribbon - Virginia Tech's colors - as a sign to show their solidarity with the school, Brown said.
A rosary service is planned at the Grotto for Friday, although no definitive time has been announced.
Senators disagreed over whether to light 32 candles at the Grotto or 33 - to include the gunman. Brown's original letter stated that the Notre Dame community would light 32 candles entwined with maroon and orange ribbons.
But Morrissey senator Tom Bacsik asked the Senate to consider whether or not to change that number to 33 to include Cho. Zahm senator Nick McCollum said he believed the number should be changed.
"I feel as a Catholic university, we do stand for forgiveness, and I think we should still pray for him for what he did," McCollum said. "I think we should forgive him."
Residence Life committee chair Mariana Montes questioned whether people at Virginia Tech - which is not a predominately Catholic university - would find Notre Dame's forgiveness offensive.
Brown said she would make the decision to change or not to change the number according to the number listed on Virginia Tech's Web site, allowing the school to make the decision about how many victims there were.
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Original Source:
<a href="http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2007/04/19/News/Leaders.Draft.Letter.To.Virginia.Tech-2852850.shtml">http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2007/04/19/News/Leaders.Draft.Letter.To.Virginia.Tech-2852850.shtml</a>
<a href="http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2007/04/19/News/Leaders.Draft.Letter.To.Virginia.Tech-2852850-page2.shtml">http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2007/04/19/News/Leaders.Draft.Letter.To.Virginia.Tech-2852850-page2.shtml</a>
Kaitlynn Riely
2008-02-25
Kacey Beddoes
Christopher Hine <chine@nd.edu>
eng
NIU Boards on Alumni Mall
Message boards on alumni mall prior to a Virginia Tech candlelight vigil for NIU. Photo taken Monday, February 18, 2008. Lane Hall is visible in the far background.
Licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0</a>.
Brent Jesiek
2008-02-18
Brent Jesiek
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0
eng
SLU supports Tech
Students at Saint Louis University sent nearly a dozen message board to Tech in the weeks following the tragedy. SLU also hosted a memorial mass in honor of the Tech students and professors who died.
Kathryn Kuhn
2007-08-14
Kathryn Kuhn
eng
Memorial Ribbons
Memorial ribbons hang outside the tent that holds the signed message boards.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489294185/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489294185/in/photostream/</a>
Photo courtesy of Mollie Adams
Mollie Adams
2007-07-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Mollie Adams
http://www.flickr.com/people/molliebug/
eng
Virginia Tech Memorials
I'm not sure the memorials will still be on the drill field when we get back from Missouri, so Mara and I went over to see them one last time afternoon in case the aren't there when we get back.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489120906/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/molliebug/489120906/in/photostream/</a>
Photo courtesy of Mollie Adams
Chad Newswander
2007-07-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Mollie Adams
http://www.flickr.com/people/molliebug/
eng
Squires Hall
Squires Student Center is filled with posters, message boards, flowers, and other items that universities, businesses, and other places around the country have sent to Virginia Tech.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/soilrocks/468955846/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/soilrocks/468955846/in/photostream/</a>
Photo courtesy of Jarrod Miller
Jarrod Miller
2007-07-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Jarrod Miller
Jarrod@uky.edu
eng
VT support sign
Squires Student Center is filled with posters, message boards, flowers, and other items that universities, businesses, and other places around the country have sent to Virginia Tech.
Orginial Source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/soilrocks/468955758/in/photostream/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/soilrocks/468955758/in/photostream/</a>
Photo courtesy of Jarrod Miller
Jarrod Miller
2007-07-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Jarrod Miller
Jarrod@uky.edu
eng
Drillfield memories moved inside
The messages boards were moved indoors after the semester ended in May.
Orginial Source <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476264469/in/set-72157600091083431/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476264469/in/set-72157600091083431/</a>
Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris
Kelly Harris
2007-07-06
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Kelly Harris
kellybeth7@gmail.com
eng
Ignite-LA, a Southern California young adults ministry shows support for those at Virginia Tech by holding a special memorial service for those who lost their lives on April 16th.
