Column: Staying strong in the aftermath
Jonathan McGlumphy, CT Columnist
April 26, 2007
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. Personally, I consider this to be a very good thing. We pride ourselves on a welcome and understanding environment, and the open campus and town atmosphere fosters that. We are certainly better than much of the outside world, where you must prove who you are and your intent before you are allowed go about your business.
Interestingly enough, we are no less safe than places that are more restrictive as far as access goes. As an obvious example, the 9/11 attacks were perpetrated in a supposedly safe zone. And even after enhanced airline security measures were put in place by the federal government, there are still gaping holes that a terrorist could exploit as shown in the article "Remove transportation security warning" (CT, April 12th).
By its very definition, terrorism means to be intimidated by violence into a sense of fear. I am happy to say that I have seen little evidence of that here at Virginia Tech. Rather than succumbing to paranoia we are becoming more open than ever. Students are strolling across the Drillfield boldly and proudly, not huddled into tiny groups. The first thing you see when you walk in to the library is the memorial to the victims, and Squires Student Center is covered wall to wall with condolences. And we are still smiling at each other. It seems that instead of constantly worrying, people are realizing the very beauty of living life. Unfortunately, tragic events are often followed by an overwhelming urge to "do something," even if that something is completely superfluous. While it has not been explicitly suggested yet, I do not doubt that some are itching to see metal detectors and keycard access installed on every campus building. It is my sincere hope that whatever comes out of this, the openness of Virginia Tech and Blacksburg is not sacrificed for a false sense of security.
Instead I encourage everyone to consider how to be responsible for your own well-being. There is no such thing as a perfectly safe environment, and we cannot always count on others to protect us. Most students have rallied around the president, provost, Blacksburg and campus police because they realize this. The people that criticize them have humanly impossible expectations of law enforcement. We cannot expect our protectors to always protect us. They can only supplement our basic duty to protect ourselves. Depending upon the situation, there is a wide range of options available for individual self-defense. In most instances, simply being aware of your surroundings and moving away is enough to avoid harm. Or, in the gravest extreme, the use of force--even deadly force--is necessary for self-defense.
Let me further iterate that training in methods of self-defense does not make you an aggressive or paranoid individual. Rather, it is one way to overcome the spirit of fear that people like Cho would have us endure.
The silver lining from last Monday is that everyone is learning some profound lessons. Chief among them is how precious it is to be alive. The need to be responsible for one's own safety is also of paramount importance. The strength to resist an atmosphere of fear and doubt is another. It is through each of these that we will prevail.