Chabad Responds to Tragedy With Mitzvah Drive: "Hearts to Hokies" Campaign to Begin Friday
description: Joshua Runyan Chabad.edu As a university and nation began the transition from shock to mourning one day after the deadliest shooting attack in American history, the network of more than 100 campus Chabad Houses declared a "Week of Goodness and Kindness" as a way to honor the memory of the slain. The goal of the effort, according to organizers, is simple: to translate the pain of grief into the healing of positive action. Beginning this Friday, Chabad on Campus representatives will be handing out "Hearts to Hokies" pledge cards at the campuses they serve. Students will be encouraged to pledge a good deed in the merit of those lost; the collected cards will be presented later to the students of Virginia Tech. Students and others can also complete an online "pledge card" at www.Hearts2Hokies.com. "This tragedy hits uniquely close to home for college students across America," stated Rabbi Yossy Gordon, executive director for the New York-based Chabad on Campus International Foundation. "Our campaign provides a tangible way to react in a substantive manner. It reminds that grief can be channeled into positive action, and highlights the concept that many small acts add up in a meaningful way." According to Gordon, "we look to our traditions for solace and direction. We recognize the essential human need to do something, to make something good result from tragedy, to attempt to somehow bring balance into the world by increasing in 'senseless' acts of goodness and kindness." In the immediate aftermath of an apparent rampage by a Virginia Tech student, two Chabad-Lubavitch emissaries from elsewhere in the state - Rabbi Yossel Kranz, executive director of the Richmond, Va.-based Chabad of the Virginias and Rabbi Shlomo Mayer from the Chabad House at the University of Virginia - traveled to the site of the attacks to assist with the needs of the students and faculty. And as Mayer and Kranz were busy on Tuesday coordinating the care of a victim's body in accordance with Jewish …
creator: Joshua Runyan
date: 2007-07-02
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Sholom Charytan (SCharytan@Chabad.edu)
language: eng

Reflections on Virginia Tech
description: By Billy McMorris Apr 17 2007 John Manetta Once Told Me In early modern Europe the infant mortality rate was astronomical. Crude medical practices led to a high casualty rate for mother and child alike. In many cases, new mothers would be forced to rely on lying-in-maids to handle maternal responsibilities, while they recovered from the exhausting and traumatic experience of child birth. Lying-in-maids were generally post-menopausal widows, who were unable to mother children themselves. If new- born children were to become sick or die, grieving mothers, in some cases already afflicted with post partum depression, would look for some sort of explanation for why their child did not survive infancy. In some cases, the dazed and depressed mother would come to a genius conclusion: the lying-in-maid was a witch. Accusations were launched against close family friends and next door neighbors ... even the child's grandmother could find herself burned at the stake if she did not make sure that baby survived until the mother could fulfill her maternal role. These infertile women could not use their feminine power to care for the infant, and instead chose to use sorcery to bring about harm. Apparently all one needs is a scapegoat to survive the grieving process. America, however, is no different than these mourning mothers. Any major tragedy is immediately followed with a blame game of epic proportions. Calls for inquiries, hearings, firings and resignations are launched before words of condolence are even expressed. When we as a culture engage in this sort of "dialogue," we take the event away from those who are affected by it, and try to center it around our own vanity. It is perhaps the most despicable thing about our culture; it's even more revolting than a cult following of Paris Hilton. But still, everyone is chiming in on Virginia Tech. The student activists are complaining that, "if it wasn't for Charlton Heston or the 'gun nuts,' this would have never happened." Can't …
creator: Billy McMorris
publisher: Cornell Daily Sun
date: 2007-07-02
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

