Collegiate Times: Opinions


	CT Opinions Friday, April 27th 2007 Column: "Our Columbine" It's a little blue box, probably a moneybox of some sort that I will keep it in. I've had it for as long as I can remember. Its contents are little reminders, hallmarking symbols of times passed, placed in this blue box like a time capsule so that one day I can revisit the past with a clearer connection. Inside there is a little fingerprint dusting kit indicative of the time when I wanted to be a detective. There is a picture of my dad on a military base in Vietnam holding a snake. There are some dried and pressed flowers from high school prom, the pocket-knife I bought at my great grandfather's funeral auction, and now a little black, maroon and orange ribbon some children distributed in my cafe... Column: 32 stones, not 33 I have to say I was pretty disturbed by the letter "Remembering everyone who died in the VT tragedy" (CT, April 25). The author said she is "saddened and outraged" over the stone representing the shooter being removed. I am also saddened and outraged: I am saddened and outraged that a stone representing a mass murderer would be placed next to those which are memorializing his victims. The 32 members of our Virginia Tech family were gifts to the world: dancers, artists, scholars, world-renowned researchers, and that gunman (I swore I'd never speak his name again and I won't) stole them from us. The shooter was given help from numerous outlets... Editorial: Tech's commemorative apparel Virginia Tech memorial merchandise has yet to legally hit stores or online locations, despite the short-lived prevalence of t-shirts bearing the Virginia Tech logo and memorial message on e-bay. Obviously the Virginia Tech Office of Licensing and Trademark Administration has been hard at work within these past two weeks dealing with requests from a number of advertising and apparel organizations wishing to honor the Virginia Tech tragedy. In addition to deciding who should be given rights to creating Virginia Tech memorial apparel, University Relations are also hard at work attempting to fight the production and distribution of unauthorized products not licensed by the university... Letter: You showed the nation Hokie Spirit You have grieved in front of the cameras and the nation watched. You showed the nation Hokie Spirit in many ways, hugging a fellow classmate, kneeling in prayer and crying openly. And in your darkest hour the nation saw you stand as one and cheer for your fallen classmates and teachers, Let's Go Hokies. And the nation was moved, they felt Hokie Spirit and understood, and they responded. Candlelight vigils were held on campuses across the nation, professional athletes wore Virginia Tech hats, and people everywhere were wearing orange and maroon, all to show support and sympathy for a grieving Hokie Nation... Letter: Governor Kaine deserves our respect Issues and personality aside, Hillary Clinton is extremely well qualified to be our next president. Not only has she held several important senate positions, she also has more experience in the White House than any of the other presidential contenders. Yet she is often discounted merely because of her gender. While on the elevator in my dorm I overheard someone stating that they would never vote for her because she was a woman. The person who said this was a woman... Letter: Thank you to the faculty When I was an undergraduate, I placed my professors on a pedestal. They had an air of certainty and dignity that I could only hope to obtain some day far in the future. Their emotions were limited to pride or disappointment, depending on how successful I was in my studies. They were the adults and I was one of the children. Now I'm a graduate student and the faculty treats me more like a little sister. I've been to their homes, I've met their families, and I've laughed with them over drinks. They are still my mentors and I strive to be like them and learn from them, but they are people, too... Letter: Commemorating the victims, not the murderer The author of the letter "Remembering everyone who died in the VT tragedy" (CT, April 25) is quite naive. As she wrote to the Collegiate Times something like, how can we (the Hokies) claim to be a family and not recognize him as one of OUR dead, the answer is simple my dear, even your own family will turn on you. That is just what he did to us, to you, to me, to this university, to this country and to this world. He turned on us... Thursday, April 26th 2007 Column: Diversity in American politics Issues and personality aside, Hillary Clinton is extremely well qualified to be our next president. Not only has she held several important senate positions, she also has more experience in the White House than any of the other presidential contenders. Yet she is often discounted merely because of her gender. While on the elevator in my dorm I overheard someone stating that they would never vote for her because she was a woman. The person who said this was a woman... Column: Staying strong in the aftermath In the wake of last week's horrific shooting on campus, many are quick to play the blame game. Some of my fellow columnists have rightfully stated that now is not the time for finger-pointing, but for healing; however, as the wounds mend and we continue to live our