One of the items on display at the Alumni Center Art Exhibit. On 4/16/08, as part of the Day of Remembrance observance, the Holtzman Alumni Center Museum displayed examples of art, crafts, quilts, and other memorabilia contributed since April 16, 2007. This is one of over 60,000 items that will eventually go to Special Collections at Newman Library. A sign from University of Virginia with messages of support.
In the cold shadows of Cabell hall, I sit and pray for sun.I stare up past Homer's statueto the Rotunda up the Lawn.I can see the flag through trees,half-mast, flicks of red and white.And though I'm proud to call it mine,my heart is filled with spite.Lives gone in an instant,more than just too fast.These thoughts chill my bones,as the cold wind breezes past.It's a wind that will hold memories,of our neighbors to the southwest.It will remind us of the shortness of life,and how each day on earth is blessed.And as the sun pierces shadows,and begins to fill my hair,I think of the precious things,that we and Hokies share.Our high school classes,Virginia clay, and the fertile ground itself;school pride, mountains, and the dogwoods that dot Our commonwealth.Their colors orange and maroon,ours are orange and blue,suggest we have our differences, you and I,but are very much like you, too.I think commonwealth is the perfect wordto describe how that we respond.We reach out and hold them close,and keep in unity through Our bond.So forget that they are Hokie stone,and we, Jeffersons red brick.Theres so much more that unites Us,than simply the school we picked.I remember our motto, Sic Semper Tyrannus,So aged and not so appropriate.Perhaps better is We are a Commonwealth, And We shall not forget. Donald Ward -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
After reading Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse Five," my 11th grade English teacher asked us, "Is death meaningful?" The question forced us to think about the line that appeared over and over in Vonnegut's book, the line that appeared after anyone died: "So it goes." My classremained silent, thinking. "So it goes," sounds light, almost casual. It would describe the feeling most of us get when we read some headline "30 dead in Iraq," or "Tsunami Claims Countless." Vonnegut's line seems fitting for some far off death, very distant from us, almost unimportant. But would I say "So it goes" after I learned my mother died, or my wife was killed? Would I say that casual line after yesterday's events at Tech? The death I once thought was far off, remote and alien, has now struck my life, my family and a campus just two hours away. Yesterday people said things like, "It could have happened to us," and "I have a close friend in that dorm." Yesterday people were "shocked" and "humbled." So if the university were to answer my 11th grade teacher's question, "Is death meaningful?" We would all shout, "of course it is!" Butsadly we only answer this now because of a vicious reminder. Death has become real, close and tangible. Only now do we recognize it. Of all the hypothetical questions and "what ifs" that plague our minds everyday, we seldom reflect on the one possibility that is certain -- our own deaths. We worry about Arab history midterms, internshipapplications, and getting a date for semi-formal, but we never think about the only thing in our lives that definitely will happen. Vonnegut's 'so it goes' was not meant to cheapen life, but was a useful reminder that death will happen to us all. Do you remember that angry wind yesterday? The wind that burned your face and made your eyes water? We should carry a little bit of that wind with us every day, not to makeus hurt and weep, but to remind ourselves that we are all fragile and finite. If we do that, we won't need tragedy to wake us up. We will carry a vigor for life wherever we go. Because now we know each day has meaning, and we will strive to live each moment to its potential. Hamza Shaban CLAS II -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
Letters to the Editor The forest for the trees Tragedy struck at Virginia Tech Monday. Unfortunately, the sadness of events is not only in the actions themselves, but also in the reactions. I want to assert that we still need to keep an eye on the forest while inspecting the trees. Reporter after reporter fired questions, and I use the term fired here for a reason, at Virginia Tech Police Chief Flinchum, about security policy. The officer looked visibly shaken, dismayed, saddened and reporters piled on frustration as he tried to deal with the condescending questions from the gallery. Now, let's be clear. Was the reaction as good as it could have been? Of course not. Was it even good? It doesn't appear that it was. But let me say this. I'll bet that if you poll anyone who went to college after1999 (Columbine), you'll find that over 85 percent of the students have or had no idea of any kind of "lockdown policy." As a recent University graduate, I can't even tell you what the school's hurricane policy is. But here is where we're missing the point yet again. The problem here isn't campussecurity. Chief Flinchum didn't kill anyone. The Virginia Tech police didn't harm anyone. The problem yet again is gun control. As we approach the eight year anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine, what has happened since? To truncate the depressingly long list of school shootings, I'll just focus on Virginia colleges. In 2002, the Appalachian School of Law was the site of a tragedy where a dean and fellow student were killed by a student. Two of these shootings in five years in the same state at college campuses exemplifies the problem we're facing as a nation. So what's the real problem here? Is it security? Is it emergency response? Of course not. If people want to commit crimes, people will commit crimes. The problem is that when they want to commit these crimes, access to weapons with which to commit these crimes is tragic. What's the answer? If we continue missing the forest for these trees, we'll never get to the real problem. Aaron Schmidt CLASS 2005 -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
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 go to class. He e-mailed his professor and asked to make up the lab. He said at that point he felt his personal safety was more important then the inconvenience of an 8 a.m. Friday make-up lab. "It kind of makes you wonder if you are safe anywhere," said Anthony Linkous, a 25-year veteran maintenance worker for Virginia Tech. He said his wife called him frantically every half-hour, begging him to come home. Addressing the situation Two weeks ago, Amie Steele took over as editor-in-chief of The Collegiate Times, Tech's student newspaper. On Monday, she found herself in the middle of an international media hailstorm as her phone rang off the hook. "Breaking news isn't my forte yet," she said, explaining that she rose through the ranks on the production staff, specializing in layout and design. During the 24 hours following the shooting, Steele managed to sleep for an hour and a half. For her, the most overwhelming part of the experience has been the international media presence. "We are trying to get our own stories, conduct our own interviews, and they keep on calling," she said. "It's difficult to juggle." Overall, however, she said she feels the media has approached the issue with sensitivity and has been respectful of the personal nature of the evolving situation. The intense media attention on the shooting has forced university administrators and police officials into the unexpected position of answering not just to their local community, but to throngs of media outlets and their readership. To resolve these concerns Gov. Time Kaine, at the request