The Apostolics of New River Valley on North Main have built a small memorial for the 33 victims. Photo Courtesy of Chad Newswander
Outside of Charlotte, NC, a billboard stands with the VT ribbon/logo. Photo Courtesy of Lynita Newswander
By: Jason Javie Posted: 4/20/07 The Virginia Tech tragedy will continue to resonate for some time to come, and rightly so. Many questions surrounding last Monday's events are yet to be answered, and must be in order for the grieving victims and families to move on from the horror that was April 16th, 2007. To be fair, there has been no official statement concretely outlining the events of that fateful Monday morning, although what has been pieced together speaks to a rather shabbily-handled situation. Why was there a delay in the excess of two hours following the first incident before students were notified? Why had President Charles Stegler not declared a campus-wide emergency and locked the school down? Why were students in the classrooms at Norris Hall at 9:10 a.m. trying to make sense of a vague e-mail informing them of the shooting? The only precautionary measure taken by the campus security apparatus prior to 9 a.m. was to lock down the site of the first incident. Shortly after, an e-mail was sent advising the University community of the incident, recommending caution, and instructing them to contact police with any information. Less than one hour later, the gunman reemerged to massacre 30 people in a nearby classroom. One cannot help but ponder if, had more decisive initiatives been taken, many of the deaths and injuries could have been preventable. Freak tragedy, yes-unmanageable, no. As the president of Virginia Tech, Mr. Stegler is responsible for the safety of students during emergencies. In the words of Dr. Sharon Javie, former professor of Marketing at LaSalle University, "It is unconscionable that [Stegler] did not lock the campus down after the first two students were shot. You either apprehend the suspect, or you shut the campus down." I can't say I disagree. While impossible to predict the first shootings, Mr. Stegler has indicated that he thought the first killings were simply the result of a domestic dispute and that the gunman had fled campus. Even so, it's better to err on the side of safety. Mr. Stegler gambled with the safety and well-being of his students and lost miserably. Dr. William Dunkleberg, former Dean of the Fox School of Business at Temple University and professor of Economics, explained the sensitivity of the issue. "Your first response in such a situation is that it's personal and isolated. It is highly unlikely that what occurred is actually the beginning of a killing spree. You're faced with a dilemma." A dilemma, indeed, but if locking down the campus could ultimately save lives, I doubt many would complain. Also unnerving is the lack of mechanisms in place at schools to identify individuals like Cho Seung-Hui and get them help before they act out. Described as an introvert, Cho shocked his fellow students and English professor with disturbing and violent plays written for a class, now posted on aol.com. Issues of free speech and confidentiality would conflict with such systems, but shouldn't there be a point where the line is drawn? -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
Virginia Tech: Los hechos a centímetros de distancia
Publicado por Jose Kaulen C. 19th Abril 2007 Collin Goddard estuvo a centímetros de Cho Seung-Hui durante la masacre del lunes, y escuchó cómo el asesino terminaba con su vida después de haber matado a 30 personas, dice su madre. Después de que las balas fueron disparadas a su alrededor dentro de la sala de Norris Hall, Goddard, un estudiante de 21 años de Estudios Internacionales, jugó con la muerte tal como Cho, dice su madre, Ann Goddard. Esto lo contaba mientras su hijo herido estaba en una cirugía. La terrible experiencia de Goddard comenzó durante su clase de Francés, cuando él y sus compañeros escucharon los disparos desde la entrada. La profesora Jocelyne Couture-Nowak dijo a sus alumnos que llamaran al 911, solo segundos antes de que Cho entrara a la sala y comenzara con la balacera, hiriendo a Goddard en la pierna. "Cho primero fue a través de la primera fila y comenzó a disparar aleatoriamente" dijo. Cho abandonó la sala y regresó momentos después. Colin estaba tendido en el piso de la sala, enfrentándose a la muerte cuando "Él giró la cabeza y vió los zapatos del atacante viniendo hacia su cuerpo". "El atacante estuvo parado junto a él", dice la madre. "Él estaba totalmente asustado de morir", dice, "mantuvo la inteligencia en todo momento, pero estaba muy asustado de morir". El atacante disparó otra vez contra Colin, alcanzádolo en el hombro y en una nalga. Después caminó hacia el frente de la sala, explica Ann. Dos disparos fueron seguidos de silencio. La policía rompió ese silencio gritando "shooter down!, black tag!" ha dicho Goddard, lo que aparentemente son códigos policiales indicando muertes en el lugar. Los policías revisaron los cuerpos en la sala de clases. Couture-Nowak no sobrevivió. Mientras los cirujanos trabajan para curar a su hijo, Goddard dice que ella nunca hubiera querido que