lives, it is necessary to assess what can be done to mitigate future damage. And while I'm speaking mainly to the Virginia Tech community, I think the entire nation is asking the question, "What if it had been us?" Like many collegiate communities, Virginia Tech and Blacksburg are very open. With very few exceptions, anyone can come or go as he or she pleases, seldom having to show an ID or pass through any sort of security checkpoint... Editorial: The future of Norris Hall After the tragic events that happened last week, Norris Hall's future has been under close scrutiny by the university administration, students, faculty and the rest of the nation. Norris Hall will not have the same character that it had before the shootings. Undoubtedly, whenever anybody walks into Norris Hall, a shroud of fear, horror, disgust or sorrowful memories will creep into their mind. Tearing down Norris Hall could easily solve this problem. However, if Norris Hall stood tall, it would represent the fortitude and strength of this school and these students... Letter: What does it mean to be a member of Hokie Nation? What does it mean to be a member of Hokie Nation? Last fall, it meant waking up at 7:30 in the morning on a Saturday just to be prepared for the noon kickoff. It meant sharing these times, with these friends and acknowledging them as some of the greatest days of your lives. It meant knowing that Lee Corso was always wrong. It meant knowing why every vacuum cleaner in every apartment was nicknamed Duke or UVa. It meant living your lives with the zest, zeal, fervor, enthusiasm and intensity that can only be described as college... Letter: Hokies will prevail As events unfolded Monday morning, I watched with concern that progressed quickly to horror at the tragedy that had befallen my alma mater. I worried mostly of the permanent impacts on people who reside, work and go to school at Virginia Tech. By late afternoon, even before the names of those killed and injured were released, I was overcome with the grief that is magnified numerous times over by those of you who are on campus every day. I cannot imagine the pain and anguish you feel, and will continue to feel in the future... Letter: Don't blame the innocent In all the confusion surrounding the recent tragic events, it seems attention is being directed, in a negative light, on those who were affiliated with the shooter. It is a disgrace to think that anyone besides the shooter was responsible for his self-perceived martyrdom. How could anyone even think to blame his family or friends? Why blame innocent victims deeply affected by this tremendous loss? Geraldo Rivera appeared on national TV and talked to a student who gave statements regarding the social class differences at Virginia Tech. His opinion nailed this issue on the head, and drove it deep into the ground... Letter: Living like a Hokie I am not a Hokie. But after my experiences here the past few days, I understand those who are proud to be one. Virginia Tech is not just a school; it is a way of life. The best thing about this school is it unflinching, unwavering spirit. School spirit, human spirit and everyone's spirit. Since this university is a football school, I offer a way to really never forget your fallen students and teachers. Retire the number 32 for all sports teams... Wednesday, April 25th 2007 Column: Community of Hokies Normally, this page is full of dissenting opinions on every topic from sports to politics. So many issues have been discussed, and sometimes things even get a little heated. However, the events of last week--if anything good could come out of them--have shown us that when tested, our community can come together and overcome adversity as well as any other place on Earth. We share something special together--we are all Hokies... Column: Gun control needs to be reasonable With the school and the nation still reeling from the horrific events of April 16, the finger pointing is underway. In between mourning for the victims, there is renewed controversy. It happened with Columbine and it's happening again. Even though many factors contributed to the tragedy, much of the debate revolves around the issue of gun control. Guns are an easy target. Without guns, Cho Seung-Hui's bloody rampage wouldn't have been possible... Editorial: Activities cancelled as VT returns to normalcy In wake of last Monday's tragedy, the school has decided to cancel all school-sponsored events through the end of the year. This decision was made to accommodate for student and faculty grief counseling as well memorial services occurring in multiple locations throughout campus. For many students this decision is disappointing, as we feel that in stressful situations, students need activities to occupy their time. A choral concert, or mini-Relay for Life, could have been uplifting for students and a great opportunity to raise money and bring the community together for good... Letter: Remembering everyone who died in the VT tragedy The rock representing the 33rd person who died and the 33rd family who mourns wasn't placed there on Saturday as published in today's (Tuesday's) Collegiate Times; it was placed there at about 4 a.m. on Thursday morning (in the dark of the night to avoid drawing attention to its addition). How do I know this? Because I brought it and put