of Steger and Tech's Board of Visitors, has commissioned an independent panel to review the way the incident was handled. "It's the most horrific thing that has ever happened," said Laurel Stell, a senior from Charlottesville. "At first everyone was angry at Steger for not locking down the campus, [but] they never meant for anyone to get hurt." Stell noted that because the gunman lived in a dorm and thus had a dorm key, he could have easily gotten into any residential area. While students like Stell do not assign blame to the administration, other students and media outlets have done so. Some groups and individuals focused on other issues, such as gun control, have also jumped on the issue. Gov. Tim Kaine expressed his disdain for this behavior. "People who want to take this event 24 hours afterwards and make this their political hobbyhorse, I've got nothing but loathing for them," Kaine said in a press conference. What next? After addressing the significant dislocation and emotional trauma caused by the incident, the Virginia Tech community must prepare to resume core educational operations. Yesterday administrators announced that classes would be canceled until at least Monday. Norris Hall, home of the civil engineering department, will be closed for the rest of the semester. Christina McIntyer, a professor in the human nutrition food and exercise department, remains optimistic that the university community will emerge intact. "We're a strong community," she said. "If anything, this will bring us closer. It'll be a day we remember." Cooke, a civil engineering major, said in the long-term he was concerned not only about the future location of his department but about the outcome of his coursework and grades. He said he had several exams in the next few weeks and he was not sure if they would be pushed back or canceled. But, even in the face of uncertainty relating to his academic career, Cooke said he did not want to be "standing idly by." He and fellow members of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity got together to donate blood yesterday to help stave off Blacksburg's severe blood shortage. The charitable activities in which many students are engaging provide much needed hope. But for graduating seniors, Monday's events place a permanent stain on the bright celebrations of future opportunities many had been looking forward to. "Graduation is now more of a memorial than a celebration," said Andrew Stone, a senior from Charlotte, N.C. Monday's events have not only left a mark on the students leaving Tech, but also on the many potential new members of the university community. "It is going to make people think twice about coming to Tech," Linkous said. "People want to know they're safe." One of the core challenges everyone sees in the response to the tragedy is moving forward in a manner deferential to the victims of Monday's massacre. "We've got to get back into it sometime," Linkous said. "But we have to remember what happened." - Alex Sellinger contributed to this article. -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
Students rally against religious protestors at Tech funerals
Online groups decrying anti-gay protestors grow rapidly Max Hall, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor Students across the nation are taking to Facebook in response to planned anti-gay protests at the funerals of Virginia Tech shooting victims. Shirley Phelps-Roper, attorney for the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., confirmed that the organization is planning to protest at the funerals of Tech students killed in Monday's shootings. Virginia Tech junior Victor Kasoff expressed his anger at WBC leader Fred Phelps' decision to protest. Virginia Tech "should do anything in their power to stop this guy from coming," Kasoff said. At press time, one open Facebook group, "Stop Fred Phelps & WBC from protesting at fallen VT students funerals!!," created to stop the WBC funeral protests had 32,923 members and had at one point gained more than 1,000 new members in an hour. Phelps-Roper placed the blame for the Tech killings on tolerance for homosexuality, saying the attack was a result of "those young people sitting in their classrooms being taught rebellion against God [and] being taught that God is a liar ... He says 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind,' and you're teaching it. That's a lie: It's OK to be gay." Kasoff said he found these claims to be absurd and offensive. "The fact that [Phelps] thinks my friends, my Hokies, died because of America's decision to let people make their own decisions completely sickens me, and I hope they do everything in their power to stop him." J.T. Segal, University Queer Student Union President-elect, echoed a similar sentiment, saying no one was to blame for Monday's tragedy other than the gunman. Northwestern University senior Zak Kirchner, a member of the Facebook group, described the outpouring of support for Virginia Tech at Northwestern and his outrage toward Phelps and the WBC. "As a Christian, it infuriated me," Kirchner said. "He's an overzealous hate-mongerer. He gives all the Christians out there who are praying and being as supportive as we can a bad name." Kirchner suggested busing students from surrounding universities to the funerals of Tech students, saying a large showing by students might discourage the protesters and convince them to leave. "I wish I were closer so that I could join the efforts in person," Kirchner said. Rachel Skytt, a junior at the University of California, Davis who is also member of the group, said she was familiar with Fred Phelps and the WBC from their protests at funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. "The families and friends of the victims are going through so much right now and it just makes me sick that Fred Phelps wants to cause these people even more pain," Skytt said. "I just hope that the students can counter-protest in a peaceful way, because you can't fight hate with more hate." Kasoff said he hoped such Facebook groups would successfully mobilize students against Phelps' organization. "I don't want anyone who thinks like that to step anywhere near my campus," Kasoff said. "After what's happened we don't need to have to deal with morons like him." -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 20, 2007
A.J. Kornblith, Cavalier Daily Opinion Editor AS A Yankee from Pittsburgh, when I first started looking at colleges I didn't even know what UVA and VT stood for, much less the history of their long and storied rivalry. But once I arrived at the University, I learned quickly that Wahoos and Hokies don't usually get along. Proper etiquette called for sneering whenever a person wearing Virginia Tech logos appeared, behaving as obnoxiously as possible at sporting events and the occasional defacement of a sporting venue thrown in for good measure. The University and Virginia Tech are usually judged by their performances against one another, whether in the realms of academics, sports or the number of columns one can tastefully fit on a single campus. But the true measure of these rival institutions and their communities lies in their ability to set aside their competition and help one another under tragic circumstances. The terrible slaughter of at least 33 students in Blacksburg yesterday morning represented such a disaster. While the tragedy shocked and saddened the entire country, it also brought out the best in the University community as students and their leaders reached out quickly and compassionately to lend Virginia Tech a hand in their time of most urgent need. For those of us who spend much of our time in the Newcomb basement reporting on thinly-attended election debates and other examples of general