Tommy Edwards
description: Tommy Edwards plays guitar on 4/16/08, A Day of Remembrance, to raise awareness for The Heart of Virginia Foundation. Edwards started this foundation after the tragedy to raise awareness of mental health issues. Photo by Roger Gupta. -- Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/2457759237/
creator: Roger Gupta
date: 2008-05-02
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: "Gupta, Roger" <ragupta@vt.edu>
language: eng

Commemoration Signing
description: The Commemoration speeches on 4/16/08, A Day of Remembrance, were given in sign language as well. Photo by Roger Gupta. -- Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/2457762319/
creator: Roger Gupta
date: 2008-05-02
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: "Gupta, Roger" <ragupta@vt.edu>
language: eng

Commemoration
description: Guards from the Corps of Cadets stand by at the memorial site. On 4/16/08 a special anniversary candle and wreath were placed at the memorial site. Photo by Roger Gupta. -- Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spector1/2457724149/in/set-72157604566974642/
creator: Roger Guptak
date: 2008-05-02
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: "Gupta, Roger" <ragupta@vt.edu>
language: eng

VT Students turn to God
description: Dr. Roger Passman April 18, 2007 Reporting for Reuters, Andrea Hopkins writes: By all accounts, the prayers started even before the gunshots stopped at Virginia Tech university, and the pleas to God from grief-stricken survivors of the massacre have continued ever since. "God cares about Virginia Tech," said Megan Martin, 24, joining about a dozen fellow students in a traveling prayer vigil that rambled across the sprawling campus a day after the worst U.S. shooting spree in modern history. Carrying placards reading: "Jesus loves you," "God knows and He cares," and "Can we pray with you?" the small knot of students worked their way through the university grounds in Blacksburg, a Bible Belt town in the mountains of southwest Virginia. I suppose turning to God(s) cannot do any serious harm to the individual that does the turning. The evidence, however, does not justify such a move. "God cares about Virginia Tech," said Megan Martin, is quoted in the article. Is this God so cruel that he (she, it) only cares after the fact? Is this God(s) so indifferent that he (she, it) only takes an interest after the dastardly deed has been accomplished? God knows and He cares, is another after the fact fantasy that may serve to salve heightened emotions but does not address the fundamental issue-was this God who cares so much simply on vacation when Cho Seung-Hui decided to engage on a shooting rampage on the VT campus? Does the evidence point to a God(s) who cares, who knows? I think not. What the evidence points to is a random series of events that occur every so often because Americans are willing to sacrifice security for the right to bear arms for any purpose whatsoever. The evidence does not point to a loving God(s) but, rather, to a heightened probability that because guns are so readily available in the United States tragic events such as the VT shootings are more likely than not to occur. While turning to God(s) is a defensive move in cases of unthinkable tragedy for many …
creator: Roger Passman
date: 2007-05-24
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States
language: eng

Romanian born Hero Liviu Librescu received Highest Award
description: [April 18] Romanian born Hero Liviu Librescu received Highest Award romanian-gymnastics.com BUCHAREST/ The President of Romania, Traian Basescu, has signed today, April the 18th the year to end, the decree concerning the post-mortem conferring of the National Order The Star of Romania with the rank of Grand Cross to Mr. Liviu Librescu, Ph.D., University Professor. The National Order The Star of Romania with the rank of High Cross has been conferred as a sign of high appreciation and gratitude for the entire scientific and academic activity, as well as for the heroism shown in the course of the tragic events which took place on April the 16th, 2007, in the Campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, the United States of America, through which he saved the lives of his students, sacrificing his own life. -- Original Source:http://www.romanian-gymnastics.com/news/2007/04/romanian_born_hero_received_highest_award.htm
creator: Romanian Gymnastics
date: 2007-06-11
contributor: Adriana Seagle
rights: Victor (info@romanian-gymnastics.com)
language: eng