'We Are One': C.U. Community Reflects on Va. Tech Tragedy
description: By Lisa Grossman Sun Staff Writer Apr 20 2007 Students, faculty, staff and members of the Ithaca community gathered in Sage Chapel yesterday afternoon to remember and reflect on the recent tragedy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Despite the fact that the service was held at 12:30 p.m., when many students and faculty are in class, the chapel was packed to capacity, with people pressed against the walls and in doorways. The assembly fell silent as Prof. Annette Richards, music, opened the service with a melancholy and discordant organ solo. The mood remained hushed and somber as W. Kent Fuchs, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering and father of Eric Fuchs, a junior at Virginia Tech, began the speaking portion of the service. Fuchs focused on the connections that Cornell shares with Virginia Tech as a major university, saying that Cornell and Virginia Tech are "part of the same family of students and faculty and staff." Words of hope.Words of hope."The tragedy is particularly difficult to comprehend because ... of the contrast to the love and care demonstrated by the students and faculty at that university. The tragedy is also an enormous contrast to the common mission that we have and that we share in: the joy of learning and study," he said. Fuchs spoke with emotion and even a little humor, saying that "from Eric, I've come to appreciate what it means to have a turkey for your mascot, and to call yourself a 'Hokie,' which my son does with enormous pride." President David J. Skorton echoed Fuchs' emphasis on family and unity, repeating, in tones that might be used to recite a poem, "We are one." "We are one — one community, one people, one planet. We are here today to affirm that oneness," he said. "We share the same sorrow and the same need for comfort and reassurance ... We will stay together, we will go forward together, we will never forget our loss. We are one." Provost Biddy Martin was in Virginia, her native state, visiting her mother…
creator: Sara Hood
publisher: Cornell Daily Sun
date: 2007-07-02
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

Collection of Prayer & Encouragement
description: Ignite-LA, a Southern California young adults ministry shows support for those at Virginia Tech by holding a special memorial service for those who lost their lives on April 16th. This is image of a collection of personal notes of prayer and encouragement, written by individuals in the congregation, that were later sent to Virginia Tech along with a banner that had similar notes written on it. Photo: Raul Moreno Jr.
creator: Raul Moreno Jr.
date: 2007-07-03
contributor: Raul Moreno Jr.
language: eng

Beihilfe zum Amoklauf
description: KOMMENTAR VON ADRIENNE WOLTERSDORF Der tödliche Amoklauf auf dem Campus der US-Hochschule in Blacksburg, dem mindestens 33 Menschen zum Opfer fielen, ist der schlimmste,der sich bislang in der Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten ereignet hat. Doch er bildet nur den blutigen Höhepunkt einer ganzen Serie von schrecklichen Schulmassakern dieser Art. Kaum ist das spontane Entsetzen überwunden, drängen sich die nahe liegenden Fragen auf: Wenn die größten Gefahren, denen US-Amerikaner ausgesetzt sind, zu Hause und um die Ecke in der Schule lauern, warum wird dann nicht das Naheliegendste getan? Warum gibt es keine effektive Waffenkontrolle? In allen Fällen waren es die allzu leicht zu erlangenden Waffen, die das Desaster erst ermöglichten: Das ist längst eine Binsenweisheit. Doch es gehört zum amerikanischen Ritual post mortem, dass das Geschehene zuerst betrauert wird, um im nächsten Satz auf das Recht des amerikanischen Bürgers, seine eigene Knarre zu besitzen, zu pochen. Es sei in der Verfassung so verbrieft, verkündet allen voran die National Rifle Association, die Lobby der Gewehrliebhaber. Was so viel heißt wie: Es ist in Marmor gehauen. War die Nation nach den Terrorattacken vom 11. September nicht sofort bereit, alles in ihrer Macht Stehende zu unternehmen, zukünftige Angriffe mit allen Mitteln zu verhindern? Es mag unfair sein, diese beiden Ereignisse nebeneinanderzustellen. Doch die bürgerlichen Freiheiten, die jeden US-Bürger vor staatlicher Verfolgung und Schnüffeleien schützen sollen, stehen in der Verfassung. Bei denen aber war man sich 2001 schnell einig, dass sie zu zugunsten der Terrorbekämpfung vorübergehend - und vielleicht für immer - ausgesetzt werden müssten. Das Recht auf Waffenbesitz dagegen ist historisch gewachsen und eng verknüpft mit der Eroberung des Kontinents. Das macht eine rationale Diskussion darüber nicht einfach. Der Amoklauf von Blacksburg ist ein erneuter Warnruf an die US-Gesellschaft, sich endlich von überko…
creator: Die Tageszeitung
date: 2007-07-04
contributor: Adriana Seagle
rights: Corrina Urbach (lizenzen@taz.de)
language: deu