student ambivalence, the speed of the reaction was shocking and inspiring. Almost as soon as students began to receive a steady trickle of news from television, the internet and friends around the state, the calls to help appeared almost immediately. By early afternoon Facebook groups such as "Hoos for Hokies," "Virginia Tech Needs Our Support," "Hoos Reaching Out To Hokies" and "Hoos Prayin for Hokies" among others were up and running, gaining nearly 3,900 members between them. Calls for donations went out, and CIOs were invited to join a growing grassroots effort. Perhaps even more encouraging was the quickness with which our student leaders, so often criticized as lethargic, sprang into action to marshal the outpouring of support from students. Student Council in coordination with the University administration immediately planned a memorial vigil to be held tonight in the Amphitheatre at which President Casteen will speak. Using the organizing power of Facebook, they quickly spread the word with help from eager students. Other organizations mobilized as well. The Fourth Year Trustees, for example, organized a bar night soliciting donations to be sent to Virginia Tech, also scheduled for this evening. In any tragedy, we find ourselves filled with sorrow for the victims and their families. But a tragedy at Virginia Tech affects us here at the University more powerfully than a tsunami halfway around the world ever could. Throughout the day yesterday we saw not only the stories on the national news but frantically called, instant messaged and e-mailed friends and family members at Virginia Tech as we tried to make sure they were alright. The pictures I saw and the stories I heard throughout the day hurt. But they will pale in comparison with the memory of steadying my friend's hand as she wept trying to text message a high school friend who lives in one of the buildings where the shootings occurred. Similar scenes played out across Grounds and across the state of Virginia. Students here were also possessed with a sense that "There but for the grace of God go I." The realization that this could have happened here makes us all the more eager to help our compatriots. We still know few details about what exactly happened -- who exactly was hurt and why an individual decided to wreak such havoc on innocent students and staff. But this we know: The students, faculty and administration of Virginia Tech have our complete support as they cope with this catastrophe. Today, we mourn with our rivals. A.J. Kornblith is an Opinion Editor for The Cavalier Daily. He can be reached at akornblith@cavalierdaily.com. -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 17, 2007
Lindsey Wagner, Cavalier Daily Life Editor In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, many University students felt unable to help their peers at Virginia Tech. Within seven hours of the shootings, however, plans were under way for programs to reach out to the Tech community. Fourth-year College student Raleigh Anne Blank took steps to create a group called Hoos For Hokies, an umbrella organization that will help direct different programs to provide aid to Virginia Tech in the following weeks. "It's a group that's supposed to be a central contact point for people to know about events that are going on," Blank said. The group will also keep students updated on how they can "help University students who were affected and Tech students who were affected." Blank, who also helped begin the Katrina Aid and Relief Effort last August, said Hoos for Hokies was created in much the same way, by establishing an account with Alumni Hall and pooling together resources with interested students and Student Council. Students will be able to donate to Hoos for Hokies during events to be held at the University through the next few weeks. . Representatives were present at the vigil held last night in the Amphitheater. According to Blank, Hoos for Hokies raised "a lot of money" at the vigil and has started receiving donations online as well. Although Hoos for Hokies and Student Council are keeping in touch with Virginia Tech, Blank said she does not know for certain what the money raised will go toward, adding that already "having an arm to move for fundraising [through Hoos for Hokies] will make it happen pretty quickly." "All of the money will go to Virginia Tech," fourth-year College student Elizabeth Chu said. "We're trying to be as least intrusive as possible and following with whatever Virginia Tech needs for the moment."According to Chu, Virginia Tech's student council president expressed a need for 30,000 candles, and Hoos for Hokies helped find candles and arranged for them to be sent to Blacksburg. Chu is also organizing a "love letter writing campaign" to be held Thursday, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Pavilion III, during which University students will be able to write letters to the families of the victims. "This is the most personal way for U.Va. students to express ... how saddened we are [and] how horrified we are with what happened," Chu said. Blank urged students wishing to contribute to Hoos for Hokies to visit www.hoosonline.virginia.edu/tech. -- Original source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
Sports message boards find new use after tragedy
Web sites such as Thesabre.com, Techsideline.com provide forum for discussion, communication after yesterday morning's shootings at Virginia Tech Eric Kolenich, Cavalier Daily Senior Associate Editor In the wake of yesterday's tragedy at Virginia Tech, online sports message boards served a more important purpose, providing an outlet for people to report information about the shootings that killed 33 people. With cell phone coverage limited yesterday in the Blacksburg area, many turned to sports message boards to communicate news reports as well as personal reactions to the day's events. In fact, the two largest message boards for Virginia and Virginia Tech sports -- Thesabre.com and Techsideline.com -- have become completely devoted to discussion of the shootings. Sabre administrators posted a message on the Tech site to inform users that the message boards could help facilitate dialogue and updates about the shootings. "We at The Sabre understand that you may have periodic problems accessing the TSL and VT Web sites," the message stated. "When this happens, you are welcome to use TheSabre.com's off-topic message board to communicate and retrieve necessary information on today's tragic events. You have our support and prayers during this trying time. Please pass the link around to your friends." News of the shootings first spread on the two boards around noon yesterday. "Breaking news -- shooting on VT campus!" one user wrote. Soon after, a number of bloggers reported the status of family and friends at Tech. "All family members at VT accounted for. I'm praying hard for others less fortunate," one said. Some individuals also expressed relief upon learning that loved ones had not been victimized. "Little bro is ok..... phew..... locked down in one of the dorms...," another wrote. Many posted information reported on news broadcasts and gave their own reactions to the shootings. Soon, sports conversation had ceased altogether. "Everyone is a Hokie today," another blogger wrote. One Virginia fan suggested that Virginia students wear maroon and orange in support of Tech students and families. As the day progressed, the two sites were crowded with comments expressing the powerful emotion evoked across the country. Commentary touched on the political fallout of the killings, as many users posted messages conveying frustration with reporters and pundits who accused Tech administrators of mishandling the tragedy as it unfolded. Fans from other schools have used the message boards as a platform to offer their prayers to Virginia Tech, while local communities of Hokies across the country announced planned vigils. "What a horrendous day for not only Virginia Tech but the entire state," wrote one blogger on the Tech Sideline site. "You can count on prayers from Lynchburg from the Liberty University family for all of the victims, their families and friends." Virginia students also posted messages relaying information about vigils to be held around Grounds this week. Cavalier fans have put their rivalry aside and are calling themselves "brothers" with fellow students and alumni at Virginia Tech. "Never thought I'd say this, but Go Hokies," wrote one blogger on the Sabre board. Virginia Tech has canceled all athletic activities today. Neither the University nor the ACC have announced any plans to cancel other athletic events. -- Original Source:The Daily Cavalier - April 17, 2007