Leslie Sherman Remembered
description: I was fortunate to teach Leslie Sherman in my Advanced Placement European History course at West Springfield High School. She was a wonderful student with a creative mind and a great sense of humor. She was especially known for her beautiful smile and positive attitude. Leslie was always happy and cheerful and brought out the best in others. Academically, she was brilliant without being "bookish." During her senior year, she served as president of our History Honor Society and was awarded the Social Studies Department Award for outstanding scholarship. She also ran on our school cross country team for four straight years, so she was truly a gifted student-athlete. After graduation, Leslie frequently came back to visit us at West Springfield, and we were not surprised to learn that she was majoring in history and international relations at Virginia Tech. She loved history so much. Her death has come as a shock to all of us at West Springfield High School, and we are only now coming to grips with this tragedy. Last Friday we had "Hokie Hope Day" at West Springfield. Almost everyone - students, faculty, and staff - wore Virginia Tech colors in tribute to Leslie and the other victims of the Virginia Tech shootings. Our school has established a scholarship in Leslie's name and contributions have already been made by students, teachers, and parents. Our school's National Honor Society made lapel ribbons with Hokie colors and sold them for a dollar to raise funds for the scholarship. They sold over 800 ribbons. A group of alumni is planning a West Springfield memorial run to raise money for the scholarship. I have written a song for Leslie which I hope to record so that we can sell copies to raise money for the scholarship. Others events and fundraisers will be planned by different groups in the future. The family has also requested that contributions be made to the scholarship fund in lieu of flowers. On Tuesday, April 24, friends and family gathered at the Demaine Funera…
creator: Ronald Maggiano
date: 2007-04-26
contributor: Ronald Maggiano
language: eng

West Springfield High School Remembers Leslie Sherman
description: This is the marquee sign at West Springfield High School in Springfield, Virginia. Photograph taken on April 27, 2007 by Ronald Maggiano.
creator: Ronald Maggiano
date: 2007-04-27
contributor: Ronald Maggiano
language: eng

Hokies reflect two weeks later
description: Virginia Tech students finish up tragic semester By: Rosemary Lane Posted: 5/3/07 Wednesday was the last day of classes for Virginia Tech students, and students said taking exams is tough while coping with the tragedy. Charlotte Savercool, a freshman at Virginia Tech, said all the hallways of her dorm are almost empty, as most students did not take exams. "The teachers have been really supportive," Savercool said. "They let us choose if we want to keep our same grade or finish certain assignments." She said the teachers won't grade anything that hurts your average. Laura Gill, a senior, said most teachers have assigned group projects so all the work doesn't fall on one student. "None of us can imagine sitting down and studying for an exam," Gill said. "It's too much for anybody." Gill said walking into the classroom on the first day back on April 23 after the shooting was the hardest part. She said she kept thinking about the shooting - about how the victims thought it would be a normal day. "Once I was in class, I'd relax a bit, but changing buildings was really rough for me," Gill said. "My heart would start racing, and then I would calm down and realize it wouldn't happen again." Junior Chris Barrett said classes were the most full on the first day back except for exam days in previous years. He said teachers talked about what happened in each class. Savercool said teachers would let students voice their opinions but she has gotten tired of talking about the tragedy. "After the second and third classes, I didn't want to talk about it anymore," Savercool said. She said the shooting has been hard to deal with, and she cannot bring herself to watch the video the shooter left behind. Savercool said she realized the shooting's impact when she looked on the Internet and heard from other students it was the largest school shooting ever. "The best way for me to deal with it is to see the memorials and not watch the news," Savercool said. Gill said the reality of what hap…
creator: Rosemary Lane
publisher: Marquette Tribune
date: 2007-09-03
contributor: Sara AA Hood
rights: "Sheaffer, Amanda" <amanda.sheaffer@marquette.edu>
language: eng

Memorial at the top of the drill field
description: Photo taken April 21, 2007 by Ross Catrow. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic. Original Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxpower/468742281/
creator: Ross Catrow
date: 2007-11-24
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
language: eng

