COLLEGIATETIMES WEDNESDAY www.collegiatetimes.com April 18, 2007 “We are the Hokies. We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech.” - Nikki Giovanni
ANNABELLE OMBAC/SPPS Brian Albert, junior history major, plays “Taps” in front of thousands of the Virginia Tech community on the Drillfield last night at the Hokies United vigil sponsored by the Student Government Association. ‘Let’s go, Hokies’ ! e Virginia Tech community unites to pay respects; begins healing process.
RYAN MCCONNELL ported, and to let them see from the throngs of people, that people love us and care about each other, or they wouldn’t be here. To let them know that there is support for them at the university CT Sports Editor and with each other,” said Hikes. he crisp night air on the Virginia Tech Drillfield was punctuated with vivacious chants Student leaders addressed the gathering as well, reiterating that students need to take comfort of “Let’s Go ... Hokies” and illuminated with thousands of candles, as the Tech community in each others’ presence. rallied around the memory of the 32 victims of the deadliest shooting spree in United “This is the toughest thing I have experienced in my professional career and in my life. States history, while simultaneously making strides in the recovery process. This has made history, and certainly all of my colleagues in higher education would say TAfter President Bush, Governor Tim Kaine, university President Charles Steger, and several the same thing: There has been no other tragedy of this magnitude,” said Hikes. “4/16 Virginia Tech administrators and faculty spoke at a convocation ceremony earlier in the day, for the rest of our history will always be a meaningful day. It will always be, and we will thousands of people occupied the Drillfield to conduct a candlelit vigil in honor of the victims never forget 4/16.” at 8 p.m. Hokies United, a student organization that responds to tragedies that affect the Virginia Tech Kaine, Steger and others were present behind the those who spoke at the vigil. community and its students, coordinated the logistics of the event. Adeel Khan, the recently elected president of the Student Government Association, was forced “We had our first meeting yesterday at 5 o’clock,” said Scott Cheatham, a co-organizer of Hokies to deal with the worst tragedy in Virginia Tech history in his first couple of weeks on the job. United. “We had been talking in a group chat all morning about different ideas that everyone “I definitely felt overwhelmed by it, but it wasn’t my effort, it was the students’ effort, and that had, and we came together and we talked about what the program was going to be for the con- shone through today. It wasn’t one person, it wasn’t just me, it was a ton of people mobilizing vocation and we decided the best thing we could organize was a candlelight vigil.” students, and I had all the help in the world. I can’t give enough credit to these students who have Several other organizations on campus were interested in doing a vigil as well, so Hokies given their hearts ... over the past few days,” said Khan. United teamed with them to put on the event, Cheatham said. Zenobia Hikes, the vice president for Student Affairs, who previously had addressed the com- Cheatham added that while no events through the organization were planned for the immedi- munity at the convocation in Cassell Coliseum, once again commanded the attention of the ate future, any updates would be posted on their website. crowd, this time giving a speech to the masses on the Drillfield intended to inspire a strong sense Greg Sagstetter, the undergraduate representative to the Board of Visitors was present at the of resolve. Afterward, Hikes reflected on the role of the university in the grieving and healing vigil, and sat among the politicians and other dignitaries in attendance for the convocation. process. When asked how it felt to be in prestigious company at an event of that magnitude, Sagstetter “There’s so much to say. The role tonight is to comfort and let them know that they are sup- said, “I wish I didn’t have to be a piece of history — I wish this never happened.”