Lindsey Wagner, Cavalier Daily Life Editor University students dug through their closets to find anything maroon and orange -- two colors all Hoos had previously tried to avoid -- to demonstrate their support of Virginia Tech at the vigil held last night. As candlelight slowly spread around the Amphitheater and flags from both universities were displayed, President John Casteen, III began his address to an overwhelmingly maroon and orange audience. "Tonight we have come together to talk, to meditate on, to mourn the deaths of Virginia Tech students and faculty members," Casteen said to an eerily silent crowd. Yesterday afternoon, Casteen attended a convocation held at Virginia Tech, later remarking that the somber atmosphere among students there was still "assertive of life." "Today was for them -- tonight is also for them, but tonight is for you, too," Casteen said, addressing the many University students who suffered losses Monday. Four of the 33 deaths hit especially close to home here at the University. Liviu Librescu, a professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Virginia Tech, was the father of a fourth-year University student. According to Casteen, Librescu's daughter wanted the community to think of her father "not as a part of the general description of the tragedy, but as a person dedicated" to his work. Kevin Granata was an engineering professor at the University until 2003, when he began teaching in Tech's Engineering Science and Mechanics department. While at the University, Casteen said Granata also worked in the Kluge Children's Research Center studying human gaits in order to design therapy for children with cerebral palsy. Second-year Nursing student Randa Samaha lost her sister, Reema Samaha, a freshman at Tech. First-year College student Adrienne Fadoul also lost her first cousin Monday. "What, then, shall we do?" Casteen asked, quoting the Gospel of St. Luke. Regarding practical measures to protect the University, Casteen assured students that all current procedures were under review. He noted that other forms of instantaneous notice systems, such as text messaging, are being explored in addition to e-mail alerts. Casteen also advised students to report any suspicious activities or persons. "Grounds is a sanctuary for students and faculty ... a sanctuary remarkably fragile -- we know all of the boundaries, and they are all permeable," he said. Emphasizing the close community of the University, Casteen urged students to "stay in Charlottesville and be close to friends. Reach out to one another." Casteen also focused on more abstract lessons that Monday's events taught the world of higher education. Ultimately, we need to "train [our] hearts to change the world with the intent to [make such events] that fracture higher education rare, rarer, rarest," Casteen said. He recalled looking out at a gathering of Virginia Tech students yesterday afternoon on their football field, a community that "refused to be broken completely by loss," realizing that the hardest thing to reconcile was the "finality of violent, irrational death in a community of young, vibrant people ... consolation is hard to offer in that situation." When Casteen ended his address, the Amphitheater was filled with the tangible silence of the hundreds of students in attendance. Student Council provided scrolls and posters for University students to sign, which will be sent to Virginia Tech later this week. Once students began to gather around the banners, a quiet murmur replaced the silence. "I thought it was great to be able to come together and think about and remember it the way that we could," third-year College student D.J. Ward said. "To sit in unison and solidarity is really all we can do." Many students also noted the setting aside of the traditional rivalry between the two universities. "We're all one community," third-year Commerce student Brian Edwards said. "What they go through is what we go through. It could easily have been us. I hope anything they need from us we can give to them." Third-year College student Nina Cohen added that she thought Virginia Tech would do the same for the University "in a second." Other students said they felt like the vigil could have been more meaningful. Second-year College students Mary Ford and Pavit Gill said they expected more from Casteen. Second-year College student Casey Furr added that he believed the vigil was "anti-climatic." Second-year College student Nadine Natour said she was glad the University was showing its support, but she wished there could have been a more emotional element, such as something more along the lines of the poem read by Nikki Giovanni at Virginia Tech's convocation. On the whole, though, students were satisfied with the turnout and the showing of solidarity. "I just really appreciate that we did this, for us and for them," first-year College student Vetan Kapoor said. "It meant a lot." The final words of Casteen's address seemed to emphasize the thoughts of all those who attended: "Let us remember the 33 human lives. Let us pray for the lives that have changed forever ... and also for those who loved them, and let us share their grief for the future as they seek solace in life." - Shea Connelly, Stephanie Kassab and Katt Henry contributed to this article. -- Original Source: The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
The violence on the campus at Virginia Tech draws attention to the emergency procedures and prevention tactics at the University Matt Dickey and Catherine Conkle, Cavalier Daily Associate Editors Days after students at Virginia Tech struggled to defend themselves in the face of the deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history, students at the University can't help but ask a simple, unanswerable question: what if it happened here? According to University officials, who say they are admittedly shaken by Monday's shootings, procedures are in place to deal with similar situations on Grounds. Yet administrators now take on the difficult task of reevaluating safety measures and finding ways to prevent an event like this from happening at the University. U.Va. responds in the aftermath In addition to helping Virginia Tech by offering security and psychological services to Virginia Tech, the University has also steps taken to ensure security on Grounds. "We have done several things in response to the Tech incident," said Susan Harris, assistant to the executive vice president and chief operating officer. "We yesterday increased the number of police officers patrolling ... Grounds and put police and security on high alert for anything suspicious." Although University administrators did consider canceling classes Monday, the administration decided that security concerns did not call for cancellation. "We did not see any increased