Latest news: Investigators, loved ones try to reconcile the 2 sides of NIU gunman
description: Photo: ALAN LEON | RRSTAR.COM Ken Shold, an NIU almunus and father of a current student, sheds tears while praying in front of Cole Hall on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008, on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb. Story: Feb 16, 2008 @ 09:40 PM RRSTAR.COM, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE AND ESPN.COM DEKALB - A look at those who died in the shootings Visit the NIU February 14 Student Scholarship Fund For more coverage, read our special report Steven Kazmierczak had the look of a boyish graduate student — except for the disturbing tattoos that covered his arms. 9:40 p.m. NIU plans scholarship fund in honor of victims Authorities at NIU said they were creating a scholarship fund in honor of the slain students and also are discussing how to build a permanent on-campus memorial. 8:18 p.m. Virginia Tech plans virgil for NIU shooting victims Virginia Tech plans to have a candlelight vigil on Monday to show support for those affected by the shootings at Northern Illinois University. Hokies United, the student group that formed after the April shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 dead, organized the vigil and has asked the university community to wear NIU's school colors of red and black as a sign of support and solidarity on Monday. Hokies United will also temporarily lay a red and black Hokie Stone near the campus memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the April 16 shootings. Students plan to deliver the stone to Northern Illinois, in DeKalb, Ill., in a week or so. On Thursday, a 27-year-old former NIU student opened fire on a geology class, killing five people before committing suicide. The shooting brought back horrific memories for the Virginia Tech community, still reeling from its own tragedy. Many people on campus donned red and black on Friday in a show of support. The latest shooting also left some families of the Virginia Tech victims feeling anguished. "It just brings it all back. I can't imagine what they're going through, bu…
creator: RRSTAR (story)/ALAN LEON (photo)
date: 2008-02-26
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Generic
language: eng

RTE Morning Ireland Radio Show Clip
description: This is a clip on the Virginia Tech shooting from April 18, 2006. It ran on 'Morning Ireland' show on the Irish radio station RTE 1. It featured an interview between myself and Irish journalist Robert Shortt on the drillfield which took place just as the candlelight vigil was starting.
creator: RTE Radio 1
date: 2007-05-07
contributor: Nicholas Kiersey
rights: * Unknown Rights
language: eng

We Are All Hokies
description: by Ruben Maqueda Like every other American, I was shocked and horrified by the shootings that took place at Virginia Tech. I thought of the students and so many young, promising lives suddenly cut short. I thought of the professors who sacrificed their lives for their students, and whose vast knowledge was now lost to the world. I thought of the survivors and the scars, physical and emotional, that they would bear after experiencing such brutality. I thought of the friends and families of the victims. Having lost my own mother eight months earlier, I knew the painful road that lay before them and how this one day would change them forever. This shrine is a tribute to the victims, 27 students and 5 professors, who lost their lives on April 16, 2007. In the Mexican culture, Day of the Dead is a very important holiday. It is believed that on the night of November 1, the spirits of the dead return to earth to visit their loved ones. Families go to the cemeteries on that day to honor their dead by scrubbing headstones, cleaning the graves, and decorating the gravesite with candles, flowers, photos, sugar skulls and offerings of food and drink. I wanted to incorporate some traditional Day of the Dead elements, while adding elements of college life and some unique touches of my own. I was very touched when I learned that the university was posthumously awarding degrees to all of the students killed in the shootings. What you see here is, in effect, a graduation ceremony. Sugar skulls bearing the name of the deceased are a very traditional element of the Day of the Dead. The skulls, decorated with brightly colored frosting, foil, and other items, are placed on the shrine. There are 32 papier-mache skulls adorning the shrine, with the larger skulls honoring the professors. Each skull bears the name of one of the victims, and each skull wears a graduation cap with the Virginia Tech logo over the tassel. In addition to a skull, there is a candle for each victim. The box above …
creator: Ruben Maqueda
date: 2008-02-05
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Quinn Densley (qsdensley@yahoo.com)
language: eng