This is image of a collection of personal notes of prayer and encouragement, written by individuals in the congregation, that were later sent to Virginia Tech along with a banner that had similar notes written on it.
Orginia source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmly/469204121/in/set-72157600114401206/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmly/469204121/in/set-72157600114401206/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Raul Moreno Jr.
Raul Moreno Jr.
2007-07-05
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Raul Moreno Jr.
eng
We are Virginia Tech
Message boards filled with comments are stationed on the drill field.
Original source: <ahref=" http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53546019/"> http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53546019/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Kristina Cummins
Kristina Cummins
2007-07-02
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Kristina Cummins
cumminsk@vt.edu
eng
We will prevail
Remember the fallen and keep the family and friends of the victims in your thoughts and prayers
Original source: <ahref=" http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53580537/"> http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53580537/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Kristina Cummins
Kristina Cummins
2007-07-02
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Kristina Cummins
cumminsk@vt.edu
eng
UCSD Virginia Tech Vigil
UC San Diego students attend a somber vigil to express their concern for the Virginia Tech community.
Original source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465523043/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465523043/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Hydie Cheung
Hydie Cheung
2007-06-17
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Hydie Cheung
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465523043/
eng
UCSD Virginia Tech Vigil
We are all Hokies today. Our prayers are with you, Virginia Tech. RIP.
Original source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465537083/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465537083/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Hydie Cheung
Hydie Cheung
2007-06-17
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Hydie Cheung
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flyingpillow/465537083/
eng
Message Boards Texas Tech
Students from the law school at Texas Tech University sent a signed message board to Virginia Tech to express their support and condolences.
Original source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paultrumble/468762863/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/paultrumble/468762863/</a>
Licensed under <a href=" http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommerical 2.0</a>
Paul Trumble
2007-06-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Paul Trumble
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paultrumble/468762863/
eng
UNH supports Virginia Tech
Students at University of New Hampshire gather after a vigil to sign a banner which will be sent to Virginia Tech.
Original source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/82312517@N00/470760480/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/82312517@N00/470760480/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Zac Lowel
Zac Lowel
2007-06-11
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Zac Lowel
http://www.flickr.com/photos/82312517@N00/470760480/
eng
Love, UVA
One of eight large placards sent by UVA Students in support of Virginia Tech.
Original source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499375257/in/set-72157600298230023/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499375257/in/set-72157600298230023/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas
2007-06-08
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Chris Thomas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499375257/in/set-72157600298230023/
eng
VT Hokies
All eight placards sent by UVA Students in support of Virginia Tech now displayed in Squires Student Center
Original source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499326674/in/set-72157600298230023/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499326674/in/set-72157600298230023/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Chris Thomas
Chris Thomas
2007-06-08
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Chris Thomas
http://www.flickr.com/photos/killfile/499326674/in/set-72157600298230023/
eng
Writing Wall on the Drillfield
Message boards filled with comments are stationed on the drill field.
Original source: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/sets/72157600104116028/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/sets/72157600104116028/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Roger Gupta
Roger Gupta
2007-06-05
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Photo Courtesy of Roger Gupta
eng
A student writes a message of support and love at message board near the main memorial site on the drill field.
Original source: <a href=" http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeknerd99/464205173/in/photostream/"> http://www.flickr.com/photos/geeknerd99/464205173/in/photostream/</a>
Photo Courtesy of Daniel Lin
Daniel Lin
2007-06-05
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Photo Courtesy of Daniel Lin
eng
Message Boards
Message boards filled with comments are stationed on the drill field.
Original source: <ahref=" http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093007661"> http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=2093007661</a>
Photo courtesy of Frank Eak
Frank Eak
2007-06-01
Chad Newswander
Permission:
Frank Eak
feak@va.metrocast.net
eng