la tragedia hubiera sucedido en un momento "de definición en la vida de mi hijo", refiriéndose al último semestre en la carrera de Collin. En cambio, ella hubiera querido un momento de definición de su hijo como "que fuera algo positivo, con una gran celebración en su vida". La cirugía de Collin fue un éxito. Otras nueve personas permanecen heridas en el hospital. Otras tres personas heridas del tiroteo del lunes fueron dadas de alta el hoy. Una de esas personas está recuperándose en el Lewis-Gale Medical Center, cerca de Salem, Virginia. Otros dos pacientes fueron dados de alta desde el Montgomery Regional Hospital en Blacksburg, quedando seis, tres hombres y tres mujeres, todos "estables", de acuerdo al CEO del hospital, Scott Hill. "No tengo palabras para describir la fortaleza de esos estudiantes", ha dicho Hill. "Ellos están trabajando muy duro para recuperarse". Dos pacientes que sufrieron heridas de bala están en buenas condiciones en el New River Valley Hospital, cerca de Radford. En el Roanoke Memorial Hospital, en Roanoke, Virginia, un paciente se mantiene en condición crítica por sus heridas de bala. Otro herido que estaba siendo tratado en Roanoke ha sido transferido a otro hospital, según el portavoz Eric Earnhart, quien se negó a dar el nombre del hospital por un pedido de los familiares. -- Fuente Original: Realidades Varias a.k.a El Blog de Jose Kaulen http://josekaulen.wordpress.com/tag/virginia-tech/ Licencia de uso: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported
Publicado por Manuel Dávila Galindo Olivares lunes, abril 16, 2007 En honor a lo ominoso Hoy vemos en el mundo el reflejo de lo que somos. Han muerto más estudiantes que caminaban por los pasillos de su escuela a manos de otros estudiantes que disparaban por los pasillos de su escuela. No hay lugar a dudas de que todo lo que hemos realizado a nuestro alrededor, es una simulación de la sociedad que nos gustaría ser. Consejos, anuncios, libros, películas, pláticas, conferencias, noviazgos, padres, amistades, todo gira alrededor de este mundo utópico que nos estorba a casa paso que damos. Por todos los lugares hay una figura que debemos imitar, un peso que debemos alcanzar, una cosa que debemos ignorar; la pobreza y la violencia son la verdadera naturaleza de nuestro presente, aún metidos en un café multinacional de la condesa, encontramos restos de esta sociedad que nos persigue y nos obliga a un cinismo pasmoso. Un estudiante, podrían ser dos, entra a su escuela a las 7 de la mañana. En la escuela camina por los pasillos buscando el lugar donde comenzará a disparar. Cuándo está ahí abre fuego ante la mirada atónita de sus compañeros, muere baleado y no se sabe si alguien más le disparó o se suicido. Más de tres decenas de estudiantes muertos en una universidad que podría ser cualquiera, incluso ésta. El presidente George W. Bush llama a lo sucedido en Virginia Tech una tragedia y ofrece sus condolencias, seguramente utiliza el mismo formato que con los soldados que fallecen diario en Irak. Para muchos es la mayor tragedia en la historia universitaria americana, para otros es un tiroteo más de los muchos que se han suscitado en los últimos diez años. Podemos analizar este evento desde muchas perspectivas, sin embargo entre la búsqueda del análisis olvidaremos la más importante: Más de treinta personas fallecieron porque alguien decidió matarlos. ¿Qué hizo a este ciudadano zero tomar un arma, probablemente semiautomática, y disparar a placer en su propia escuela? ¿Cómo se atreve Bush a llamar una tragedia a algo que el mismo ha provocado en otros países? ¿Qué pasa en los Estados Unidos que matar resulta tan fácil? Son preguntas que no habrá forma de responder, pero son preguntas que debemos hacernos. Lo ocurrido en Virginia es un reflejo de la sociedad que hemos fundado, es el resultado de la ansiedad y la violencia que provocamos con esta obligación que tenemos de ser ciegos a la desgracia humana. ¿Cómo podemos respetar la vida si ante nuestros ojos la pobreza es un momento incómodo a media cena? Algo no está bien y no podemos seguir negándolo. Hemos tomado decisiones equivocadas y en la inercia social las transcurrimos sin poner verdadera atención a aquello en que nos convertimos. ¿Realmente hace falta un tiroteo, un suicidio, un doble asesinato, para darnos cuenta que hemos dejado de funcionar como sociedad? Me preocupa pensar que la respuesta es sí, si no sale en primetime en una televisora internacional no ocurre. Insisto, este evento ocurrió en una Universidad, fue perpetrado por un estudiante que quizá compartía opiniones y aficiones con algunos de ustedes; en el murieron estudiantes como ustedes, por razones que quizá ustedes tampoco comprendan; si les sirve de consuelo, tampoco las comprendo yo. Sin embargo es tiempo de revaluar a este ciudadano zero escondido en los rincones de las escuelas, las oficinas, los hogares, pensar en que es aquello que le estamos pidiendo que haga que lo orilla a tomar un arma y hacer algo grandioso, algo que lo ponga en primetime mundial. -- Fuente Original: http://fachal.blogspot.com/2007/04/virginia-tech.html Licencia de uso: Creative Commons Atribución-No Comercial-No Derivadas 2.5 México.
