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April 24, 2007
We are all Hokies
Pundits of on all sides of the spectrum will scream and pontificate on what created Seung-Hui Cho. We’ll even be told in the coming days that the sacred grounds of higher learning are not safe. Under the light of computer and TV screens it's hard not to imagine that the world won’t burst into random violence. Administrators on all levels will, and should, redraft plans and look for ways to avoid future tragedies. But while it may be comforting to consider plans in case the worst happens, it won’t provide any answers.
The natural tendency of Americans is to try to fix things. We think that if we just ask “why?” enough times, we’ll be able to solve the problem. But sometimes there are no answers ą only the sharp pains of loss.
The pain of tragedies ą effusive, excruciating, and exhausting ą will eventually begin to fade ą although it will never go away. In such times, the best we can do is often to quietly reach out, take hold of someone’s hand, and grieve with them.
It sounds too simple, too trite, but the only answer to violence of this magnitude is community. A group of people with common goals and capable of civil discourse and most importantly, compassion. A shoulder to cry on, good friends to laugh with and peers you can engage in passionate debate. A group of people who will remember.
Ross Abdallah Alameddine
Christopher James Bishop
Brian Roy Bluhm
Ryan Christopher Clark
Austin Michelle Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Kevin P. Granata
Matthew Gregory Gwaltney
Caitlin Millar Hammaren
Jeremy Michael Herbstritt
Rachael Elizabeth Hill
Emily Jane Hilscher
Jarret Lee Lane
Matthew Joseph La Porte
Henry J. Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Lauren Ashley McCain
Daniel Patrick O’Neil
J. Ortiz-Ortiz
Minal Hiralal Panchal
Daniel Alejandro Perez
Erin Nicole Peterson
Michael Steven Pohle, Jr.
Julia Kathleen Pryde
Mary Karen Read
Reema Joseph Samaha
Waleed Mohammed Shaalan
Leslie Geraldine Sherman
Maxine Shelly Turner
Nicole White
Learn their stories. Remember them, they are your colleagues. They had the dreams and hopes we all share.
Posted by dwright at April 24, 2007 07:54 PM
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