it there. I was not, however, the one that removed it and am saddened and outraged that it has been moved. I intend to bring another, and continue to bring them for as long as the memorial remains there. Until now, I have not talked to anyone but the individual who helped me bring it to campus and my mother about this event... Letter: Showing Hokie support I'm sure most of us can agree on this: April 16 was the worst day of our short lives. We lost too many great classmates and professors that day, and we have been mourning these tragic losses since. But we are already seeing positive effects of this tragic occurrence. Tuesday morning there was an extraordinary portion of the Virginia Tech community lined up at Cassell Coliseum in the early hours of the morning... Letter: "Gun Free Safe Zones" are only safe for criminals The events of April 16 at Virginia Tech were not a day old when politicians and journalists across the country began calling for a legislative response to the killings. Many of these people immediately called for increased regulation on the purchase and possession of firearms. I would like to propose that this response is by and large exactly the wrong response. Every law needs to be considered in light of the fact that its enforcement cannot possibly be completely effective, and its partial enforcement may cause far more harm than good... Tuesday, April 24th 2007 Column: Finding comfort in routine Once upon a time, we went to class like normal students. We partied like normal students. We slept in our apartments and dorms, ate in our dining halls and believed the sun would rise and fall without incident. Monday's nightmare reminded us that our routine, our habits, the sense of normalcy that guides our days and nights means nothing in the grand scheme of things... Column: A reflection on the Pylons at War Memorial I've always argued that the best way to understand this university is through a firm understanding of the Pylons on the top of War Memorial Chapel. At a superficial level, it embodies the values Virginia Tech has rhetorically claimed to be built upon, but for myself, when I look at these Pylons from a critical standpoint it places the university into a larger social and political framework. Artistically, it reinforces historically grounded power relations and taps into a deep-seated narrative that is strongly interwoven with imperialism... Editorial: Students reflect on Drillfield remembrance At 9:45 a.m. yesterday, a memorial service was held on Virginia Tech's Drillfield for the victims of last Monday's shootings. The memorial service began with the ringing of a bell, followed by 32 more rings in memory of the victims. A white balloon was released with each ring; to end the memorial service, one thousand maroon and orange balloons were released... Letter: Now is not the time for blame Spontaneous decision making in the midst of an ongoing calamity is an incredibly difficult task. This was true on the agonizing morning of September 11, when our national leaders struggled on how to respond to a sudden threat of unknown scope from terrorists, and it occurred on April 16 with the mass shootings on campus at Virginia Tech... Letter: Love prevails over hate I am a graduate of Virginia Tech and, like the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened by the events that took place on April 16 at our school. My heart breaks for the families and what they now must endure. Their lives and their families will never be the same, and I pray for each and every one of them... Letter: A day forever in our hearts As snow fell from the sky, so did tears from our eyes. A day filled with tragedy, remorse and grieving encompassed the entire Virginia Tech campus. Millions of people, from all over the world were affected by this horrible event. Phone lines, e-mails, messaging services became overwhelmed with notes, sometimes both ways and sometimes, heartbreakingly, only one way. As the day after and the day after that and so on, continues with its news coverage, reports and information, we will all join together as one nation, the Hokie nation, to raise up those souls who were lost, but will never be forgotten... Letter: For the Hokies of Virginia Tech Monday morning started out just as any other morning on the Virginia Tech Campus. Suddenly a young man by the name of Seung-Hui Cho, age 23, decided not only to kill 32 of Virginia Tech's most valuable gifted students and professors, but to commit these murders in the most gruesome fashion. It was without a single just reason as to why those particular 32 individuals deserved to be taken from this world so soon and with no cause, other then the demented mind of a young man who took it upon himself to play God... Friday, April 20th 2007 Column: In peace, we will find our strength Life throws us for a loop when bad things happen to good people. When I was 15, my father died, and I questioned everything I was taught about the world. Whenever lives end suddenly, we question whether the world we live in is worth our efforts. I believe that we live our lives for our good efforts and good work. We are people know how powerful it is to stay positive even in adversity. When the team is in despair, the coach is the sole voice of strength, of faith in the team's hard work. We must not forget that what