When tragedy is for sale, it isn’t tragic enough
description: Issue Date:Tuesday April 17, 2007 Section: Editorial Section Ry Rivard, City Editor By the end of the Monday it was obvious that the media had begun selling the day's horrors at Virginia Tech. No matter the gravity or magnitude of a tragedy, this country's commentators veer from events as they are, in and of themselves horrible, to a decontextualized, surreal account of things so they can be sold to and consumed by us. The shooting - the deadliest shooting in American history - quickly became, for some people, another chance to make various political points. It became, by the time Wolf Blitzer's show aired, a sort of tragic-porn, a way for the media to provoke rather than inform. Commentators tried to politicize it, politicians tried to comment on it, the news channels tried to heighten the drama with their usual parade of loud music and epic comparisons, "This is worse than ... " or "This is the biggest ... " Was what happened not enough in and of itself? Glenn Reynolds, law professor at University of Tennessee, quickly posted a 52-page paper on his popular Weblog arguing that the best way to prevent shootings like Monday's is to permit concealed handguns. It was the day's most academic approach to the event, but it was also one of the most callous. Written by two economists, the paper concluded that "the only policy factor to influence multiple victim public shootings is the passage of concealed handgun laws." Reynolds and several others who followed his lead took the deaths of 33 students to advance an agenda which, although done in an attempt to stop such events in the future, made them into a policy argument. Similarly, the Drudge Report, a conservative news site, dragged out a fourth-month old story from Roanoke Times about failed piece of legislation that would have permitted concealed handguns. It reported, "Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. 'I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembl…
creator: Ry Rivard
date: 2008-02-18
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: Leann Ray <Leann.Ray@mail.wvu.edu>
language: eng

Business as usual at high school after Virginia Tech shootings
description: By Ryan Bray GateHouse Media Thu May 03, 2007, 02:22 PM EDT Scituate - In the two weeks since the Virginia Tech shootings swept through the college town of Blacksburg, Va., people nationwide are still struggling to grasp and adjust to the tragic events that left 33 students and faculty members at the school dead. But miles an miles away from all the mourning and controversy, it's business as usual at Scituate High School, as students and faculty members go about their daily routines. Students rush about the halls while seniors, many of whom are in the process of hearing back from colleges and making their plans for the fall, count down the remaining days of their high school careers. "It hasn't impacted them at all," said Sherri Lewis, director of guidance at the high school, regarding the impact of the shooting on outgoing students. "They all seem very excited." But while students have carried on with things as they otherwise would, that's not to say that the Virginia Tech shootings haven't had some effect on the school, however slight. Principal Donna Nuzzo-Mueller said the shootings are of greater concern to teachers than to students, whom have come to learn of the tragedies from a distance through television and the news. "I think our educators dwell on this more than the young people do," Nuzzo-Mueller said. "Developmentally at their age, I think it's difficult to grasp the severity of it all at that stage of their lives." However, students are reacting in their own ways. Nuzzo-Mueller said several school groups and clubs have rallied to raise money for a fund established for the families of the shooting victims. Others, she said, have likely dealt with the tragedy outside the school with friends and family. "We certainly have kids who want to reach out and help, and that's natural," she said. The shootings almost immediately brought attention to the issue of how to better prepare and respond in the event of a similar emergency in the future. Administrators and…
creator: Ryan Bray
date: 2007-07-17
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0
language: eng