“We will eventually recover but we will never, ever forget.” - Zenobia Hikes page 2 Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Community comes together
SHARON PRITZ concluded “We will eventually recover, but we will never, ever CT Features Editor forget.” Her powerful words were more than reinforced when Steger Blacksburg awoke early this morning to commemorate the tragic said that no words can express the depth of sadness we feel. Steger event that occurred on Monday by attending the 2 p.m. convoca- received a standing ovation before and after he spoke. ANNABELLE OMBAC/SPPS tion. Though students may have spent yesterday wondering what Taking things to a more global level, Gov. Tim Kaine spoke of Nikki Giovanni, distinguished professor, looks up in admiration at students in the a convocation actually was and what would be appropriate to the difficulties he had hearing the news while he was in Toyko. He stands of Cassell. wear, this morning’s unanimous feeling of support spread through described the different venues he was in while watching the TV, campus. By 11 a.m., the line to enter Cassell Coliseum had already hoping for updates. stretched halfway down Spring Road. Students waited patiently and The most prestigious speaker, President George W. Bush encour- anxiously for the doors to open. aged the community when he stressed “normalcy.” “Such a day will Junior history major, Rebecca Buckler, said she had been in come,” Bush said. line since 10:45 a.m., and the line was almost all the way down The event took a more religious tone as Hokies introduced lead- Washington Street. Five minutes later, it was down Spring Road ers of Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish and Lutheran communities. Each and media was everywhere, she said. speaker offered spiritual guidance, comforting prayers and perspec- Mike Hage, sophomore civil engineering major, and Matt tive. Ziegler, sophomore aerospace engineering major, explained that In the middle of the ceremony, a man seated on the floor of the the crowd was punctuated with Marching Virginian uniforms to coliseum fainted. EMT crews immediately assisted him. Nothing commemorate a band member who died Monday. “Every Hokie was reported after the event. should be here,” Ziegler said. They, too, came to Cassell around Before the closing remarks, a speaker asked for a moment of 11 a.m. silence in which the Highty Tighties performed “Amazing Grace.” Students flooded Cassell when the doors opened at 11:30 a.m., As silence prevailed, emotions swelled and sniffles and tissues were anxiously waiting for the convocation to start. As students became scattered all throughtout Cassell. Head football coach Frank Beamer antsy, the Highty-Tighties set the tone of the afternoon with somber and Karen Greenberg, Seth Greenberg’s wife, shared in the tears selections. Several minutes before 2 p.m., security heightened and shed. At this most emotional point of the event, Nikki Giovanni families of victims trickled into the room. Members of the convoca- approached the podium. She performed a dramatic reading saying tion included students, faculty, both state and local police, Virginia that tragedy strikes us all, death comes to everyone. Her energetic Tech Board of Visitors members, religious leaders and the President and emotional reading stirred the crowd when she continually pro- of the United States. claimed, “We are Virginia Tech!” After receiving a standing ovation, Dr. Zenobia Hikes, vice president for student affairs, opened she returned to her seat, only to realize that the room did not quiet the event saying, “Today the world shares our sorrows and pays down. She stood again and led the crowd in an intense round of tribute to us.” Before introducing President Charles Steger, she “Let’s Go Hokies!”
ANNABELLE OMBAC/SPPS President Bush speaks at the con- vocation (left), while students showed support for each other outside of Cassell Coliseum (right).
ANNABELLE OMBAC/ SPPS Andrew Archut, history major and reginmental commander of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets shows his emotions during the convocation. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 page 3 Virginia Tech remembers Ross Alameddine Matthew Joseph La Porte Alameddine, a native of Saugus, Ma., was A Cadet Corporal, La Porte was ranked a sophomore English and business infor- the No. 5 Air Force Cadet in the country mation technology major. by grades and PT scores. La Porte was a sophomore university studies major from Dumont, N.J.
Jamie Bishop Bishop, 35, was a widely respected Henry Lee German instructor who helped over- Lee, a Roanoke native, was a freshmen see Tech’s German exchange program, computer engineering major. according to www.cbsnews.com. He is survived by his wife Stefanie Hofer.
Brian Bluhm Liviu Librescu Bluhm, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was A Holocaust survivor, Librescu pro- pursuing a graduate degree in civil engi- tected students by attempting to block the neering. shooter’s entrance. A professor of engi- neering science and mechanics, Librescu will be buried in Israel, his home.
Ryan Clark The 22-year-old senior from Columbia G.V. Loganathan County, Ga., known as “Stack,” was a Born in Chennai, India, Loganathan member of the Marching Virginians and had been an engineering professor at an RA on the 4th floor of West Ambler- Tech since 1982 and had won several Johnston Hall. Clark was majoring in biol- awards for teaching excellence. ogy, psychology and English.