security risk at U.Va. that would warrant [cancellation of classes] for security reasons," Harris said. Harris also said administrators felt that classes could provide and outlet for students to deal with emotional reactions to the shootings. "Being in class and discussing this with faculty members was a very effective way of dealing with and processing this kind of incident," she said. University spokesperson Carol Wood echoed this sentiment. "Class offers a safe environment where students could come together to talk if they needed," Wood said, adding that if they had canceled class, "students who needed to talk might be isolated." Vice President for Student Affairs Pat Lampkin said while classes will continue, the University will make accommodations for students affected by the tragedy. "We considered how to respond for our students' and community's well-being," Lampkin said. "We did decide to go on with class but to be liberal with those who have a direct connection or are tied closely with Virginia Tech." Emergency response plans As many students struggled to cope with the tragedy, many wondered how University administrators would have dealt with a similar incident on Grounds. Although he would not comment on specific emergency response preparations for possible emergency incidents, University Police Capt. Michael Coleman said the department is ready to respond to a variety of emergency incidents including everything from hurricanes to plane crashes. Coleman also said the University police's emergency response system is integrated with those of the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County through the Incident Command System to provide for a coordinated response. "The Incident Command System is a management system that is being formulated by the U.S. government," Coleman said. "Those systems allow us to integrate with local departments ... to proceed with better coordination of activities." He added that the officers of the three departments have been trained in using the system and are familiar with it through its use at events at John Paul Jones Arena and football games. According to Coleman, the University police department will consider the events at Tech when reviewing the safety plans of the University. "We have a very good relationship with Virginia Tech and we also work with other colleges in the state," Coleman said. "When Virginia Tech has the time to provide the information then we will sit down and try to incorporate the lessons into our own plan. We will take all information and see if any of it is beneficial for the University of Virginia's safety plans." Harris said the event also will be carefully considered as administrators review emergency plans at the University. "There is no question that [with] this incident, just as with any other incident, we will try to learn from it and adjust our policies and procedures to try to improve them," Harris said. Coleman added that his department continuously reviews safety plans independent of the incident at Tech. "We evaluate and reevaluate all of our plans based on the experience of the University of Virginia, based on technological advances, and based on changes in the facilities ... and we do it based on the experiences of other locations," Coleman said. "Even without this particular incident at Tech, we are constantly involved in reviewing safety plans. Certainly we will continue to make those reviews. But it is a constant." Wood said the University is now considering a crisis management director whose job would be to work with the city and county to oversee the University's coordinated response procedure for emergency situations. Emergency warning systems In his speech to the University community at last night's vigil, Casteen stressed the importance of effective "instantaneous" warning systems in case of emergency. Wood echoed Casteen's message. "We want to use everything at your finger tips — anything you can to get in touch with students and faculty," she said. Current emergency warning systems at the University include e-mail, postings on the University homepage, telephone communication and radio and television announcements. "Over the past number of years, we've used the homepage as a place to alert students in a crisis," Wood said. "We're trying to train people that that's the place to go." Wood added that the top bar of the University home page would turn red in the event of a crisis. In case of a Web site crash, they have plans for an "alternative server for basic information." Although the University was already in the process of updating its warning system, the shooting at Virginia Tech has given the matter a renewed sense of urgency. Planned updates scheduled to be implemented by next fall include the ability to send emergency text messages to cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) registered with the University. The desktops of University computers would also display emergency information. Harris said because of the incident at Virginia Tech, the University hopes to implement some improvements, such as text message alerts, before the fall. Wood said additional plans include a new pilot program to place large flat-screen monitors around the University in areas such as Newcomb Hall and recreational facilities. "We would get the message out on the flat-screens placed in high usage areas," Wood said. "The flat screens would normally be used for advertising or whatever that building or department wants, but the University would be able to override with an emergency message." Wood also cited a system recently acquired in collaboration with local government titled "reverse 911." "It gives us the ability to target and mass phone-mail people with information," Wood said. "We could tell students with voicemail 'Don't come to class — something has happened.'" Psychological support services In the event of a crisis, Counseling and Psychological Services at the University would play a major role in providing psychological assistance to students. CAPS Director Dr. Russ Federman described how the office would respond. -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
To the students and administration of the University of Virginia: On behalf of 30,000 students, administrators, and our Virginia Tech community, I cannot begin to express our gratitude for the outpouring of sympathy, support, and concern that U.Va. has shown us in the past two days. It is an understatement to say the aftermath of our losses has beenemotionally trying for us. The realization of losing 32 valuable livesin our Virginia Tech family is something that we are trying desperatelyto recover from ... But even in the most difficult day of our history, we have found strength. It is your university in particular thathas sustained us, far beyond what you will ever know. We thank you for your students and faculty that gathered to memorialize our victims and to share in our sorrow. We thank you for the initiative and commitment your student government made towards finding 30,000 candles for our grieving campus so that our student leaders could focus on healing and comforting instead. We thank you for the hundreds of Hokies who saw your painted bridge, and were moved to tears. We thank you for the way your students instantly put aside our infamous rivalry, to the point where the greatest measures of compassion from another institution have been from you. Your aid has had such a profound impact upon our students. Please know that what U.Va. is doing is being noticed, is making a difference and is nothing short of extraordinary. Thank you for being a testament to the best of collegiate student leadership and to humanity in general. In what we have been calling the darkest night Virginia Tech has ever seen, U.Va. is one of our brightest lights. The strong alliance that has been formed between our school and yours is part of our foundation in moving forward.From our hearts to yours, thank you for your noble efforts. May you alsofind solace and restoration as we grieve together as students and as anation. In or out of times of need, Virginia Tech will stand beside you as fellow students, Virginians, and most importantly, as friends. With gratitude, Elizabeth Hart Student Government Association Director of Public Relations
