Collegiate Times

A familiar maroon and orange “VT” adorned the field at Yankee Stadium last Wednesday night during the May 23 match up between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.

In a pre-game ceremony, President Steger along with Capt. Vince Houston of the Virginia Tech Police Department, Jason Dominczak and Matthew Johnson of the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, and Director of Athletics Jim Weaver watched as a memorial video honoring the victims of the shootings played on the stadium’s big screen. Those in attendance looked on as Steger threw out the ceremonial first pitch and Yankees’ captain and shortstop Derek Jeter presented him with a check just before the start of the game.

Hoping to ease some of the pain caused by the events of April 16, The Yankees donated $1 million to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund and have pledged to play an exhibition game against the Hokies on or near the Tech campus in 2008. Although a final decision as to where the game will be played hasn’t yet been made, Athletic Director Jim Weaver says he wants to hold the game at English Field.

Yankees president Randy Levine said owner George Steinbrenner phoned him on April 17 with the idea for the donation and the exhibition game. "The events that took place this spring in Virginia have deeply affected us all," Steinbrenner said in a press release. "But the Virginia Tech community has shown great spirit and resolve during this difficult time, and the New York Yankees are proud to join so many others in supporting the healing process." The million dollar donation was the largest received by the university thus far and helped to boost the amount raised to just over $4 million dollars.