Creative Commons Atribución-No Comercial-No Derivadas 2.5 México
I'm writing simply to thank the UM community for its compassion in its response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I joined the UM faculty as a lecturer in the English department this year, but I originally hail from the Southwestern Virginia area; both my father and brother are Tech alumni, and Dr. Loganathon, one of the slain professors, was very fondly remembered by my brother as a popular and inspiring teacher. My brother wanted me to let my students know that he and many of his former classmates were deeply touched by this message of support and that in this time of great sorrow... this gesture went a long way towards making them feel better. What happened on one campus has been felt on all of them, and united we will heal. Thank you. Dr. Deborah Christie English Department -- Original Source: The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
I'm from Virginia, and I know students at Va. Tech. I've been watching the irksome news coverage. Death is always sad, but the silver lining is that it brings people together. Solidarity is why people are so compelled to tune in, and while Facebook has been great for that, the media sucked. Facebook may be prone to rumors, but you can tell who's missing and who to be concerned about. The media, however, have been eking out widespread political implications of this tragedy, instead of bringing people together. This event does have political ramifications, but the media has missed the mark by saying things like, in a nutshell, "He was born in a different country! Let's make this about immigration, despite the fact that most of his formative experiences were here in the US because he had lived here legally since he was eight!" Or there's "How on earth could this psycho get a gun? Well, it was a completely mundane, legal purchase, and he bought it with 'chilling simplicity.' Let's interview the merchant and harp on gun control!" Even on a 24-hour network, there are no gray areas in politics, so their coverage is ill-suited even for the wider audience. Gun control and free speech may be slippery slopes, but when free speech demonstrates a violent psychosis, how about a little gun control? I hate to be blunt, but we all know the Cho type, and as individuals, we should reach out like the teacher did. As a campus policy, I'm not suggesting that loners should be branded on the forehead, but when a kid confuses fantasy and reality, expresses violent fantasies and suicidal thoughts, and finally gets sent to the counseling center while you've got him in the straightjacket, confiscate his registered guns. Bethany Quinn Senior and former Hurricane columnist -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
Is UM prepared for a similar emergency? By: Karyn Meshbane // Assistant News Editor Posted: 4/20/07 Monday morning's shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, the deadliest such incident in American history, has forced colleges and universities around the country, including the University of Miami, to reevaluate on-campus security. Once news broke of Monday's events, UM's Police Department and administrators reacted within hours. President Donna E. Shalala sent out a statement on Monday afternoon to all students concerning the Virginia Tech tragedy and spoke of a crisis plan, while David A. Rivero, director of public safety, increased police presence in order to avert a possible copycat incident. "We immediately communicated with everybody that's on our emergency response plan so that everybody knew what was happening," Rivero said. "We increased our force by doubling the amount of cops, and we hired extra security guards to give students, faculty and UM employees an extra sense of safety." Rivero traveled to Tallahassee on Monday for a meeting with all police chiefs from the ACC schools to discuss security concerns and plans at the other universities. Officers from the Coral Gables Police Department have also been hired to patrol campus. Security Response Three weeks ago, Rivero met with SG President Danny Carvajal and decided to create the University of Miami Police Advisory Board. Rivero said the advisory board would revolve around student participation to offer an alternate perspectives on possible security vulnerabilities. Carvajal appointed Matthew Shpiner, vice president of operations for the 'Canes Emergency Response (a organization comprised of students who assist the university in times of disaster preparation and recovery), as the chair of the University of Miami Police Advisory Board. Shpiner plans to have an official meeting this week to discuss the board's goals and plan a response to the Virginia Tech shootings. Alan Fish, the vice president of Business Services, said the university is adequately prepared for a similar emergency on campus, based on the Emergency Preparedness Plan. "We've had a crisis management plan since the late '80s, which is constantly evolving every year as issues like [Virginia Tech] come up or technology changes," he said. Fish also told The Miami Hurricane the crisis plan includes a small emergency response team that includes a few "key" administrators, such as Shalala and Provost Thomas LeBlanc, who can meet on a moments notice. After the emergency response team meets, decisions are relayed to the crisis decision team, which includes approximately 100 people who carry out the smaller team's desired plan. The larger crisis decision team is made up of representatives from 57 major areas of the university, such as the various colleges,, medical campus, Department of Public Safety, the Department of Residence Halls and Auxiliary Services. The decision team last met during hurricane season to decide a course of action, which included sending an e-mail notification to students that classes were cancelled as a result of Hurricane Ernesto. Fish said a similar e-mail notification system would be used to warn students in the case of other types of threats. Patricia A. Whitely, vice president for Student Affairs, and Gilbert Arias, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, said they encourage all students to update their cell phone numbers at myum.miami.edu so the university is able to send out voicemails and text messages to all students in the case of a crisis. Currently only 4,600 of roughly 15,670 students have updated their cell phone numbers. In 1996, Hurricane linebacker Marlin Barnes was beaten to death in his on-campus apartment. Whitely, who was the director of Student Life at the time, said UM increased security immediately after that incident and followed the crisis plan UM had at the time. She noted the emergency plan UM uses now has been drastically updated since then, but whether a crisis is large or small, the decision team follows the same guidelines. Shalala also noted in her statement that the Rosentiel and medical campuses also have emergency response procedures. Annie Reisewitz of Media Relations said RSMAS has security during operating hours and no unauthorized persons are allowed on campus. Whitely also noted that both the RSMAS and medical campuses have a comprehensive plan that follows the Disaster Preparation and Recovery Plan on UM's website. Comparative Perspective Because most college campuses in the United States are sprawling by design with large open areas and free access to buildings that house classrooms, the use of unconventional security devices has been utilized by universities such as John Hopkins and Princeton. Johns Hopkins uses a "smart" video camera technology that employs computer algorithms to detect suspicious actions such as a person climbing a fence or loitering around a window. The university currently has 101 "smart" cameras installed on the main campus. At Princeton, professors and university officials are trained to spot depression and are told to contact mental health services when a student may need help. Also, after Columbine, many U.S. high schools installed metal detectors, though colleges and universities did not follow suit. Fish said UM is not planning to add security measures such as metal detectors or "smart" cameras, but he noted the university's crisis team does convene annually to have an "awareness meeting" to discuss issues that may impact the crisis plan. Furthermore, Arias emphasized that during times of crisis the Department of Public Safety, located in the Flipse Building, is staffed around-the-clock by members of the Division of Student Affairs and the Office of Communications, who may be reached via the Hurricane Hotline at 305-284-5151. "We constantly update the hotline and the website," Arias said. He added that in times of crisis, such as hurricanes, "We even sleep at [the Department of] Public Safety to be available for students and parents in case they have any questions." More information about UM's emergency preparedness may be found at www.miami.edu/prepare. -- Original Source: The Miami Hurricane- April 20, 2007