we all stand for, individually as people, and as members of a community, are what make us stronger than anything that life throws at us... Column: Let Cho die as he lived, anonymously I had been telling my family and friends at other schools (even a reporter) how respectful I thought the media had been toward the students and their families; then I saw the pictures of Cho Seung-Hui and heard an audio clip of him ranting while I was driving home. I had to pull off to the side of the road, I was so furious. At first, it was like listening to talk radio being broadcast from hell. It was as if he was finally getting what he wanted: people to know his name and know who he was. I say let that man die as he lived: anonymously... Column: Communicating with those we care for It's impossible to remember Monday's events and not think of hate and violence. The total disrespect for life displayed by Cho Seung-Hui and the rampage he went on will no doubt scar the Virginia Tech community forever. But in similar dark hours of recent years, there has also been an overwhelming response against such actions. Any student or faculty member who has a cell phone can attest to how many people care about each and every one of us. The first to call me was my mother. She was already in tears, and just hearing her voice in a state of complete worry almost made me cry... Editorial: Students confront the media Walking around campus students and faculty alike bear witness to a sea of camera crews penetrating the Virginia Tech campus. From the Roanoke Times to CNN, reporters can be seen on the Drillfield and sidewalks recounting Monday's events. The Virginia Tech campus has become a hotspot for gaining information, and most especially, interviewing students. After Monday's tragedy, student narration and personal accounts have proved themselves valuable to all news stations and reporters. Students' personal stories are the closest many reporters get to the action... Letter: "The power to make a difference" Dear students, you have suffered horror and tragedy on a magnitude that few of us ever experience or can imagine. You have displayed more compassion, humanity, and dignity in the aftermath of that tragedy than most of us could muster. It is a truly unfortunate sign of the times we live in that it takes a terrible event like that which occurred on your campus on April 16 to focus the public's attention on the ordinary and good people of the world. You may wish it not so, but you now have the attention of the public, the press, the congress, and the president... Letter: Gators show support I have just received a phone call form a good friend who is alumni of the University of Florida and a resident of Gainesville. He told me that there are many signs posted in the town and on campus supporting our university... Letter: The Hokie Nation unites Nikki Giovanni said it best in her poem at the end of the convocation yesterday. Through our blood and tears Through all this sadness We are the Hokies We will prevail... Letter: Lover overcomes hate I hope that this university, this nation, and the entire world take away from this tragedy the idea that love is always stronger than hate. Yes, the shooter changed our world to terror but our love will remake it better than before. We are picking up the pieces and we will reassemble them into a stronger and even more unified Hokie Nation. So remember to show love, teach love, practice love, and most of all share love... Letter: Admiring Tech's unity I didn't know any of the victims personally, but my heart is breaking right now for everyone at Virginia Tech and the surrounding community. We will never understand what could possibly drive someone to such evil. Of course, it was the topic of conversation at work today. We cannot understand the senselessness of it all. As one person put it, if you're not happy with yourself and you want to end it all, go off on your own and leave the innocent out of it. Obviously this young man gave no thought to the families he has torn apart (or maybe he did), but what about his own family... Letter: Protecting those in pain As an alum of the University of Maryland and a parent of two college students at UMd, I know deep in heart and soul the unbelievable sense of grief, sadness, and loss you at Tech are feeling this morning. My heart goes out to the entire Tech community. I cry with you this morning; I grieve with you this morning. Having lost my grandmother, my mom, and my twin sister all in the span of 18 months as a young teenager, I know first hand how devastating it is to lose a loved one... Letter: Finding strength in life Dear Virginia Tech students, As soon as I heard of the Virginia Tech shootings I was caught by disbelief, anger and sickness. But as the story unfolded and news reached us--4,000 miles east across the ocean--it was sorrow and grief that really grabbed me and hasn't let loose since. All of Virginia Tech students who lost loved ones, friends or acquaintances and all others who were affected in any other way by this tragedy should know that the people in my country and all over Europe are shocked by this horrific act and deeply share your grief, tears and pain... Letter: Sending prayers to Tech I know the heartache you are all feeling right now at the loss of so many of your own. I can only give