Austin Cloyd Lauren McCain A Blacksburg High School graduate and McCain, a freshman international studies Champaign, Ill., resident, Austin Cloyd major, came to Tech from Hampton, Va. was in her first year at Tech. Cloyd was pursuing degrees in both international studies and French.
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak Dan O'Neil A French professor, Couture-Nowak was O’Neil, 22, was a graduate student in civil a major contributor in creating the first engineering. O’Neil was originally from French school in Truro, Nova Scotia. Lincoln, R.I.
Daniel Perez Cueva Juan Ortiz Cueva, originally from Peru, was trying Ortiz, a native of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, to obtain a humanitarian visa after living was pursuing a graduate degree in civil in the United States for six years. engineering.
Kevin Granata Erin Peterson Granata served in the military and then Peterson, a freshman from Chantilly, moved to orthopedic research in hospitals Va., was a member of the Phi Sigma Pi before becoming an engineering profes- co-educational honors fraternity. sor at Tech.
Matthew Gwaltney Mary Read Gwaltney, an environmental engineering Read, a freshman from Annandale, Va., major, was a native of Chester, Va. was majoring in interdisciplinary studies and elementary education.
Reema Samaha Caitlin Hammaren Samaha, a freshman from Centreville, Hammaren, 19, was a native of Va., loved the art of dancing, specifi- Westtown, N.Y., and was a sophomore cally ballet. Samaha attended Westfield international studies and French major. High School, the same high school as the shooter.
Waleed Mohamed Shaalan Jeremy Herbstritt Shaalan, was a Ph.D. candidate in civil Herbstritt, of Bellefonte, Pa., was pursu- engineering from Egypt, he is survived by ing a graduate degree in civil engineering. his wife and son.
Rachel Hill Leslie Sherman Hill was a freshmen majoring in biology. Sherman, a sophomore majoring in histo- She came to Tech from Glen Allen, Va. ry and international studies lived in Main Campbell Hall.
Emily Hilscher Maxine Turner Hilscher, a freshman double major in Turner, a Vienna, Va., native was a mem- animal and poultry sciences and equine ber of the Alpha Omega Epsilon engi- science, was from Woodville, Va. neering sorority. Turner was senior major- ing in chemical engineering.
Jarrett Lane Nicole White Lane, 22, from Narrows, Va., was a White, a native of Carrollton, Va., was a senior civil engineering major. junior international studies and German major. page 4 Wednesday, April, 18, 2007 Suspect’s classroom Alleged killer identified, investigation continues colleague reacts T. REES SHAPIRO & KEVIN ANDERSON CT News Sta! In October 2005, creative writing co-director, Lucinda Roy taught Cho Seung-Hui in an intro to poetry course containing around 300 students. She had him removed from the course later on and placed in an independent study-type class where she worked with him one-on- one. “He was a concern, so I reported him to the VT police,” Roy said. Stephanie Derry, a senior English major at Virginia Tech, was in a 3000 Cho level playwriting class with Seung- “But we always joked we were just Hui this spring semester taught by waiting for him to do something, acclaimed professor, Ed Falco. waiting to hear about something he She described Cho’s conduct in did,” Derry said. “But when I got the classes and how all the clues had been call (saying) it was Cho who had done there, but could never imagine his this, I started crying, bawling.” bizarre behavior would ever mate- “I kept having to tell myself there TEODORA ERBES/SPPS rialize into these recent destructive is no way we could have known this events. was coming,” Derry said. “I was just Journalists listen at the first press conference yesterday morning. Another press conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. this morning. “Cho was really, really, quiet,” Derry so frustrated that we saw all the signs, said. “I can’t even remember one word but never thought this could happen.” SAIRA HAIDER & KEVIN ANDERSON be long and may take up to several days. The The police are still evaluating evidence retrieved he said the entire semester.” Falco said he was unable for com- Collegiate Times has confirmed several identi- from the scene. “We were in a playwriting class ment. CT News Sta! ties of several victims — a list can be found on Gov. Tim Kaine was also present at the press together, which is a workshop class, But Seung-Hui’s classroom partici- In a press conference held yesterday at 9:23 a.m., www.collegiatetimes.com. conference. meaning you submit your plays to pation, she noted, was absent. Virginia Tech Police identified the gunman as Cho The state is working with police and families to The weapons found on the scene in Norris Hall everyone in it and then we all review “He was just there,” Derry said. “I Seung-Hui, 23, a South Korean native and resident identify fingerprints, said Dr. Marcella Fierro, chief have been found to be legally purchased by Cho, the play in class and talk about it,” can’t even describe it.” alien who was an undergraduate senior English medical examiner for the Commonwealth. according to Virginia gun laws. Derry said. “He would just sit and watch us, but major at Tech. “It is a process that cannot take place in haste,” Flaherty stated that Cho did not leave behind a “His writing, the plays, were really wouldn’t say anything. It was his lack Cho was living on campus in Harper Hall. He Fierro said. suicide note. morbid and grotesque,” Derry said. of behavior that really set him apart. was