Collegiate Times

Around the world it's known as the "Virginia Tech massacre," but at the university itself, the shootings are referred to as simply "April 16."

The shootings, consisting of two separate attacks on April 16, 2007, left 32 people dead, plus the gunman, becoming the deadliest shooting spree in United States history.

Seung-Hui Cho, a 23-year-old English major, began his rampage early Monday morning when he entered West Ambler-Johnston Hall. At 7:15 a.m., he shot Emily Hilscher, a freshman animal and poultry sciences major on the fourth floor, and then shot her resident advisor Ryan Clark, a senior biology, English and psychology major. More than two hours later at 9:40 a.m., Cho opened fire on four second-floor classrooms in Norris Hall, killing 30 students and faculty with a 9-millimeter Glock and a .22 caliber Walther P22. Cho then took his own life with a gunshot to the head. The deceased included 27 students, both undergraduate and graduate students, and five faculty members.

In the days, months and even years following the shootings, the university — as well as the nation and world — has grappled with issues involving campus security, gun control and mental illness.