By: Greg Linch // News Editor Issue date: 4/20/07 A light, somber wind blew through campus Wednesday evening as the University of Miami paid tribute to the 33 students and staff who lost their lives Monday at Virginia Tech. The gentle breeze ever so slightly rustled the branches that hang over the University Center Rock as Shajena Erazo, the Student Government executive secretary, read the names of the fallen. A line of 33 student leaders clutched candles lit to memorialize each of the victims, in addition to the gunman. They faced hundreds of their peers, who packed the area between The Rock and the UC to pay their respects, also holding candles. UM President Donna E. Shalala offered her sympathies and repeatedly emphasized the two ACC universities were very much the same. "Tonight we are Virginia Tech. We share their horror and their grief," she said. "Tonight we are Virginia Tech. We are their brother and their sisters." At the end of her remarks, Shalala let out three words that reverberated in Blacksburg a day earlier as thousands chanted: "Let's go Hokies." Akin to how she began the chant earlier in the day at the Hug the Lake event, Shalala slowly enlivened the crowd to speak in unison as candles glimmered and wax dripped onto cut up paper cups. SG President Danny Carvajal spoke prior to Shalala, saying the university was there for Virginia Tech-a sister school. "We are confident Virginia Tech will heal and prevail," he said. Carvajal also asked students to sign a banner and a scrapbook to be sent to Va. Tech with the baseball team this weekend (please see pg. 19). -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
Letters Wednesday April 18, 2007 The Guardian We have heard the arguments for years regarding the modern-day relevance or not of the second amendment, which engrains the right to bears arms into the American constitution and psyche, and they need not be rehashed now. I am sure all readers are intelligent and well-informed enough to realise and accept that although they may have strong views on the rights of people to own guns, many others do not share that view. But this argument should not be the focus of today's editorials, columns and letters. Nathaniel Hawthorne said that "A hero cannot be a hero unless in a heroic world", so let us today for once become a world that celebrates heroism rather than focusing on the acts of the wicked few. The bravery of students to carry their friends, their classmates and people they didn't even know to safety and help while under fire shows the acts of heroism that are still required in our world. Today it is them and their fallen colleagues that we should be focusing on, not the evil act of one person. We will focus on how to turn heroic acts into unnecessary acts tomorrow, but for today let's celebrate the lives of those who have once again been taken by the winds of fate and those who were willing to risk their lives simply because it was the right thing to do. Let us tomorrow reignite the debate over gun ownership, and this time have a full and frank debate rather than the shouting match that has developed in past decades and led to a stalemate which only allows further acts of terror to plague our society, but just for one day we can put our differences aside and immortalise the all too soon forgotten heroes of our world. Michael Hunter Glasgow It's really very simple. If you permit people to buy firearms they will buy firearms. If a person owns any kind of tool they are likely to use that tool for the purpose intended. Firearms have only one use: they are designed to shoot and to kill. Don't quote in defence "the constitutional right to bear arms"; the constitution was written centuries ago, in a different world with different values. What about the constitutional right not to be murdered? If an individual has a breakdown in response to the pressures they find themselves under, they could kill themselves. Give that person a gun and time after time we see a trail of corpses - Dunblane, Columbine, Hungerford, Pennsylvania, etc, and now Virginia Tech. Personal ownership of lethal weapons has no place in a civilised society. Andrew Harris Hitchin, Hertfordshire The second amendment reads: "Congress must not deny the states a militia. A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." The context was the "critical period" when the states were concerned over the possible tyranny of the federal government. Eric Liggett Carnforth, Lancashire Neither the president of Virginia Tech nor President Bush even mentioned unrestricted gun ownership as a factor in this carnage in their public statements. The latter suggested prayer as a remedy instead. Maybe there is no connection between the availability and the use of weapons in Virginia. Laurence Mann London Jackie Ashley would not have wanted her thesis on the media numbing-down of the daily carnage in Iraq (What matters is the blood in the sand, not Des Browne, April 16) to have been instantly proved in such a stark fashion. But the blanket media coverage of the killing of 32 students on a Virginia university campus does, by contrast, demonstrate perfectly her cry of pain for Iraq, where the daily death toll surpasses that of the American tragedy. What is, in the 21st century, the insane pioneer attitude to carrying and using guns - to protect yourself in a wild, unknown world - has also been translated to Iraq, where young, frightened American soldiers have been, on average, responsible for up to a third of Iraqi civilian deaths daily, according to Iraq's ministry of health. Dr David Lowry Stoneleigh, Surrey Special report United States Related articles 25.10.2002: Captured in their sniper's nest 25.10.2002: Dropped clues that led police to sniper 25.10.2002: Rifle costs just $800 Useful links National Rifle Association Violence Policy Centre Brady Campaign Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Copyright Guardian News & Media Ltd 2007. -- Original Source: Guardian Unlimited http://www.guardian.co.uk/usguns/Story/0,,2059479,00.html
Eve Thompson-Acting Permissions Executive Syndication;permissions.syndication@guardian.co.uk
By: Matthew Bunch Issue date: 4/20/07 We've all been rocked and saddened this week by the tragedy in Blacksburg. Despite our fierce rivalry with the Hokies, we all are college students and share a common bond. One thing I noticed over these past few days has been the media coverage, blanketing the campus and interviewing everyone possible. I began to wonder, what kind of coverage would be done if something like that happened here? The Rock would be swarmed with media, so students would of course have to move any vigil they would like to hold to some other venue. The BankUnited Center would be rented out, so I'm sure students couldn't go there either. The blame would go immediately to the football team. Sports pundits like Bill Plaschke and Mark May would call for the athletic department to be carpet-bombed, and the immediate arrest of every athlete on campus. Surely, if it happened at UM and it was bad, it's the athletic department's fault. Next would be the criticism of university president Donna Shalala, citing her time with the Clinton administration. Surely, without his passing of the Brady Bill, students could have been armed with Uzis and handled the gunman themselves. Ultimately, the public at large will decide that this kind of thing is just what happens in Miami; it's "Thug U," so why should we be surprised? How can I make these assumptions? Because the same kind of reaction is unleashed whenever this university is faced with tragedy. Bryan Pata's murder was used by the media to attack the University of Miami. Just look at MSNBC's Mike Celizic, who said this after Pata's murder: "And so, it really doesn't matter why Pata was shot or by whom. He played for the Hurricanes. He died violently. If it happened at Ohio State, we'd be shocked. But at Miami, a lot of people will say it's not even a surprise: when you recruit thugs, such things happen." Of course, it was the university's fault. By recruiting guys other teams had given up on, someone came and shot Pata. Look at the Willie Cooper/Brandon Meriweather shooting last summer. Cooper and Meriweather, noticing a suspicious vehicle circling their house, investigated. They were shot at. Meriweather returned fire in defense, with a registered gun. What was the response from the media? "Let's get Miami." Instead of worrying about the status of Cooper, it became a pile-on. Remove Cooper and Meriweather from the team, put Miami on probation, and what else can we do to them? So what is the point? Is the coverage that important? Don't most people tune out the media anyway? As I've been watching the coverage, I have felt such compassion for Virginia Tech. That university needs everyone now, as they grieve and try to move on. As I came to the realization about what would happen at Miami, I grew scared. Would anyone be there in our time of need? As time went by, I came to a realization: they probably wouldn't.