https://april16archive.org/items/show/661
description: Ignite-LA, a Southern California young adults ministry shows support for those at Virginia Tech by holding a special memorial service for those who lost their lives on April 16th. This is image of a collection of personal notes of prayer and encouragement, written by individuals in the congregation, that were later sent to Virginia Tech along with a banner that had similar notes written on it. Orginia source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nmly/469204121/in/set-72157600114401206/ Photo Courtesy of Raul Moreno Jr.
creator: Raul Moreno Jr.
date: 2007-07-05
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Raul Moreno Jr.
language: eng

Virginia Tech Memorial
description: A banner hangs on a bridge at William and Mary. Orginia Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmcw/469535826/in/photostream/ Photo Courtesy of Tom MacWright
creator: Tom MacWright
date: 2007-07-05
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Tom MacWright http://www.flickr.com/photos/tmcw/
language: eng

Virginia Shooting Memorial Service
description: These are the flowers that were left at the site of the Virginia Shooting Memorial Service at Texas State University - San Marcos. Photo taken by Troy Vega Orginia Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/steelskyblue/470100970/ Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0
creator: Troy Vega
date: 2007-07-05
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Troy Vega http://www.flickr.com/photos/steelskyblue/
language: eng

Drillfield memories moved inside
description: The messages boards were moved indoors after the semester ended in May. Orginial Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476264469/in/set-72157600091083431/ Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris
creator: Kelly Harris
date: 2007-07-06
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Kelly Harris kellybeth7@gmail.com
language: eng

Old Navy
description: The Old Navy in the Roanoke Mall expresses its support to the Virginia Tech community. Orginial Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/476245394/in/set-72157600091083431/ Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris
creator: Kelly Harris
date: 2007-07-06
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Kelly Harris kellybeth7@gmail.com
language: eng

Yellow ribbons in downtown Blacksburg
description: A series of yellow ribbons have been tied around light posts on Main Street. Orginial Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/465630598/in/set-72157600091083431/ Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris
creator: Kelly Harris
date: 2007-07-06
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Kelly Harris kellybeth7@gmail.com
language: eng

Sign at Cox's Golf Driving Range
description: Cox Driving Range on Prices Fork expresses its support for Virginia Tech. Orginial Source http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellybeth7/467693906/in/set-72157600091083431/ Photo courtesy of Kelly Harris
creator: Kelly Harris
date: 2007-07-06
contributor: Chad Newswander
rights: Permission: Kelly Harris kellybeth7@gmail.com
language: eng

Some Analysis of the Killings at Virginia Tech
description: April 17th, 2007 As a part of my Homicide Investigation class at George Washington University, my instructor has asked us to write a brief analysis of the killings that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday. Even though I am only a student and haven't had the experience, statistically speaking, there are many things that are common when this type of crime occurs. I am in no way stating that any of the following is fact, it is just my interpretation of the events as based on my knowledge gained in my Homicide Investigation course. * * * It appears that the offender's motivation for the first shooting is domestic. There have been much speculation as to the offender's relationship with the female victim. Some feel that they may have been in a relationship or that Cho had feelings for the female victim. It is possible that his motivation to kill her was caused by Cho's apparent hatred for "spoiled, rich kids." Is it possible that Cho had feelings for the female and was rejected? Thus taking his hatred out on her? Based on the fact that Cho walked across campus (at least half a mile) to Norris Hall to commit his crimes shows he had been planning this. The killings at Norris were not spontaneous at all. Cho wanted to destroy what symbolized the high class that he felt such disdain for. Since he associated many, if not all, students at Virginia Tech as being in this class, he felt that everyone encountered could potentially be his victims. This murder seems most likely to be an authority murder. The perceived authority being the higher class. If Cho grew up in a middle or lower income family, then this could explain his problem with the higher class. Northern Virginia can have very large gaps in the income levels among families. Cho probably felt this gap during his time in school in Northern Virginia and this is what probably helped escalate his hatred. But the question remains of who was his primary target? Was it the first two victims? Or was his primary target someone in…
creator: fallenposters / Do Not Cross (Blog)
date: 2007-07-09
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0
language: eng

