Tech community begins healing process
Ryan McConnell, CT Sports Editor
April 18, 2007
The crisp night air on the Virginia Tech Drillfield was punctuated with vivacious chants of "Let's Go...Hokies" and luminated with thousands of candles, as the Tech community rallied around the memory of the 32 victims of the deadliest shooting spree in United States history, while simultaneously making strides in the recovery process.
After President Bush, Governor Tim Kaine, university president Charles Steger, and several Virginia Tech administrators and faculty spoke at a convocation ceremony earlier during the day, thousands of people occupied the Drillfield to conduct a candlelit vigil in honor of the victims at 8 p.m.
Kaine, Steger, and others were present behind the those who spoke at the vigil.
Adeel Khan, the recently elected president of the Student Government Association, was forced to deal with the worst tragedy in Virginia Tech history in his first couple of weeks on the job.
"I definitely felt overwhelmed by it, but it wasn't my effort it was the students' effort, and that shone through today. It wasn't one person, it wasn't just me, it was a ton of people mobilizing students, and I had all the help in the world. I can't give enough credit to these students who've given their hearts and their lives over the past few days," said Khan.
Zenobia Hikes, the vice president for Student Affairs, who previously had addressed the community at the convocation in Cassell Coliseum, once again commanded the attention of the crowd, this time giving a speech to the masses on the Drillfield intended to inspire a strong sense of resolve. Afterward, Hikes reflected on the role of the university in the grieving and healing process.
"There's so much to say, the role tonight is to comfort and let them know that they are supported, and to let them see from the throngs of people, that people love us and care about each other or they wouldn't be here. To let them know that there is support for them at the university and with each other," said Hikes.
Student leaders addressed the gathering as well, reiterating that students take comfort in each others' presence.
"This is the toughest thing I have experienced in my professional career and in my life. This has made history, and certainly all of my colleagues in higher education would say the same thing, there has been no other tragedy of this magnitude," said Hikes. "4/16 for the rest of our history will always be a meaningful day. It will always be, and we will never forget 4/16."
Hokies United, a student organization that responds to tragedies that affect the Virginia Tech community and its students, coordinated the logistics of the event.
"We had our first meeting yesterday at 5 o'clock," said Scott Cheatham, a co-organizer of Hokies United. "We had been talking in a group chat all morning about different ideas that everyone had, and we came together and we talked about what the program was going to be for the convocation and we decided the best thing we could organize was a candlelight vigil."
Several other organizations on campus were interested in doing a vigil as well, so Hokies United teamed with them to put on the event, Cheatham said.
Cheatham added that while no events through the organization were planned for the immediate future, any updates would be posted on their website.
Greg Sagstetter, the undergraduate representative to the Board of Visitors was present at the vigil, and sat among the politicians and other dignitaries in attendance for the convocation.
When asked how it felt to be in prestigious company at an event of that magnitude, Sagstetter responded, "I wish I didn't have to be a piece of history, I wish this never happened."