Collegiate Times

Virginia Tech received an outpouring of support from universities nationwide as a result of the April 16, 2007 shootings.

The support continues this summer with the unveiling of a new memorial created by a West Virginia University professor.

Levente Denes, a visiting professor at WVU, has carved a 14.5-foot, 600-pound pillar out of white oak to commemorate the victims of the shootings. The carving took almost 200 hours to complete and was done totally by hand.

The new memorial will be placed in front of Cheatham Hall on campus. Denes said it was difficult to find a date for the unveiling that was acceptable to all of the officials involved, but it should be installed sometime in June.

Denes was initially shocked at the news of the shootings.

"I got angry because of the powerlessness," Denes said. "The more questions, the more powerlessness."

Soon after, he decided to carve a memorial from his native Transylvania. The kopjafa serves to remember those lost on that day.

"I think that this powerlessness drove me to create something I can pay tribute to this sorrowful event," Denes said.

University spokesman Larry Hincker said any commemorative item on campus requires passage by the Commemorative Tributes Committee. This would include naming buildings, rooms, or gifts of art.

Denes' creation also required approval of the Visual Arts Policy Committee, which must approve any art donated to the university. Denes requested permission a year ago and, after passing the committees, his project is now coming to fruition.

Kopjafas, or jousting poles, are large columns found in regions populated by Hungarians. They were originally used in places such as cemeteries and battlefields for gravestones.

Denes said the sculptures are now a distinct art form used as sacred     commemorative public memorials.

He started the massive, hand-carved column in August of 2007 and completed it by that December. After returning from a six-month stay in Hungary, Denes spent about 50 hours repairing cracks that had developed in the carving as a result of drying.

The kopjafa is a symbol of respect, affection, honor, and remembrance. The symbols on the column follow rules from Transylvania.

Denes explained the significance of the symbols.

The star symbols mean honor, achievement, and hope. The falling store signify death. The crosses stand for sacrifice and patriotism. The star located on the top of the column represents prowess.

Denes does have a message to go along with his gift.

"Now, after two years, I think our society had a huge responsibility for this event and will have for the similar future events," Denes said. "The society has to recognize those in need and help them.  But we people form the society, so it is our responsibility to do that. We as individuals and we as communities."