In the midst of tragedy...we can prevail!
Sunday, April 22, 2007 Poet and Activist Nikki Giovanni delivered a soul-stirring speech that offered hope and consolation to the millions who witnessed (in person or via media) Wednesday's Invocation on the Campus of Virginia Tech. Her speech centered on prevailing in the aftermath of the April 17th tragedy, while touching on recurrent worldwide tragedies like children dying of AIDS (among other things). The underlying message that came from the lips of Giovanni was not only for those directly affected by the tragedy, but for all mankind, for all time. The whole concept of prevailing in tragedy is not new, yet many do not know how to prevail when faced with tragedy. It (tragedy) prompts many to question God's motive for allowing 'bad' things to happen in our lives (and around the world). We ask God... • Why didn't you stop the Virginia Massacre? • Why do you allow so many innocent people to die in Iraq? • Why did you allow my friend to die? • Why did you allow my daughter to get pregnant? The reality is that we live in an evil world and until the end of time, there will be terrorist attacks, wars, hurricanes, shootings and starvation. This may be hard for some to hear, but God never promised to protect us from harm, but He promised help us deal with harm, He promised to help us deal with difficult situations, He promised to give us the tools to help others who have experienced tragedy, He promised to help us Prevail! What makes the difference is our response (how Faith and Community helps) Great leaps of spiritual awareness and community swept our nation in the aftermath of September 11th and I believe that this is what helps heal the emotional wounds that were opened up that day. In the same way, Faith and Community is helping heal the wounds that were opened on April 17th. The heroism that we witness during and after tragedies is an example of how courage, love, and goodness can show their faces in the midst of evil and suffering, in consequence, healing many broken hearts. The same principle applies on a local level. Faith and Community helps us prevail when we are facing individual tragedies. To this end, in the words of Nikki Giovanni: "we are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think, not quite what we want to be. We are alive to the imagination and the possibility we will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears, through all this sadness." In the midst of tragedy, we can prevail! From my heart, to yours, Akhenaton -Read more about Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist here Posted by pharaohsprotege.com at 12:15 PM -- Original Source: pharaohsprotege.com http://www.pharaohsprotege.com/2007/04/we-can-prevail.html This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License
By: Dan Stein // Contributing Sports Writer Issue date: 4/20/07 While the Miami Hurricane baseball team prepares for another tough weekend on the road in the ACC this weekend, one cannot help but notice a somewhat distracted mood in the dugout. Needless to say, the tragedy that took place on Monday at Virginia Tech, in which a student opened fire on classmates and professors, has left some players pondering things other than baseball. "Our prayers and thoughts are with them," first baseman Yonder Alonso said. "It is just so hard to believe. I am sure their guys are thinking about it today and will be for the rest of the year. It is one of the worst things that ever happened in the country, so it is hard to deal with." While the 'Canes will travel to Blacksburg for a three game series this weekend, it is clear that the events have now become somber, and once again the role of sports as a healing power in America will be taken on. "It is hard for them to have to deal with it, but I feel like one of the best things is to play the game," Alonso said. The kinship felt between ballplayers at any two schools is generally strong, but this series is full of personal connections. Alonso said that he is good friends with the Hokies' catcher and sent him an email as soon as he heard what had happened. The situation also hit home for starting pitcher Enrique Garcia, who said that he has close friends at the school whom he was frightened for. However, Garcia seems to share Alonso's opinion, which also seems to be the team consensus, that the series is a good thing. "I am excited for the series," Garcia said. "I think it will definitely help to play, not just for the players, but as a nice distraction for the whole community." Head Coach Jim Morris will present a signed banner and $10,000 check for the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The team is also having special wristbands made for the series and will travel with extra security. -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
Editorial: Absolute campus security impossible, but UM moving in right direction
By:Anonymous Issue date: 4/20/07 As reality sets in after the shock of Monday's terrible shooting at Virginia Tech, another issue has already come up, which we all would do good to address immediately. The issue, of course, is campus security. One can debate for hours whether or not Va. Tech's administration did enough to protect the students that fateful morning, but there is no question students should be protected. College campuses are like their own little world-they are microcosms that, quite simply, operate on their own plane. University students and faculty operate on their own schedules, through their own methods, based on their own values and with their own sets of characters, players, movers and shakers. Considering this, it is easy to forget that college campuses are not actually physically removed from the world and, as such, are at least as vulnerable to the dangers, sorrow and violence that go with it (perhraps even more so, due to their open and accessible nature). Thus, a dilemma: Adding too much security, or restricting movement, would eliminate the openness and warmth of campus grounds, severely detracting from the atmosphere and choking the general freedoms the university environment is supposed to facilitate. At the same time, it was this very openness that helped enable Cho Seung-Hui to not only kill 32 students, and eventually himself, but also to have the time to mail one final message to NBC in between the two shootings. Unfortunately, as much as is done to bolster security, one must come to the realization that there will always be people driven over the edge and this type of crime is, realistically, unpreventable. As long as firearms exist, so will disturbed people who will want to and be able to use them in terrible ways. However, it is possible to minimize the damage caused by these types of shootings in many ways. Thankfully, the university has taken all the necessary steps at this time to reevaluate and update their security plans. One area in particular is commmunications. The importance of communicating with students and others was made starkly clear in Blacksburg Monday and UM should be applauded for looking into every means available to notify students in a crisis situation. Overshadowing most of the other methods is the hope that all students will register their cell phone number on MyUM in order to receive instantaneous alerts, via a recording and hopefully soon by text messaging. But this plan is wholly dependent on the students' participation. The Hurricane would even go so far as to say the university should require students to submit a number, with special exceptions for those without cell phones. A campus-wide PA system would be highly effective, as well, similar to those in the dorms. As the affected and the nation start to heal, it is time to also look forward and do what we can to avert another tragedy of such proportions. It is not an easy task, but the above suggestions are a good start at making our campuses safer, while not compromising -- Original Source:The Miami Hurricane - April 20, 2007
People put a wreath on the wall of the Burrus Hall to remember the victims on April 20.
