Students sing 'Amazing Grace' on Alumni Mall to honor the students killed at Northern Illinois University.
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Framed beneath the archway of Torgersen Bridge, a thousand candles dotted the Alumni Mall last night for a vigil dedicated to the Northern Illinois students who died in the shooting that occurred on Valentine's Day.
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Tech, a community still overcoming the emotions from almost a year ago, gathered to offer the Huskies support and comfort.
Through icy eyes and frozen fingertips, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger reiterated his views of the compassion Tech students have conveyed toward their Northern Illinois counterparts.
"The resiliency and commitment of our student body was something that was extraordinary in April," Steger said. "And I think that their ability to convey this to the folks at Northern Illinois is also admirable."
During the ceremony, Hokies United president Scott Cheatham, Student Government President Adeel Kahn and Steger all offered their words of encouragement to those suffering from the recent events at the DeKalb campus.
A group of students chanted, "Let's go," followed by the crowd chanting, "Huskies," five times in honor of the five fallen. Several rounds of 'Amazing Grace,' at one point lead by Steger, reverberated against the Hokie Stone arch.
Freshman Catherine Christensen wasn't enrolled at Tech last April, but was inspired by the amount of spirit and vigilance displayed by the Tech community in the days and weeks that followed. Now that she's here, she expressed her desire to join her new school as a part of the gathering in order to grieve for the Huskies and the Hokies.
"I just really wanted to be a part of campus here in remembering NIU, and grieving with everyone because it's probably going to be a reciprocating process of remembering April," Christensen said. "I just wanted to be a part of it, mourn and just be with everyone. It's a really tough time for everyone."
A half black, half red painted Hokie Stone was displayed at the April 16 memorial for the past few days, and will shortly be taken up to Illinois for the NIU campus. Steger was a leading force in expressing his appreciation toward the community for meeting in honor of the Northern Illinois students.
"It reinvigorates my confidence and hope for what the next generation of men and women can do here," Steger said. "Our students are great people ... and everybody has reached out to Northern Illinois and we will certainly do anything we possibly can to help, because we, more than anybody else, understand what they're going through."
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All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
I was the girl who sang the second verse of Amazing Grace. Scariest moment of my life, but I was glad that I was doing it for someone else.
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I was able to attend the event, it was amazing. Hokies for Huskies!
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thank you from the students at NIU. you know what we are going through, and we are thankful that you have shown your love and support for us through these trying times. please keep the words of encouragement coming and the little messages on facebook constantly remind us that together we can overcome anything. today our paw prints walk together
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As a student of NIU, and an employee at our student paper, I want to say thank you very much for everything you and your school has been doing. I've received facebook messages, seen your vigils, and so much more. It really means a lot. I don't think I'll ever be able to say it enough, but thank you.
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To see the photos of the vigil for NIU at Virginia Tech last night brought tears to my eyes. To know what both campuses have been through and to see the outreaching of love, compassion, strength and understanding. DeKalb and Blacksburg have a special place in my thoughts and prayers, always.
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Reading about Virginia Tech's vigil for NIU brought tears to the eyes of this NIU professor. You all know, like no one else, what our community is experiencing right now. We have all been gratified by the many ways your university has reached out to ours over these last difficult days. Thank you.
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Words cannot express how touched we are in DeKalb by the overwhelming kindness Virgina Tech has shown our communiversity. Thank you for reaching out to us in our time of need. You are truly an amazing community. God bless.
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As a resident of the NIU community - your vigil deeply touched me. We appreciate your support and know, unfortunately, that you understand our pain. Thank you for all the kindess and prayers. God bless you all!
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