Candlelight Vigil w/ Jewish Community
description: My wife (Nina), Katie (son's fiancee), her friend Rachel and I attended the Candlelight Vigil @ the drillfield after the events of 4/16. We happened to meet w/ some of the Jewish Community (Sue Kurtz, her husband, Alicia Cohen and others) @ Virginia Tech.
creator: Patrick Donohoe
date: 2007-07-09
contributor: Patrick Donohoe
language: eng

Guns Don't Kill People, Kids Who Play Video Games Kill People...
description: April 18, 2007 I apologize in advance for the tone of this piece. I thoroughly appreciate the devastating gravity of the situation, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to those families and friends affected. Blacksburg, Virginia. Less than a week ago, nothing would have sprung to mind. In fact, many would not even have known this small town existed. Now, for obvious reasons, it's on the map. The events of April 16 serve as a reminder - a reminder that society is imperfect; that society is unpredictable; and that society is unprepared. In fairness to those involved, the events at Virgina Tech could not have been predicted with any ease. What happened was not a commonplace, run-of-the-mill, every-day happening. I won't even go so far as to say that what happened could have been prevented - there is no reasonable way of knowing that. What I will do, however, is take a few quick shots at the aftermath. Everyone has their own concocted theory on how to respond to this type of situation. Pat Brown, for example, argues that whoever was the owner of the weapons used in the attack should be held accountable for the deaths of each and every student and professor on Monday. She believes that somehow, this would prevent a psychopath from acquiring the weapons they would choose to employ for such causes. The real world begs to differ, Pat. What we need to take away from the Virginia Tech Massacre is very simple - there are people out there that need help. Guns didn't kill those students; the Asian man didn't kill those professors; what transpired at Virginia Tech is exactly what happened at Columbine, Taber, Montreal, and every other mass shooting. These people were neglected. Do I believe in any way that whatever circumstances the shooter may have been put through justify his actions? No. Reciprocity, particularly when it involves violence, solves nothing. With that said, however, how do we take ownership of Monday's events? Do we pretend that this was an isolated incident - …
creator: keh619 / Tales of a Back Seat Prime Minster (blog)
date: 2007-07-09
contributor: Brent Jesiek
rights: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0
language: eng