Emergency-Response Communications to Reach Phones
President announces plans to improve system By: Lisa Davis Posted: 5/18/07 Boston University will be prepared to contact almost all students and staff in emergencies this fall with a mass communications system that uses text messaging, voicemail and email, President Robert Brown announced Wednesday in an email sent to the community. The "Send Word Now" system -- which uses all three message types -- was introduced to the campus this year to some extent, but it will be developed more over the summer, Brown said in the email. "In light of the deadly tragedy at Virginia Tech University, we are reviewing Boston University's emergency response plans and communication systems to ensure that they are the best available," Brown said in the email. The improved system would also notify response teams "within minutes" of an emergency, Brown said. In an email to The Daily Free Press, Brown said he expects the school would be able to contact everyone in less than 10 minutes. Students are not required to register their cellphone numbers in the school directory, which is one flaw in reaching everyone in an emergency, Brown said in an April 27 interview. However, in his email to the community, Brown said incoming students will be required to register cellphone numbers or alternative contact numbers, and he encouraged current students to do so on the Student Link website. "We will require the information for all students studying on our Boston campuses," Brown said in the email to the Free Press. "Otherwise, the system would only reach a fraction of our students." The communications system "has been in place," said BU spokesman Colin Riley. "Texting is just one avenue of reaching people. We're trying to find the most effective system possible," he added. The method was introduced about a year ago at a university meeting that addressed a possible avian flu outbreak, Riley said. "This assessment is to ensure and reinforce our view that students' safety is our highest priority," Riley said. "The best that will come out of this is that everyone is aware, and the seriousness of these systems are recognized and appreciated. We're always looking to enhance communications with students." -- Original Source:Daily Free Press - May 18, 2007
Profesorul erou din America a plecat din Focsani
Data: Wednesday, April 18 @ 05:39:57 EDT Topic: sa pastram ce avem mai bun Despre profesorul Liviu Librescu s-a spus ca a fost un adevarat erou. Profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din statul american Virginia, dascalul a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Chiar daca regimul Antonescu i-a trimis tatal in lagarul de exterminare din Transnistria, profesorul Liviu Librescu iubea Romania si vorbea cu placere despre Focsani Profesorul erou din America a plecat din Focsani De Silvia Vrinceanu, 18.04.2007 Profesorul Liviu Librescu, impuscat mortal intr-un amfiteatru al Universitatii Virginia Tech din SUA, este originar din Focsani, unde a trait pina la 14 ani u de asemenea, sotia regretatului profesor este fiica unui stomatolog evreu din Focsani u ambii au supravietuit Holocaustului si au emigrat cu greu in Israel in timpul regimului comunist u in masacrul de luni, de la universitatea americana, au fost omorite 32 de persoane si alte 29 au fost ranite u Ziarul de Vrancea se afla in corespondenta cu renumitul profesor in vederea publicarii unui articol despre opresiunile antisemite din copilaria sa Putini stiu ca masacrul care a ingrozit planeta in cursul zilei de ieri are legatura cu Focsaniul si cu prigoana evreilor care s-a produs in aceasta zona a tarii in timpul Holocaustului. Liviu Librescu, în virsta de 76 de ani, profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Virginia Tech din Statele Unite ale Americii, care a fost ucis in atacul de luni, alaturi de 31 studenti, a copilarit mai multi ani la Focsani, unde tatal sau, un avocat evreu repudiat, a avut domiciliul fortat, in timpul prigoanei antiseminte. La Focsani, unde a urmat cursurile Colegiului Unirea, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cunoscut-o si pe cea care i-a fost alaturi toata viata, sotia sa Marilena. Ambii au fost supravietuitori ai Holocaustului din Romania. Chiar in aceste zile, cind comunitatea evreiasca din toata lumea se pregateste sa comemoreze revolta evreilor din ghetoul de la Varsovia, unul dintre simbolurile de rezistenta si eroism in timpul Holocaustului, reporterii nostri se aflau in corespondenta cu apreciatul profesor univesitar pe tema ororilor din timpul celui de-al doilea razboi mondial. Potrivit studentilor sai, citati de presa internationala, profesorul Liviu Librescu a cazut la datorie, împuscat de un bursier sud- coreean, în momentul în care se pregatea sa înceapa cursul în amfiteatrul universitatii. Stirea despre carnagiu a facut inconjurul planetei si a facut sa curga lacrimi in America, unde profesorul preda si locuia cu sotia, in Israel, unde are doi fii si multi prieteni, dar si in Romania. Despre profesorul Liviu Librescu s-a spus ca a fost un adevarat erou. Profesor de aeronautica la Universitatea Tehnica din statul american Virginia, dascalul a murit dupa ce l-a infruntat pe atacatorul care a produs cel mai mare masacru din istoria scolilor americane. Chiar daca regimul Antonescu i-a trimis tatal in lagarul de exterminare din Transnistria, profesorul Liviu Librescu iubea Romania si vorbea cu placere despre Focsani, orasul in care a trait mai multi ani si unde venea adesea inainte de razboi pentru