In wake of tragedy, students reflect on shootings that rocked community, describe "fearful environment" Jordan Dods and Courtney Kessler, Cavalier Daily Associate Editors Only in her worst nightmares could Nicole Shyti have anticipated the carnage transpiring as she slept on the fifth floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory yesterday morning. One floor beneath her, two Virginia Tech students had been murdered by a gunman who was still at large. It wasn't until 9:30 a.m., when a friend called her to make sure she was safe, that she learned about the killings. Shyti said she heard the sounds of siren after siren outside her dorm room. It was at that point, she said, that she knew something serious had happened. "I saw people running across the lawn outside, and it was just a lot of commotion," Shyti said. The shootings, which eventually left 33 dead, instantly transformed the Virginia Tech campus into a worldwide epicenter of tragedy and confusion. The campus was left nearly deserted as the university went on lockdown. An impromptu vigil on the Drill Field yesterday evening captured the intensity of emotion. Students locked arms -- some crying -- still waiting to find out whether friends had made it out alive. Virginia Tech student George Lane-Roberts said the rapid escalation of casualties left him "dumbfounded and shocked." As students spent the day within the familiar walls of their dorms, press outlets from around the world descended on Blacksburg to report the greatest tragedy to hit an American college campus. That blanket of media coverage provided many Tech students, hunkered around televisions, with their primary window into the events of the day. Tech student Joseph Chapman said he first found out about the shootings on TV before reading official e-mails from the university. Some have criticized Tech's response to the initial shooting as too little too late, saying that an earlier lockdown of campus could have prevented 30 deaths. The initial e-mail from the university came almost two hours after the first shooting occurred. Lane-Roberts recalled a shooting in Blacksburg on the first day of classes last August. He said he remembered that the entire campus had been locked down, even though no students were casualties of that shooting. Members of the media may be coming to their own conclusions, but students at Tech are still more confused than angered by the administration's response. Nathan Carter, who is still waiting to find out whether three of his friends are all right, said he doesn't blame the administration for its handling of the shootings. "Hindsight is 20/20," he said, adding that what Virginia Tech officials thought they had on their hands with the Ambler Johnston incident was a domestic dispute gone wrong. Freshman student Holly Faust said she was leaving campus, on her way to Radford University with a friend. By late afternoon, she said half of the students in her dorm had already left. Faust, who lives on the top floor of Slusher dormitory, one of the tallest buildings near Norris Hall, said a number of students went up to the top floor to observe clumps of police. Despite being within eye shot of the center of events, Faust said she also relied on television news reports for information about the unfolding events. Faust said she received the first official e-mail informing students of the shooting at about 9:30 a.m. and decided not to go to class. Many students first heard about the massacre not from the Virginia Tech e-mails, but through calls, e-mails and instant messages from friends and concerned family members. A resident advisor in Payne dormitory, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said he found out about the incident through an instant message from a friend. To notify his residents, the RA said he posted notices in stairwells and alerted students leaving the building to be cautious. He said RAs are trained extensively to handle serious situations such as this. Most of his duties yesterday included dispelling rumors and providing his residents with as much information as was available, he said. Carter described how the lack of solid information added to the confusion surrounding the events, saying the rumors ranged from gang-member involvement to "ridiculous" reports that the shooter was eight feet tall. Some may have falsely assumed that the shooter was lurking nearby, even after he had killed himself -- fears that were heightened by the saturation of gun-toting police who were sweeping the campus for any suspicious activity. Lane-Roberts said he and other students watched from a window as two police officers with assault rifles "tackled" a black student. The officers were "shouting" at students to close the blinds and "get in our rooms," he said. Chapman said RAs played a major role in communicating the lockdown to students. Virginia Tech freshman Margaret Hatcher said she never left her room because she had been advised to stay there and distance herself from the windows; however, her roommate had to find shelter in an academic building. "My roommate was actually in class this morning, and actually she was in the building next door to Norris," Hatcher said. "They took them all into the basement for a few hours" and around 12:30 p.m. told them to leave campus immediately. Sophomore Erik Stange said he lives off campus and learned of the situation when his parents called him around 11 a.m. Stange said he later learned from friends that a friend of his who was an RA in West Ambler Johnston had been shot. "He got shot in the leg, [so] hopefully he'll be okay," Stange said. Hours later, Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Finchum confirmed that an RA in West Ambler Johnston had died. Stange is just one of many students forced to cope with uncertainties about yesterday's events. "At this point, there are still a lot of questions and not answers," Shyti said. "We're in a fearful environment right now, [and] I think what contributes to the fear is that people don't know what's safe." As the community looks to beging the healing process, Virginia Tech has organized a memorial service in Cassell Coliseum, the basketball stadium, to be held today at 2 p.m. Freshman Elizabeth Rogers said she plans to attend the service. "Even though I don't know anyone directly who [has] been harmed, I just feel that as a university we need to band together ... and try to find the best way to be there for everyone in this time of need," Rogers said. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said the university is starting a "long, difficult road" to recovery from the massacre. As the initial shock turns into a quest for answers, students at Virginia Tech are finding that the first step on that road is coming to terms with the magnitude of what has occurred. As one RA said, "Most of us are just kind of sitting here wondering when we're going to wake up, because it feels like a dream." -- Original Source: The Cavalier Daily - April 17, 2007