considered a loner, and the police have had a State officials will also be participating in the The major “thrust” on the investigation is to posi- “I remember one of them very well. He basically just kept to himself, very difficult time finding information. recovery of evidence for the reconstruction of the tively identify the victims. The staffs at the medical It was about a son who hated his isolated,” Derry said. Virginia Tech Police Chief, Wendell Flinchum, crime, Fierro said. centers have been working 12-hour shifts to ensure stepfather. In the play the boy threw His mood, Derry described, was said that a 9-millimeter handgun and a 22-caliber All classes will be cancelled for the remainder of the quality of these investigations. a chain saw around, and hammers at apparitional; no emotion whatsoever. handgun were recovered from Norris Hall. Ballistic the week to allow students to grieve, said Virginia Kaine mentioned appointing several independent him. But the play ended with the boy “I remember only once he smiled,” tests, conducted at the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tech President Charles Steger. In addition, Norris law enforcement members to do a thorough “After- violently suffocating the father with a Derry recalled. “But it wasn’t very Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives lab in Maryland, Hall will be closed for the remainder of the semester. Action Review.” These reviews will evaluate how rice krispy treat,” Derry said. big.” confirmed that one of the weapons matched the The administration will reopen tomorrow; however, procedures were executed during the shootings. “He even wrote one play about When asked whether he had physi- shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall. some faculty may take additional time off. The governor deemed the shootings a horrible students being stalked by a teacher,” cal behaviors or dressed a certain way, The person of interest in regards to the first shoot- Virginia Secretary of Public Safety, John Marshall, tragedy. Once he had heard word of the incidents, Derry said. Derry said he always wore a maroon ing in West Ambler-Johnston was an acquaintance said priority must be given to the criminal investi- Kaine immediately left Japan, where he had been “I mean, his kind of writing was Virginia Tech hat, but other than that of the female victim and is still under questioning. gation and dealing with the needs of the families, for a two-week trade tour through Asia. He arrived pretty peculiar, but when we asked usually wore jeans and a t-shirt; noth- He was stopped immediately following the first students and victims. back in the United States at Dulles International him if he had any comments after ing out of the ordinary. shooting and was detained for questioning. As Marshall said that the university made the right Airport at 11:00 a.m. we’d reviewed his work, he would just “When I heard the killer had been he was being questioned, the Norris shootings decisions based on the best information available The governor stated that this conference was shrug and say nothing,” Derry said. wearing a red hat,” Derry said, “I occurred. He is not a student. at the time. not for political purpose, but to help comfort the “We made jokes around the class immediately thought of Cho.” The personal items of the victims were strewn all “This is a resilient community,” Marshall said. families. about his work, because it was just Cho attended Westfield High over the second floor, making it difficult for investi- “Here at Virginia Tech, I have no doubt that under Flaherty continued to say that there has been no so fictional, so surreal, we just had School in Centerville, Virginia, gators to identify them, said Colonel Steve Flaherty, President Steger’s leadership that this community comment on the person of interest from the first to laugh,” Derry said, “We had to from 2000 to 2003. He spent his superintendent of the Virginia State Police. will get stronger.” shooting in West Ambler-Johnston Hall. There was laugh because it couldn’t ever be real sophomore through senior year there, Victims were found in at least four different class- Marshall said that Gov. Tim Kaine remains com- also no proof or evidence of an accomplice. or truthful, I mean who throws ham- and was a member of the science rooms. The gunman was found amongst them, mitted to providing whatever resources are needed A rumor stating that Cho’s parents had committed mers or chainsaws around?” club. having taken his own life, Flaherty said. to help. The governor declared a state of emergency suicide in their home was proved to be false. There is no evidence at this time that there was yesterday afternoon. There are currently eight patients in stable an accomplice. Investigators are exploring if anyone Faculty members are encouraged to communicate condition at the Montgomery Regional Hospital visit helped Cho at any time. with their supervisors, Steger said. in Blacksburg. This is also one patient in stable There is not enough evidence to relate these events At a second press conference yesterday evening condition at Lewis-Gale Medical Center in www.collegiatetimes.com for to the bomb threats. at The Inn at Virginia Tech, Flaherty confirmed Salem, Virginia. There are two patients in seri- The identities of the victims have not yet been that a search warrant has been executed for Cho ous condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial updated information released. The process for identifying victims will Seung-Hui’s dorm room located in Harper Hall. Hospital.