Yankees Game Provides Entertainment and Healing
description: By Ryan Call Sports Writer March 18, 2008 The World Series is widely believed to be the highest stage for any level of baseball player and one would think that the most successful baseball franchise in the world would think no differently. However, despite the 26 World Series titles the Yankee organization has won and the numerous All-Star players with celebrity status that fill their roster, the men in pin stripes think in much grander terms. "Arguably this is the most important game I've played in my Yankee career," All-Star third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. " It makes you realize the important things about life and really how fragile it can be. We're all very proud to be here." Rodriguez also put into perspective the importance of the day. "It would have been easy just to send the checks and wish the school well but I think it was important for us to be here and be present and go that extra mile. To come here to Virginia Tech and unite with them for one day is very important. Baseball can be very therapeutic," Rodriguez said. The Yankees team captain Derek Jeter drew similarities between April 16th and America's other recent great tragedy. "This reminds me a little bit of September 11th," Jeter said. " We had an opportunity to visit a lot of families and people always asked 'well what can you do, how does this help?' I really don't know. It just makes people smile for the three hours while we're here." Before the game the Yankees visited the memorial for the victims of the April 16th tragedy. Manager Joe Girardi said that it was very moving and brought tears to his eyes. "I'm sure there were a ton of emotions as players walked around the monuments. It's a real reminder of how precious life is and to me it should have moved our players—and that's a good thing," Girardi said. The game itself lacked many very exciting moments but the crowd was enthusiastic nonetheless. At times the crowd seemed torn between wanting to see a Rodriguez grand slam (he had two chance…
creator: Ryan Call
date: 2008-03-30
contributor: Kacey Beddoes
rights: Neal Turnage <nturnage@vt.edu>
language: eng

Virginia Tech - Personal Update for Ryan and his family
description: Apr 16th, 2007 by Ryan Lanham For those who know I am at Virginia Tech, both my family and myself are accounted for and uninvolved in any way in the shooting. Local sources (channel 7) report 22 dead. (see update below...now at least 31...) I was in Burruss Hall and heard gunshots at approximately 10AM. I spoke with one associate who reported having to evacuate Norris by stepping past or over a fatality. I have no other first-hand information other than to report that both my family and myself are safe. Update: The worst shooting incident in American history apparently occurred within earshot of my office. When we had huddled in my boss Minnis Ridenour's office, we heard gun shots around 10AM. The tragedy is obviously considerable. People I know well are reporting on national and international news. My neighbors and friends who are EMTs treated the wounded both from the 7:15AM dorm shooting and from Norris. For local friends, Sue O. was at the Burger King doing triage. The schools locked down early and people on campus acted admirably. We are, here in Blacksburg, VA, some 40 miles from the nearest small commercial airport at Roanoke, VA. To have something occur like this in a place of rural beauty at a campus that is quite closely knit and exceedingly friendly seems truly random in the most shocking sort of way. My thoughts are with the families of those injured and dead. -- Original Source: http://ryanlanham.wordpress.com/2007/04/16/virginia-tech-personal-update/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported.
creator: Ryan Lanham
date: 2007-06-03
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
language: eng

Broken heart's here at Virginia Tech
description: Apr 18th, 2007 by Ryan Lanham This day, two days after the shootings at Virginia Tech, is a day of broken hearts. The eyes of those who love the place realize it is now defined...like Kent State, like Columbine, as a tragic event, particularly for most people outside the immediate community. That set of moments will always be...a where were you when...time. It is now the historical event of tours and commentators fifty years hence. The shooter has ensured his fame as a parting shot of narcissism. My boss and mentor has given over 30 years to the campus from a time when it was a sleepy state school that charged $18 a credit hour, or something like that, to helping it grow into a research institution of international note. It breaks my heart to see the heartbreak in his eyes. His love of the place helps me help him in his work; his disappointment and sadness magnify my own. In some ways to see his disappointment is almost the worst of it for me. I was in his office, locked in behind two doors but near enough to open windows to hear gun shots, as the whole crisis unfolded. He was, as usual, fatherly and wise. I could not help but wonder if his leadership at the moment of crisis might have made a difference. But so far as I can tell there are no lessons in any of this. The whole thing appears startlingly random. Gun ownership is falling rather rapidly in the United States and it would be utterly impossible to achieve any legislative gain on the issue in the face of those who are its advocates and protectors. The student was a loner who had troubling fantasies, but that would only put him amongst maybe 15% of his peers (at least). I heard today at a press conference that 7-30% of the student body is seen for counselling in the course of a year. Mental health is a real issue, and this fellow wasn't even really in the system like 10s of thousands of other college students. The university probably didn't act perfectly, but who would have? And second guessing such a singular…
creator: Ryan Lanham
date: 2007-06-03
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
language: eng