Deadliest shooting spree in U.S. history claims 33 victims Jordan Dods and Courtney Kessler, Cavalier Daily Associate Editors "Horror, disbelief and profound sorrow" was how Virginia Tech President Charles Steger described the Blacksburg community's reaction to what is the deadliest shooting incident in the nation's history. The school now faces what Steger called a "long and difficult road" to recovery after two shootings yesterday morning resulted in at least 33 fatalities, including that of a gunman, and about 30 injuries. The first shooting occurred at about 7:15 a.m. on the fourth floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, resulting in two confirmed deaths. One of the victims has now been identified as one of the dorm's resident advisors. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum cited evidence that a domestic dispute led to the first shooting. As of press time, police had questioned a person of interest who knew one victim and was potentially involved in the first shooting; however, police had not taken the individual into custody. After the first incident, Virginia Tech officials issued two e-mails informing students that there had been a shooting. The first e-mail was sent at 9:26 a.m. and stated that a shooting incident had occurred at West Ambler Johnston. The second e-mail followed at 9:50 a.m. and alerted the community that there was a gunman loose on the campus. Students and faculty were urged to remain inside and away from windows. As these e-mails were sent, the second shooting began in Norris Hall, ultimately leaving at least 31 dead, including the gunman. Virginia Tech sophomores Trey Perkins and Derek O'Dell said in a televised interview with Brian Williams the shooter entered their German class, shot their professor and opened fire on students. Perkins, one of the few students not shot, said the shooter fired for about a minute and a half as students used desks to shield themselves from the fire. O'Dell, who was shot in the arm, described the shooter as "an Asian male, about six-feet tall." "I think we're both still in shock," O'Dell said. "It's amazing that we were saved." Shortly after the second shooting, Virginia Tech students received a third e-mail at 10:16 a.m. announcing that classes were canceled and that outside persons were not to come on campus. Students were also urged to "lock their doors and stay away from windows." A fourth e-mail at 10:52 a.m. notified the community of the second shooting in Norris Hall with multiple victims. At that point, police were on the scene and a suspect had been detained, but police continued to search for a second shooter. Bodies were later found at different locations throughout Norris Hall, and doors to the building were chained when police arrived on the scene, Flinchum said, noting that this was "unusual." According to Flinchum, the campus did not go on lockdown until the shooting in Norris Hall took place because officials believed the dormitory shooting to be an isolated incident. Fifteen victims are being treated at hospitals in the Roanoke and New River Valley area. Officials confirmed reports of some individuals jumping out of windows to avoid facing fire. Officials declined to release the Norris Hall gunman's identity. Police continue to investigate whether a different gunman was involved in the dormitory shooting. Steger said an investigation remains underway to determine whether or not the two shootings are connected. Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, currently flying back from an Asian trade mission in Tokyo, declared a state of emergency earlier yesterday to help organize the flow of assistance into Blacksburg. Virginia Tech is currently receiving assistance from state police, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, local jurisdictions and the Red Cross, according to Steger. U.S. President George W. Bush spoke from the White House earlier today, saying he was "horrified" by the shootings and promising to "do everything possible" for the victims. Media officials have reported that President Bush may travel to Virginia Tech today. Virginia Tech classes are canceled today and the university will hold a memorial service at 2 p.m. today at Cassell Coliseum. "I cannot begin to covey my own personal sense of loss over this senseless and incomprehensible, heinous act," Steger said at an earlier press conference. "Today the university was struck with a tragedy we consider of monumental proportions." -- Original Source:The Cavalier Daily - April 17, 2007
Police identify Norris Hall shooter as Va. Tech student
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 said they could not comment on allegations that Cho had a previous run-in with law enforcement officers in Blacksburg in 2005. Authorities executed a search warrant yesterday of Cho's dorm room in Harper Hall and removed mostly documentary evidence, including his writings that were widely characterized as violent by peers and professors. Stephanie Derry, a senior English student at Virginia Tech, said she knew Cho from a playwriting class. Derry described Cho's plays as "disturbing," but said nobody in the class took them as entirely serious. "The plays were excessively violent," Derry said. "But you can't really assume that everything written is true or is going to be true." The Associated Press reported that officials recovered a note in Cho's dorm that lambasted "rich kids," "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans." Virginia State Police Superintendent Steve Flaherty said, however, there is no evidence of a suicide note. Flaherty also announced that the handguns used by Cho in the massacre were purchased in accordance with Virginia law in March. Police have not yet determined whether Cho had an accomplice in the shootings. Officials indicated that a person of interest from the first shooting is cooperating with police. That individual was an acquaintance of the female victim of the first shooting and was stopped by police and questioned by authorities at the time of the second shooting. As of press time, this individual was still considered a "person of interest." Officials respond Gov. Tim Kaine extended his condolences to the Virginia Tech community during a televised broadcast last night. "Our hearts go out to the entire community, Kaine said. "This is the darkest day in the wonderful history of Virginia Tech." Kaine also said he will commission an independent panel of law enforcement experts in the next 48 hours to examine the administration and law enforcement response to the events leading up to and immediately following Monday morning's shootings. The purview of this examination will include complaints about the university administration's delay in notifying students of danger immediately after the first shooting. That decision has been questioned publicly by some students and members of the media. Kaine did not answer questions regarding policy changes. "Before we talk about any policy changes we have to get our best assessment of what occurred," Kaine said. Kaine added that families of the victims were the number one priority. "This is not a crusade or something for a political campaign," Kaine said. "It's about comforting families ... and helping this community heal ... For those who want to make this into some kind of crusade I say take that elsewhere." Officials said yesterday they are not releasing the names of the victims until they have identified all the remains and notified the next of kin. Several media sources, including the student newspaper at Tech, have released preliminary lists of the victims' names. Virginia Tech president Charles Steger said Virginia Tech will cancel classes for the remainder of the week. Further announcements about classes were expected today. Norris Hall will remain closed for the rest of the school year. "As you can understand, we are still working to understand this terrible tragedy," Steger said. "It is very difficult for me to express how we feel." -- Alex Sellinger and Stephanie Kassab contributed to this article -- Original Source: The Cavalier Daily - April 18, 2007