C.U. Officials Discuss Response to Va. Tech
description: By Ben Eisen Sun Staff Writer Apr 25 2007 "Half of college students report having felt extremely depressed," said Ray Kim, assistant dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, to a crowd of students in Goldwin Smith's Hollis E. Cornell auditorium yesterday afternoon. "60 percent of students report feeling absolutely hopeless at times. 10 percent of students reported seriously considering suicide. How many people knew it was this bad?" No one raised their hands. Kim was one of four speakers on a panel yesterday afternoon to speak about the Virginia Tech tragedy and Cornell's level of preparedness for such emergencies. Hosted by Omega Phi Beta Sorority and Lambda Phi Epsilon, the goal of the discussion was to bring the past week's events home to our campus. Other speakers included George Sutfin, head of crime prevention at Cornell Police, Chief Curtis Ostrander who has worked for CUPD since before the 1983 shooting at Cornell, and Dr. Ya-Shu Liang, who works for Counseling and Psychological Services. "Every time something happens [response and prevention] plans are reevaluated," Sutfin said. "Columbine got everyone reevaluating response," added Ostrander. "New training was developed. I was one of the first officers who received training." Sutfin told the audience that Cornell is now in the process of making a contract with a company that alerts everyone on campus of emergencies by text message. "If something happens at an elementary school, it's easy to shut down, but Cornell is a small city, and it's very hard to shut down the entire campus. Studies show that 90 percent of students have cell phones, so [the new plan will] send texts to everyone in a circumference." Though the officers were unable not comment on their current response plans to the specific type of emergency that happened at Virginia Tech, Sutfin said that CUPD senior staff sat in on meetings to discuss changes to the plans while the panel was going on. He added that a lot of prevention rests in the han…
creator: Ben Eisen
date: 2007-07-10
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

A Dark Day in April
description: Apr 17 2007 Editorial Yesterday marked one of the darkest days in United States history, as the campus of Virginia Tech collapsed to the tune of gunshots, cries and panic. The morning's horrific aftermath was broadcast on every major news network: students sprinting across campus; SWAT teams taking cover next to their vehicles; an exasperated and exhausted police chief and university president, trying to explain how a bastion for safety and growth — a college campus — could suddenly become the setting for a nightmare of unimaginable proportions. The event bares a shocking resemblance to the 1999 Columbine massacre and comes eight years to the week of what was once our country's worst school shooting. Facts came in bursts; the banners of CNN.com changed right before our eyes; and the death toll seemed to double without any explanation. No one was able to affirmatively answer basic questions such as, "Who was involved?" "What were the motives behind the shootings?" And if there was one killer, "Why was he able to roam free a second time and inflict even more harm?" The tragedy hits home not only for Cornell students trying to reach their friends at Virginia Tech but also because of its chilling reminder that no university is immune to violence of this magnitude. At Cornell, we picture ourselves as existing in solitude and safety, removed from the harsh realities of aggression and evil that blot the world. Nearly every person that sets foot on the University has grown up in environments where such inhumane acts have never been commonplace. But what if a lone gunman had opened fire at Kennedy Hall at 9:45 a.m. instead of Virginia Tech's Norris Hall? What if two students were dead by breakfast time at a North Campus dorm instead of at West Ambler Johnston Hall? Can the Cornell administration rationally and smoothly handle this seemingly unfathomable situation? Evidence pouring in from Virginia Tech points to some degree of miscommunication and flawed procedure. Why w…
creator: Editorial Staff
date: 2007-07-10
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

Looking Forward
description: By David J. Skorton May 2 2007 I had intended this final column of the academic year to be one mainly of gratitude to my colleagues at The Cornell Daily Sun and to readers of the newspaper for permitting me this space and for the tremendously helpful feedback I received as a result of these "From David" columns. I look forward to another year of useful interchange through this column and in many other fora in 2007-08. I believe we have made progress as a campus this year in confronting important issues, ranging from violence, to mental health, to what it means to be part of an inclusive campus community. Although we have not resolved some issues of importance to this campus, I believe we have learned a great deal together about how to have the sorts of conversations we need to have in order to create change. I am especially heartened by the progress we have made on diversity issues, and I look forward to continuing our progress with the support, leadership and encouragement of the University Diversity Council and through the self-governance processes underway to foster greater community involvement. As Cornellians, all of us can take pride in the achievements of our colleagues and friends this year. Some have won major national and international awards and many more have demonstrated a great willingness to share their skills and talents with the campus and the world — in the classroom, laboratory and studio; on the playing field; through public service; and through music, dance, theater and art. Eli Northrup '07 and Joshua Raff '07 have even come up with a rap to update the Alma Mater, which I heard performed last week by Pants Velour. Whether you are moving on to the next stage of your life or continuing on at Cornell, you have helped make this a vibrant and engaged community, and I congratulate you and thank you for your efforts. Unfortunately, the end of the academic year has brought with it the incomprehensible, horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech University. In…
creator: David J. Skorton
date: 2007-07-10
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