YOUR FUTURE IS WITHIN REACH And so is the money to pay for it
College expenses should not be a roadblock for your future. Stay on track with an alternative loan from Campus Door. Get up to $250,000 to pay for college and make no payments until 12 months after you graduate. Apply online today at campusdoor.com to receive an approval usually in less than a minute. Spend your time planning for your future, not worrying about how to pay for it.
You have the will. We have the way. campusdoor.com
All loans are subject to credit approval. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions apply. Trade/Servicemarks are the property of Campus Door Inc. and/or its affiliates. Lender is Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB. ©2007 Campus Door Inc. All Rights Reserved. Equal Opportunity Lender. Wednesday, April 18, 2007 page 5 Kaine leaves Asia for Tech National Cathedral offers David Covucci solace for those in D.C. CAROLINE BLACK community cope and show their support for the members Assistant Features Editor of the Virginia Tech community, the National Cathedral regular columnist released a series of special prayer cards that offer “prayers Joining the hands reaching out from all over the world for all those touched by this week’s tragic shootings at Tim Kaine’s last two day’s are like nothing he’s ever experi- to Virginia Tech yesterday was Washington D.C.’s famous Virginia Tech,” according to the cathedral’s website. These enced. National Cathedral. The Washington National Cathedral is cards are available for patrons to pick up at votive stands The governor arrived in Tokyo, Japan at 6 p.m. Monday, the sixth largest cathedral in the world and the second larg- throughout the cathedral all week. Tokyo time. Jetlagged, he went straight to bed. Less than six est in the United States. It has no official denomination, and In addition, the cathedral will also be offering special hours later, around midnight, he received a call from his office, ANNABELLE OMBAC/SPPS welcomes people of all faiths to share service and pray dur- prayers every hour, 15 minutes before the hour. Multiple informing him about the shootings in Blacksburg. ing its biweekly services. It has also been the site of many services throughout the following week will be dedicated “I was just shocked at the news,” said Kaine. “I wanted to get Kaine visits Tech after two hectic days of traveling historical moments, including Dr. Martin Luther King’s to the tragedy, including the noon Eucharist and Evensong home immediately.” students stayed strong,” said Kaine. “They didn’t place blame, last Sunday sermon in 1968, as well as President George W. service, which is held each day at 5:30 p.m., will include And did just about that. Kaine immediately called his team they weren’t going to let anything divide them.” Bush’s Inaugural Prayer Service in 2001. special prayers. together, and they finagled the first flight out of the Japanese It was with this attitude that Kaine arrived in Cassell It has also most notably been a major site for the people The Cathedral offers this Scripture from the Book of capital. Coliseum, literally straight from Tokyo, ready to address the of the D.C. area to come and the people of the entire world Common Prayer on their website, hoping that all those Unfortunately, for Kaine, that flight wouldn’t be leaving until Hokie nation. to look to for comfort in times of tragedy. It often holds spe- affected will be able to keep the words close and try to find 11 that morning. So he waited and watched the news. It was all He gave a poignant, yet invigorating speech. While he called cial services during times of crises, including the National solace in this time of mourning. “Help us, O God, we pray, he could do, half a world away from his home. yesterday “the darkest day in the history of the university,” he Prayer and Remembrance service in honor of 9/11 on Sept. in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and “I watched the news, first in my room, then a coffee shop, did not despair. 