Some thoughts on the Cho identity and mass murder
description: April 18th, 2007 by Ryan Lanham I know very little about profoundly deviant behavior of this sort. It has never much interested me. I tend to turn off the channels where it is dealt with. I have extended familial ties to some protracted and difficult cases but rarely anything profoundly deviant like this. I have also had many friends and acquaintances who cope with various forms of mental illness in their relationships both near and extended. But this seems to be of a different sort...I think. I so far believe it isn't a "9" on a scale where many folks are showing up at the mental health center with a level 4 or 5 problem. But on that I may be sadly wrong. Things erode rapidly sometimes. Tear out hope from people and prospects go decay in a hurry. But people are usually self-destructive first...not outwardly destructive. Something is different when people need to spread a blight. It seems to me that the Virginia Tech murderer reached several cross-over points. For example, he constructed an identity of persecution. I am sure he had opportunities to back out of this, but he chose not to. He wanted to be persecuted. I notice this desire in many larger groups...sometimes whole nations. It is a need to be selected as a target of unfairness. At some level we all feel it. It is very hard to look for a job, for example, in academia without some sense of constant rejection. Maybe it is luck to get help or a positive turn, and some folks just aren't lucky. Maybe Cho never got cut a break. But it seems like he did get at least a few breaks to hear it from his roommates. He CHOSE to not find happiness. Perhaps that paranoia is an element of a broader delusional identity, but all that sounds annoyingly redundant. I must say that the psychological descriptions of these things feel inadequate. It is as if there are things unsaid or said as categorizations that seem deficient to offer any insight beyond a label. There is a Peanuts cartoon with Lucy psychoanalyzing Charlie Brown's …
creator: Ryan Lanham
date: 2007-06-05
contributor: Chad Newswander
language: eng

PERSPECTIVE: Personal instinct only defense against tragic news
description: By:Ryan MacDonald Posted: 4/18/07 In the days following a great tragedy, we as human beings collectively exhibit a variety of distinct reactions. Some will experience fear. This response is inevitably redoubled by a media which profits on false dependency -- cable news network owners want Americans to believe that without a constant and unfettered flow of semi-useful detail they will lack the needed information to survive the evening. Others sink deeply into depression. A few bleak hours permanently darken the thousands that they have spent on this planet. A state of war looms on all horizons. A third group will clamor for explanations and solutions. Quick fixes will be enticing and will abound. Pundits and politicians will congest the airwaves and television screens calling for every reform from censorship of music to religious revival. Erroneous causal connections will be purported, and the vulnerable masses will be lost in the sea of competing ideologies. On Monday, tragedy struck. As news poured in from various outlets we learned the shooting at Virginia Tech was the worst in American history. Reporters interrogated school officials about the identity of the shooter and why he was able to carry out two rounds of mass murder without being caught. People will struggle with causes and effects for weeks; they will pour over preventative solutions; news outlets will inject dramatic twists of plot to increase viewership and revenue. Confusion and disillusionment will not be in short supply. Amid all of this, though, I urge you to reflect deeply on the events of April 16 and the aftermath. What is your immediate response? How will this affect your perception of the world? What would you do to change things? Preempt the onslaught of ideology before it reaches your ears. Although I run the risk of being labeled a hypocrite by putting forth a moral position, I'd like to share some of my personal reflections. First of all, the most essential fact of the matter is that an i…
creator: Ryan MacDonald
publisher: The Daily Free Press
date: 2007-08-14
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Matt Negrin <editor@dailyfreepress.com>
language: eng

tragic
description: hi my names Ryan meyer i go to norristown high school in pa i was crying with u guys when ur friends passed away i think about u guys on that campus all the time ur in my prayers awayls i love u guys even tho i dont know u please write back to me im sorry for ur lost once again
creator: Ryan Meyer
publisher: null
date: 2007-05-07
contributor: Ryan Meyer
rights: null
language: eng