Alums Recall 1983 C.U. Murders
description: By Felicia Daniels Sun Staff Writer Apr 19 2007 Brenda Scinto '87 was in her bedroom studying in 1983, when two freshman women, Young Hee Suh '87 and Erin Nieswand '87, were fatally shot in the room above her by 26-year-old Su Yong Kim. Scinto said she does not remember much about that year academically, but 26 years later, she remembers everything about that particular Saturday night. Monday's shootings at Virginia Polytechnical Institute brought back a flood of memories for her. "It was incredibly violent, an event that no one in that dorm that night or in dorms around us will ever forget," Scinto said. Kim, who was not a Cornell student, invaded the North Campus dorm Low Rise 7 on Saturday, Dec. 17, 1983 armed with a rifle. According to Scinto and police reports, Kim arrived at the dorm and confronted Suh and Nieswand in their room after Suh refused to see him. Scinto called Kim an "obsessed admirer and stalker of Suh." "We all heard him come in through the back fire escape stairs. Those doors were supposed to have been locked but everyone kept them propped open, and that's how he got in. He came in through the fire escape stairway and entered the suite above me," she said. Less than 30 minutes later, Scinto heard gunshots as Kim murdered Suh and Nieswand. She then heard footsteps as he fled back down the staircase. Though only two people lost their lives, the incident had potential to be even more traumatic. Kim held five additional students hostage in Suh's room before releasing all but the two roommates. Joel Melby '84 lived on the floor below and remembers how much uglier the situation could have turned. "It was only because the man's primary target, a quiet, shy, freshman girl, persuaded him to let most of the others go. Her bravery saved the lives of all but herself and her roommate. What if she hadn't found the courage to do so?" he asked in a comment on The Sun's website. "What if" is a question many students are asking as they worry that shootings like t…
creator: Felicia Daniels
publisher: Cornell Daily Sun
date: 2007-07-10
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng

Student Mental Health Problems Rise at C.U.
description: By Gallagher Hannan Sun Staff Writer May 3 2007 The tragedy at Virginia Tech has put the entire college community on edge. Although it is clear that this incident was isolated, it has raised important questions about the prevalence of high stress and depression on college campuses. In an interview with Cornell's President David Skorton last week on mental health, he addressed the importance of these issues. "I am very, very concerned about depression, pressure on campus, suicide, homicide, violence; it's an enormous issue," he said.Ample Advice: Pamphlets line the walls of Gannett Health Clinic offering advice to students on a number of topics.Ample Advice: Pamphlets line the walls of Gannett Health Clinic offering advice to students on a number of topics. According to a recent study completed by Kansas State University, mental health issues like those described by Skorton are becoming increasingly prevalent on college campuses. The study indicated that since 1994, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of students seeking help for depression and suicidal thoughts. Greg Eells, director of Cornell Counseling and Psychological services, said that these trends are apparent Cornell as well. "We've seen a doubling of people coming in for counseling over the last ten years," he said, "but we've doubled our staff size as well, so we've tried to keep up." The question then, is whether mental health issues are actually increasing, or if students are just more willing to seek psychological help. "It's hard to know whether the increase in demand is about increased stress, or is about increased knowledge in campus [about mental health services] and [their] de-stigmatization," said Matt Boone, interim assistant director of CAPS. "While there have been claims that mental health problems among college students are on the rise, the data is not consistent," said Tim Marchell, director of Mental Health Initiatives and the Council for Mental Health and Welfare, "[But] we do …
creator: Gallagher Hannan
date: 2007-07-10
contributor: Sara Hood
rights: Jonny Lieberman <jdl46@cornell.edu>, <lieberman.jonny@gmail.com>
language: eng