a-si vizita bunicii din partea mamei. "Imi face placere intotdeauna sa primesc stiri care imi amintesc de orasul in care am petrecut multi ani, desi au fost ani de suferinta, cind tatii nostri, al meu si al sotiei mele, au avut domiciliul fortat in Focsani. Au fost vremuri foartegrele pentru noi! Tatal meu a fost deportat de aici in Transnistria dupa ce a lucrat o vreme la Soveja, intr-un batalion de munca", ne-a povestit profesorul Liviu Librescu cu putin inainte de tragedia in care avea sa sfirseasca. La Focsani, Liviu Librescu si-a cunoscut si sotia, pe Marilena Semian, fiica unui stomatolog cunoscut in orasul acelor vremi, cu care s-a casatorit in anul 1968. Sotia sa, medic de profesie, a urmat liceul de fete din Focsani, dupa care a absolvit facultatea de medicina. Ulterior si-a urmat sotul in Israel si mai apoi in Blackburg - SUA, unde a primit o bursa. Cei doi au avut impreuna doi fii, Arie si Iosef, de profesie ingineri, care traiesc in Israel. "Munca obligatorie la Focsani" "In anii copilariei, scrie profesorul Liviu Librescu intr-unul din e- mailurile sale, inaintea inceperii razboiului, Focsaniul a constituit pentru mine orasul in care veneam cu parintii sa-mi vizitez bunica, Paulina Finkelstein, mama mamei mele, si de asemeni, familiilesurorilor mamei mele, Ianconescu si Filderman. Impreuna cu parintii mei, Izidor si Mina Librescu, locuiam atunci la Ploiesti. Tatal meu era avocat, dar din motive rasiale, in tot timpul razboiului, a fost radiat din baroul de avocati. Tatal meu a fost dus la lagarul de la Teis. Dupa desfiintarea lagarului, a fost trimis cu domiciliul fortat la Focsani. In 1942, ne-am mutat la Focsani pentru a ne reuni cu tata, dar vremurile potrivnice au facut ca el sa fie trimis la munca obligatorie la Focsani, apoi la Soveja. Dupa Soveja, a fost deportat in Transnistria. Dupa razboi s-a intors cu sanatatea mult subrezita si cu moralul foarte scazut. Tata a reintrat in barou, dar in anul 1948, cind regimul comunist s-a instaurat la putere, a fost din nou radiat pentru motivul ca s-a opus "democratizarii baroului". Au fost ani foarte grei pentru noi", scria profesorul Liviu Librescu. Fortat de comunisti sa demisioneze In ciuda nenumaratelor probleme pe care le-a intimpinat in copilarie, profesorul Liviu Librescu a urmat politehnica la Bucuresti, sectia de aviatie, pe care, dupa cum ne-a spus, a absovit-o in anul 1953. Dupa o cariera prodigioasa, a ajuns un nume in domeniul sau, obtinind zeci de premii si titluri onorifice internationale. Pentru a ajunge in Israel, pe vremea comunismului, a trebuit sa renunte la tot in Romania. "Pentru a putea depune actele de emigrare in Israel a trebuit in anul 1975 sa-mi dau demisia si am fost fortat sa stau trei ani fara lucru", a tinut sa mai spuna profesorul. "In Israel am fost atestat profesor la Tel-Aviv University. In anul 1985 am plecat in «sabatical», la Virginia Polytechnic Institute in U.S.A. De atunci, lucrez aici ca profesor la Engineering Sciens and Mecanics Department. Am desfasurat activitate stiintifica materializata prin trei carti si peste 300 articole aparute in reviste internationale de specialitate", a continuat cel care avea sa fie ucis in timp ce incerca sa tina piept atacatorului care a omorit 32 de persoane si a ranit alte 29 in campusul universitar. Aproape deloc cunoscut in Focsani, profesorulLibrescu este recunoscut in SUA ca fondatorul teoriei si aplicatiilor in domeniul structurilor de tip sandwich. Munca sa de cercetare, dupa cum se arata si in impresionantul sau CV, publicat pe site-ul universitatii, a inclus domeniul aerospatial cu aplicatii NASA. Facea parte din consiliile editoriale ale mai multor publicatii de specialitate si a prezidat numeroase congrese internationale in inginerie mecanica. Invitat la Focsani luna viitoare Apreciatul profesor a fost coleg de scoala la Focsani cu alti evrei cunoscuti, printre care si cu Zvi Ben Dov, fost director al aeroportului din Tel Aviv, actualmente director general al organizatiei A.M.I.R., care are ca scop infiintarea unui muzeu al evreimii romane. Fosti colegi la Colegiul Unirea, cei doi tineau in ultimul timp legatura prin Internet, dat fiind ca Zvi Ben Dov a scris in Israel, in limba ebraica, doua carti despre comunitatea in care s- a nascut si i-a reunit aici pe toti focsanenii israelieni. Liviu Librescu ne-a spus ca de oameni ca Zvi Ben Dov sau Matei Grisaru il leaga amintiri de neuitat din anii de scoala primara. Pentru ca a reintrat in legatura cu prietenii din copilarie, astazi cetateni ai statului Israel, profesorul Liviu Librescu a fost invitat in luna mai sa viziteze Focsaniul, alaturi de cei dornici sa revada locurile copilariei. "Inainte de Paste i-am trimis lui Liviu felicitari si mi-a rapuns cu multa amabilitate. I-am scis ca plecam la Focsani sa ne vizitam orasul copilariei noastre si l-am invitat sa vina cu noi, intr-o excursie de suflet. Liviu mi-a raspuns ca din pacate nu poate sa fie cu noi, pentru ca era implicat in unele proiecte la universitate, desi i-ar fi placut sa revada locurile copilariei. Am vorbit cu prietenii nostri si saptamina viitoare o sa fie adus aici, in Israel, unde va fi inmormintat. Eu am sa fiu acolo", ne-a spus Zvi Ben Dov, "motorul" comunitatii de vrinceni din Israel si cel mai focsanean dintre israelieni, cum a fost numit de cei peste 300 de membri ai comunitatii evreilor plecati din orasul de pe Milcov. Ura violenta, ucis de violenta Profesorul Liviu Librescu ura violenta si dorea sa arate tuturor ororile Holocaustului, in special cele din Romania, unde au fost