Virginia Tech panel discusses prevention strategies
Experts in fields of security, law and mental health comprise panel; victims' families voice reactions Daniel Colbert, Cavalier Daily Senior Writer Thursday, April 19, while the nation was still coming to grips with the tragedy that had unfolded in Blacksburg three days earlier, Gov. Tim Kaine created an eight-member panel of experts in the fields of security, law and mental health to investigate fully what had gone wrong and what could be done to help prevent a similar incident in the future. Last Wednesday, the panel held what was to be its last public meeting -- it has since been announced that another will follow -- at the University. While the panel heard testimony on topics as wide-ranging as community mental health services and gun control laws, much of the discussion centered on the unique challenges faced in servicing and protecting a college population. Beyond "lockdown" As schools consider the most efficient and safe methods for responding to threats such as an active shooter on campus, lockdowns are a common solution. In fact, much of the panel's discussion of security procedures focused on the appropriateness and plausibility of a campus-wide lockdown; however, all of the law enforcement experts who testified at the meeting in Charlottesville suggested that responding to such an event is not so simple. "I think we have this impression that we hit a switch and everything is locked and everything is secure, and that is not the case," said Don Challis, chief of police at the College of William & Mary. Challis testified that a lockdown creates a "target-rich environment" in the academic buildings where students congregate. He instead recommended that colleges advise students to take refuge in their own rooms or other safe places. Challis emphasized that colleges need to make it clear in advance what would be expected of students in a crisis situation. "Hope is not a plan," Challis said. "We can't hope that when something happens these people hang on our words and do what we say." Avoiding a tragedy Perhaps the most vexing question surrounding the Virginia Tech tragedy regards the various warning signs of the danger that shooter Seung-Hui Cho posed to others. The panel spent much of the morning hearing ways for universities to more readily identify a troubled student. Central to the goal of pre-emptive action are Threat Assessment Teams. These teams, present at many schools though not formally at the University, are made of up administrators, deans and law enforcement officers that meet to identify and evaluate potential threats posed by students, according to Challis's testimony. Both Challis and Dr. James Madero, a professor at Alliant International University, testified that teams like these can be helpful in preventing school violence. "It needs to be a campus-wide group that includes ... people who have the most contact with students," Challis said. "If they see a flag, they can run that by others." The panel also heard testimony on the effectiveness of campus psychological services, primarily from Russell Federman, University director of counseling and psychological services. Federman pointed to the low suicide rate at the University-- three suicides in the last seven years, which is less than a third of the national average -- as evidence that CAPS is effective in dealing with high-risk individuals. Among the factors contributing to this success, he said, are frequent communication between the administration, faculty and CAPS to determine individuals who may pose threats and follow-up procedures for high-risk individuals who do not appear for counseling. "My hunch is that if Mr. Cho had been involuntarily hospitalized at U.Va. [as he was at Virginia Tech before the shootings occurred], CAPS staff would have become involved with him much earlier," Federman said. Not everyone was satisfied with Federman's reasoning, however. Holly Sherman, whose daughter Leslie was a victim of the shootings, told reporters she thought the procedures Federman described were "very similar" to those in place at Virginia Tech before the shootings. Although he said he was confident that academic deans would have contacted CAPS about a student exhibiting the strange behaviors attributed to Cho, Federman said in a later interview he also could not say with certainty that CAPS would have prevented the shooting. "We can't buy into the illusion that we can control the uncontrollable," Federman said. "The bottom line is if someone chooses to be violent, he or she can be without us being able to stop that." Issues of confidentiality One of the hotly debated issues of the day was the importance of students' rights, as adults, to privacy regarding their mental health records. Panelist Diane Strickland, Law School alumna and former dean of Student Legal Services, asked if CAPS had access to the mental health records of incoming first-year students while another panelist, Dr. Roger Depue, said he wondered if such information would prove to be helpful. Privacy concerns dictate that the University does not have such access, Federman answered, but that is not necessarily a problem for CAPS. Mandatory on-Grounds housing for first-year students ensures that mental health problems are observed quickly by Resident Staff or fellow students, Federman said. He added that even if mental health professionals had access to background information on a student, it would not always be necessary in deciding how to proceed with treatment. Several victims' parents expressed concern that privacy issues may hinder communication between administrators about students who present potential threats and may prevent mental health professionals from informing parents if their children seek psychological help. The experts testifying were divided over whether privacy laws make it difficult to share information among administrators. While Challis testified that privacy laws sometimes make it difficult to determine what information can be shared legally, other experts did not believe this to be the case. "I have been very alarmed by the perception that the law somehow impedes colleges and universities from doing what they think to be the right thing," University law Prof. Richard Bonnie said. Parental involvement does not always help mental health professionals treat students, Federman said, and it is rarely absolutely necessary. College represents a time of transition between dependency and autonomy for many students, and he said he believed, in most cases, automatically involving parents would undermine that transition. "That's quite different from a very acute situation where we're looking at issues of violence and danger to self and where we absolutely need the family involved to help us prevent a tragic outcome," Federman said. During the panel's meeting, Federman resisted a call from Tom Ridge, former secretary of homeland security, to develop standardized guidelines for informing parents when their children seek psychological help, but assured the panel that mental health professionals would breach privacy laws if a situation demanded it. Several of the victims' parents present were unsatisfied with the explanations. "I worry about a society that places individual rights in such a high regard that it jeopardizes public safety," said Catherine Read, step-mother of victim Mary Read. -- Original Source:http://www.cavalierdaily.com/CVArticle.asp?ID=30458&pid=1596>The Cavalier Daily - July 26, 2007
This picture was taken on the morning of Tuesday, April 17, 2007. UVA students had re-painted Beta Bridge on Rugby Road with maroon paint with the phrase "Hoos for Hokies" in white letters