“Our news Editor Saira Haider was friends with a girl who was killed, it was hard for her,” said Amy Steele Editor-in-Chief of Virginia Tech’s student newspaper the Colligate Times [CT]. Still Mon April 16, Haider did her job as the news editor for CT reporting on the worst mass shooting in US history.
Steele said that there was a somber mood around the Virginia Tech campus and that many students had gone home after the tragedy. “Its pretty much a ghost town, it is very weird to be walking around here with no people.” One of the issues being examined was the late notification to the campus of the emergency, “I found out at 9:00 [a.m.] when one of my reporters called me… The university thought it [the first shooting just after 7:00 a.m.] was a domestic and thought it was locked down,” said Steele. One student reaction at Virginia Tech was strong and at least one was hopeful as written in a Virginia Tech blog from The Blacksburg Beacon titled That’s Not My School By wmhokie1979 Posted on Mon Apr 16, at 8:00 p.m. “I sit in shock, and feel waves of sadness as I listen to the news Of the tragedy that came today To my school I fight the tears and feel for the parents, friends and lovers Of those lost today At my school I get angry at the news hounds trying to place blame and make sense Out of the madness that happened At my school
“And I want to scream out “That’s not my school! That’s not the place of absolute beauty in a fall day Of Hokiestone buildings, mountain settings, students and of course Football, basketball and all the social events That we remember so well
“I will remember the loss, the hurt and pain, forever I will hope for a memorial, different but hauntingly beautiful Like the War Memorial So we can remember those lost and wounded both physically and mentally
“I will not forget to cherish the life we have to live To hold my children dear in this world of no safe place But I will not let this un-comprehensible disaster ruin what I hold on to
“THAT’S NOT MY SCHOOL! My school is a place of hope, acceptance, sharing and learning My school is a place of honor, dignity, fairness and reward for hard work My school is a place where `doing it right’ is more important that `win at all costs’ My school is a place where we will remember our past And have high hopes for tomorrow My school is a place to see the future in the faces and people that walk the campus
“My school is Virginia Tech
“And I am proud to say `THAT’S MY SCHOOL!”
“The school is doing grief counseling in the student center and there is going to be a vigil,” said Steele, she also said that President Bush visited the campus. Students quoted in CT said they felt comforted by the increased security accompanying Bush’s visit. At NEIU President Hahs issued a statement, which said in part, “We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the university community at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and to the families and friends of the victims. This tragic event reminds all of us — faculty, staff, students, and alumni — of the importance of community, safety, and concern for each other. “Our University is committed to maintaining a safe campus for our community. By its very nature, a university is an open community. We value this freedom but, at the same time, as a community we must be vigilant and protective of our safety.” Student Government Association Speaker and VP Elect Kimberly Murphy said that she is planning a vigil honoring Virginia Tech to be held in the courtyard off Village Square on Thursday April 26.