exterminati peste 500.000 de evrei. Ca o ironie a sortii a cazut prada furiei violentei chiar in timp ce dorea sa ne faca tututor cunoscuta tragedia care a cuprins si meleagurile noastre acum 60 de ani. Fara indoiala, acest carnagiu ne arata ca intelegerea Holocaustului este mai necesara ca oricind, pentru ca astfel de evenimente sa nu se mai repete. In acest context, trebuie spus ca profesorul Liviu Librescu se numara printre cei care au cerut insistent Institutului Yad Vashem din Israel, memorialul dedicat celor sase milioane de evrei omoriti in timpul Holocaustului, decorarea reginei mama Elena cu titlul de "Dreapta intre popoare". Titlul se acorda de catre statul Israel celor care si-au riscat viata pentru salvarea de vieti evreiesti in perioada Holocaustului. Iata ca dupa mai mult de 60 de ani, profesorul Liviu Librescu avea sa-si sacrifice propria viata pentru a-i salva pe studentii sai de la Universitatea Tehnica din Virginia. (Silvia VRINCEANU) Acest articol este trimis de Romania-Israel http://www.romania-israel.com URLul pentru acest articol este: http://www.romania-israel.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1034 -- Sursa Originala: http://www.romania-israel.com/modules.php?name=News&file=print&sid=1034
Silvia Vrinceanu;silvia@ziaruldevrancea.ro
On April 24, one week after the shooting, people hung numerous flags on the War Memorial Chapel to remember the victims
White flowers express our sadness to the victims and their families.
Sometimes I'm just amazed at the ignorance of people. I've come across many blog entries that are outright idiotic but usually chalk it up to 'that's where they're coming from' or 'everyone's entitled to their opinion'. However, some Erie bloggers recently have been spewing forth complete garbage that needs to be addressed. The gist is this: those students killed at Virginia Tech were partly to blame for their death by not fighting back. Underlying this is the premise that American's have been lulled into submission and taught not to self-defend. I reject this in all of its absurdity and callousness. I was absolutely furious this morning after reading these two Erie bloggers, Sassafrassin and Kodera, for their statements. To try and disguise their comments as intellectual or serious commentary would be disingenuous. Flat out, they are out of line and need to be called out on their statements and insinuations. Disregarding the fact that no one really knows what was going on in the minds of those who were murdered, but to turn around and somehow place the blame on them is reprehensible. It's disgusting. It's obscene. Although part of me realizes that what is going on here are people trying to understand and give meaning to what is completely senseless and without explanation, these kinds of statements reveal underlying problems of our society. Not only does it reveal a deeper violent tendency, but a lack of ability for compassion and understanding--both of which are essential to Peace in this world. To these two bloggers, who seem to be professedly conservative (and at least one has expressed he is Christian), Jesus Christ would be considered a liberal pansy for allowing himself to be executed and for making the statement, "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also." Instead we're all expected to be like warriors in some Hollywood flick, living up to superficial ideals. You know, part of my response and anger to these two bloggers has to do with the fact that I'm confused and angry about what happened as well. But I hope that I have enough sense to step back and to see the humanity of it all but more importantly God in all of this. While working out at the gym, I was randomly watching the overhead television sets when a particular segment on Good Morning America caught my eye. A young woman who almost found herself killed and even lost a friend in the massacre said this: "I lost, I lost a friend. I lost one of the girls in my Bible study. And I know, I know, I know that she's already forgiven him. I know she was probably praying for him when he was in her classroom and when he was shooting people." I was shocked when I saw that she said this and also said herself that she wants to forgive as well. Instead of placing blame or expressing hatred, this young woman has a sense clarity and perspective that those of us could only hope to have. Also, if you watch the video of her accounting of what happened, I think you'll see how ridiculous these two bloggers suggestions are. We should be trying to do more good in this world, not talk about how if we would be in the situation of those students at Virginia Tech how we would beat our chest and smash someone's skull in. Violence begets violence and this kind of discourse only sustains the miserable status quo. Instead of trying to blame one another, we should be supporting each other through prayer and solace. Here's something you can do if you're feeling helpless after this tragic event: do something nice for a complete stranger this week if the opportunity arises--hold the door longer than you normally would, resist flipping off that driver who cut you off, or buy that homeless guy a cup of coffee or a sandwich. Your act doesn't have to raise to the level of heroic--just human. It's all that we can expect of each other. Posted by RichardZ.com on April 19, 2007 11:46 AM | Permalink -- Original Source: RichardZ.com http://richardz.com/blog_archive/2007/04/virginia_tech_massacrefinding_peace.php Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States