you my deepest condolences and the knowledge that my heart breaks for the friends and loved ones of the lost. My support and prayers are firmly with all of the families, the injured students, and the Virginia Tech community as you begin the slow process of mourning and recovery... Letter: At a loss for words "Condolences" is such a watered down word in comparison to the events that took place at Virginia Tech that I don't want to even use it. "Sorry" doesn't match up with the physical ache I feel in my heart when I think about what happened to these sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers who never saw it coming and shouldn't have had to anyway. "My sympathies" sounds ridiculous in the face of what the survivors, friends and families of these victims will have to carry with them for the rest of their lives. I honestly don't know what to say but that it hurts to know that man at his most depraved is actually capable of doing something like this... Thursday, April 19th 2007 Column: Coming to terms with profound loss and tragedy Having just graduated from Virginia Tech in December, I have known just about every emotion a college student can encounter, but Monday's mass shootings have added one more emotion to a list I thought I had completed along with my bachelor's degree: a sense of loss. Blacksburg, Virginia is a stranger to losing; its alumni refuse to forget its charm, its sports teams find pride in success, and its students even sometimes find it difficult to cross the stage as I did just a few short months ago. Blacksburg is a town that gives birth to success... Editorial: Deciding who should take the blame Virginia Tech is facing excruciating grief and tragedy. In the aftermath of Monday's events the pain is still very much raw and real. Cho Seung-Hui, selfishly took the lives of thirty-two innocent victims, and injured a number of others, before taking his own. His actions have inflicted unimaginable pain and grief on so many, and the outcome of Monday's events is no one's fault but his own. In the wake of such a tragedy, we are impressed by how our community has banded together in such solidarity to show the world that we are Virginia Tech, and we will overcome this. So many of us are left with unanswered questions... Letter: Blacksburg tragedy breaks hearts My heart aches for the senseless and mind-numbing loss in Blacksburg. Given that I'm suffering so badly even across a complete degree of separation (I lived in West Ambler Johnston years ago, spent countless hours in Norris, and took classes from Dr Loganathan), I can't fathom the shock on campus, let alone for the families, friends, and community members of the victims-these dear precious people were shining lights in others' lives and now they have been extinguished! Letter: Prayers for Virginia Tech To the students and faculty at Virginia Tech University: I am writing this letter to you in hopes that my words may bring you some comfort, much the way your support brought my family comfort in the aftermath of my brother's untimely passing in March of 2001. (Michael C. Ziegler, Class of 2001) The two events are vastly different, of course. But as time passes, I have learned, there will be many similarities. When the dust begins to settle out of the horrific event you have just shared, you will continue to ask questions. As time goes by, certain memories will not be able to be erased from your minds. My hope and advice is for you to focus on the good that will come from this infamous event... Letter: Blacksburg tragedy shocks students and community I find myself in a state of shock, and so many emotions are coming to the surface that I can't distinguish one from another. I'm left feeling empty and I believe many of us feel this way. We are searching for emotion so we can begin to make sense of what has happened, but as we attempt to figure this out we must stay strong and united to avoid despair. I worry many people have lost faith in humanity or that their ability to trust was damaged. However, we must step back to see that in the face of the worst side of humanity, the best is allowed to blossom. The most impressive human traits push through, and we choose love in response to hate. We cherish life in the face of death... Letter: We all need time to heal One of the worst parts about all this is the effect it will have on Virginia Tech's image. I can't really blame people who are applying for colleges if they take Tech off of their lists now, because I probably would have also. It's not because I am afraid of a gunman, I know fearing bizarre and uncommon episodes like this is illogical and won't solve anything; it's because I'm worried Tech will never be the same place again, won't offer the same level of education it used to... Wednesday, April 18th 2007 Column: Moving forward from devastating tragedy Columbine, Nickel Mines and Bailey are all famous for conjuring up images of school violence. Now our own Blacksburg joins that list as the greatest of them all with 33 of our fellow colleagues dead, including the gunman. We were all present that fateful day and there is no question the memory will stay with us for the rest of our lives. As witnesses to the greatest mass murder in American history, we were all humbled by what happened on the morning of April 16, 2007... Column: Students struggle for understanding and meaning As roughly 32 of my peers lay deceased in Norris and West Ambler-Johnston Halls, I struggle for the words to describe how I feel. As eager, ambitious students, we all want to make history and leave our mark on the world, none of us wanted to be a part of the history that unfolded on campus Monday morning. We now share the burden of having been unwilling participants in one of our nation's worst tragedies... Editorial: Convocation brings hope to students The day after the deadliest shooting spree in United States history, Virginia Tech students, Blacksburg residents, and supporters from far and wide came out to pay tribute to the thirty-one fallen victims. At the core of the media spectacle, taking place in the humble town of Blacksburg, is a complete tragedy, affecting each and every one of us in our own ways. After the events of Monday, so many of us were left with feelings of helplessness, despair, unsure of who to turn to or how to grieve... Letter: Sorrow pervades entire VT community This note is addressed to the students of Virginia Tech. Never in one day have I been so stricken with grief and sorrow for my fellow Hokies, while at the same time been so proud to be part of the Virginia Tech community. As an alumnus and a very proud Hokie, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the students and student body of Virginia Tech during this time of crisis and subsequent mourning. I do not need to belabor the point of what each and every one of you, your parents and loved ones have had to endure in the past hours. But the manner with which each of you individually and as a collective whole have carried yourselves through this tragedy has struck me... Letter: Media unfairly exploits VT tragedy I am a student here at Virginia Tech, and like everyone else, I was shocked and saddened by Monday's events. I am also angered at the national media's coverage of our tragedy. The constant assumption of the incompetence of our school officials is unfair and uncalled for. We at Virginia Tech know that our school cares deeply for our safety and would never knowingly put our lives in danger... Letter: Blacksburg tragedy has far-reaching effects I am a Virginia Tech alumna and a former copy editor for the Collegiate Times. I just want to express my condolences to the entire campus, the CT staff, President Steger and the Blacksburg Police Department. It's hard for those of us who are no longer in Blacksburg to sit here and do nothing as the news stations run their little tickers counting names and numbers, but it must be even harder for those still on campus who are sitting there feeling just as helpless, right in the thick of the disaster... Tuesday, April 17th 2007 Column: The culture of violence First, I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to those affected by yesterday's tragedy. No words can describe it. I never thought I would be attending a school with the record for deadliest school shooting in history. The only personal account of the tragedy that I have is the following: Upon returning from working at my job in the morning I checked my e-mail. The only message sent out at that time was the news of the first shooting at the dorm. I didn't think much of it, so I got ready to attend my first class at 10:10. When I was walking across the Drillfield, I noticed something was wrong... Column: Focus on the victims, not the recriminations Yesterday's events are still difficult to sort out and the exact scenario that unfolded yesterday morning is still murky amid the chaos, sensational and contradictory news reports, and second and third hand accounts. The situation is so horrible it's difficult to even admit it has occurred, much less comprehend the magnitude of events; at least 30 people are dead, their lives taken without any reason, or any remorse in what appears to be the single most outrageous indiscriminant act of violence in the nation's history. Others are wounded, and we cannot begin to imagine or even speculate about the horrors they experienced... Column: What I want Virginia Tech to be remembered for Last Monday was a very sad day. That preceding sentence was an understatement, yesterday was far worse. Waking up to the sounds of police sirens and ambulances was an alarm with no snooze button. There was only so much we could learn from sitting in front of a television screen, trying to find the most up to date news. It would take a couple hours for the magnitude of the event to finally sink in. When I came to Virginia Tech as a freshman, life wasn't anywhere near as crazy. It was a college town, just like any other, except we had better football and a quality academic reputation with which other schools could not compare... Editorial: A tragic day undeserved Yesterday's events escalated far beyond what any of us ever imagined when the campus community received e-mail at 9:26 a.m. indicating that there had been a shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall. That in and of itself was a tragedy. What transcended after that was an inconceivable disaster. With 31 deaths in Norris Hall, and two more in the dormitory, the pain and heartache blanketing the entire campus community is very much alive. All 33 deaths that occurred on campus yesterday were senseless...

CT Opinions