14, 2001. trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and then finally in the airport lobby,” said Kaine. He wasn’t He compared the university’s plight with that of Job, the bibli- Yesterday, in one of several moves meant to help the and the resurrection to life everlasting.” completely disconnected though. “I did manage to talk to cal figure whom God tested. President (Charles) Steger and President Bush.” “Job was angry, he argued with God,” he said. “And that’s At that point, Kaine had been in Tokyo for 17 hours. He OK.” stepped back on a plane for a flight that would be nearly as But while he knew that many students and faculty would be Nationals show long as his stay: 14 hours. gripped by anger, he implored the school to maintain, what he “That was really frustrating,” Kaine said of the flight. “I had believed, its greatest strength. Hokie spirit been up all night watching the news and was very tired, I just “Do not lose hold of this sense of community,” said Kaine. It wanted to be back.” was a theme he repeated throughout the speech. CHARLES R. BARRINEAU He totaled 28 hours in a plane in a 45 hour span. Yet the The long, arduous day did not end there, though. Afterward CT Reporter most taxing part, coming to a community completely and convocation, he headed to a press conference at the Inn at The Washington Nationals paid utterly rocked by tragedy, hadn’t even begun. Skelton, tackling the media’s toughest questions. tribute to Virginia Tech when they However, from his time watching the news in Japan, Kaine Kaine announced he would appoint a team of people with took the field Tuesday, wearing VT knew that he wasn’t coming to an inconsolable town, but “strong law expertise,” to address both Tech’s response to this baseball hats in a game against the rather a place that had already begun its healing. shooting and future security measures at universities through- Atlanta Braves. The Nats donned the “I saw something very special when I was watching the out Virginia. He said he hoped he could have that committee Virgina Tech baseball hats when the news,” said Kaine. “I noticed all the people wearing Virginia in place by the end of today. team ran onto the field during the top Tech hats and sweatshirts, saying positive things in the face of However, throughout the press conference, he maintained of the second inning. immense tragedy.” his overall commitment to both the short- and long-term Many playes are wearing maroon Kaine was particularly impressed by the students’ composure future of the university. hats with a white VT trimmed in when dealing with the hawkish media that had descended on “The most important thing for the time being is to comfort orange, although some players, the town. each other, he said. “But we will continue helping with the coaches and staff are wearing differ- COURTESY JAMES LANG/US PRESSWIRE “I saw all these reporters asking divisive question, and the recovery.” ent Virginia Tech hats. The Washington Nationals wore Virginia Tech baseball hats Tuesday. Former UNC professor murdered during Monday’s massacre Andrew Dunn continues to shape the education of thousands of students to this day.” “He cared about people,” Green said. “He would spend a lot guest columnist Bishop first was hired at UNC as a temporary employee in 2000, his former of time making sure people he worked with had everything supervisor, Jason Li, said. they needed.” The following is an article written by Andrew Dunn, the assistant university editor Bishop later was hired as a full-time employee, working with instructors in the Green said this aspect of his personality is reflected in of the Daily Tar Heel at UNC. Asian studies, German, linguistics, romance languages, comparative literature and the fact that Bishop was nominated for an Information Slavic languages departments and providing one-on-one training in computer Technology award “designed to reward versatility and the Christopher James Bishop, known as Jamie in his five years at UNC, was killed applications. willingness to go beyond the call of duty” each year he was Monday in the tragedy that left 33 dead on the campus of Virginia Tech. He was “He was such a motivated, dedicated employee,” Li said. at UNC. 35. Charlie Green, associate vice chancellor for teaching and learning at Information Bishop’s wife, Stefanie Hofer, earned her Ph.D. in Germanic Bishop worked as an academic technology liaison at UNC from 2000 until 2005 Technology Services, looked back fondly on his time working with Bishop. languages from UNC and later taught with Bishop in the Bishop with the Office of Arts & Sciences Information Services. He also taught an inter- “He was a creative thinker,” Green said. “He was someone who saw technology German program at Tech. mediate German course in spring 2004. as a creative tool.” Bishop was a Fulbright scholar at Christian-Albrechts University in Kiel, He left UNC to become an adjunct instructor of German and a technology One innovation of Bishop’s was a way to record students’ language practice Germany, and lived in Heidelberg from 1995 to 1996. trainer with the Faculty Development Institute at Virginia Tech. through their laptops. Previously, students would have to tape record their practice He earned his bachelor’s and master’s in German at the University of Georgia. He was leading a class in introductory German at about 9:50 a.m. Monday when and physically bring the tape to their instructor, Green said. Bishop was also a prolific artist. He had posted an extensive gallery of photos, the gunman aimed at his head and fired, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Bishop crafted a software package to record and send the practice digitally, which multimedia projects, graphic designs for book covers and computer-generated “Jamie’s thoughtfulness, energy and laughter made him a wonderful peer and is of much higher quality and much more efficient. images on his Web site www.memory39.com friend to many,” his former co-workers said in a collective statement. “His legacy But Bishop’s value was more than just in his work. “He was a member of our family,” Green said. “He will be deeply missed.”
College Media Solutions is the integrated sales division of the Educational Media Company of VirginiaTech.
• Collegiate Times We sell • WUVT advertisments for: • VTTV • Bugle • Silhouette
We are holding a recruitment info session for all Fall business positions. • April 18, 2007 • 8:30 PM • Squires 342
Apply online at www.collegemedia.com/join
Any questions, please contact Katelyn Reilly at [email protected] page 6 Wednesday, April 18, 2007 Virginia schools share in Tech grieving and mourning ALEXANDRA HEMENWAY and try to get in touch with all of our e-mail to the students expressing our shirts.” at midnight, and I believe there will be ties have also been offering counsel- friends that were down there.” concern for Virginia Tech.” The University of Virginia, as well another one held tonight.” ing to their students. CT News Reporter The University of Virginia, a long- Students at the University of as James Madison University and According to James Madison press “We have all counseling centers The shooting that took place yes- time rival of Virginia Tech, has shown Virginia have been wearing Hokie George Mason University are all representatives, the university will be open for our students at this time,” terday morning has been described sympathy for those who have been colors all day long in a way to show holding candlelight vigils tonight to holding a vigil tonight at 7 p.m. as said Walsch, “Anyone who needs as the worst shooting in American affected by this tragedy. Indeed, there support for the Virginia Tech com- show that they are grieving along well as sending their vice president support can find it.” history, and other Virginia universi- is a banner in Charlottesville that munity. with Virginia Tech students. of Student Affairs down to Virginia Although the Virginia Tech com- ties are showing their support to the reads “Hoos for Hokies.” “Everyone has been wearing “We had a moment of silence earlier Tech to illustrate their support for the munity was rocked by this tragedy, Virginia Tech community. “Our deepest sympathies go out to maroon and orange around grounds today at 2 p.m. in honor of those that Hokie community. there has been a huge wave of sup- “Virginia Tech is in our hearts,” all of the Virginia Tech family.” said today,” Beach said, “Girls have died at Virginia Tech,” said Daniel Since so many students that attend port from neighboring communities; said Andrea Beach, a freshman at the Sheri Winston, a media representa- been wearing ribbons in their hair Walsch, a media representative from other universities in Virginia have indeed it appears that Virginia Tech is University of Virginia, “All we could tive from the University of Virginia, and some people have orange and George Mason University, “There friends and family in Blacksburg, in the hearts and minds of all other do yesterday was watch the news “Our university president sent out an maroon ribbons pinned to their was a candlelight vigil held last night many of these neighboring universi- Virginia universities. Dowtown businesses and restaurants show their support for Tech MICHELLE RIVERA “I went to the police department at around 9:30 p.m.,” said David Trivett, CT News Reporter owner of Jimmy John’s in Blacksburg. On all the downtown Blacksburg “I wanted to see if they needed free streetlights, fluttering yellow ribbons food.” with the words “In Loving Memory” Not only was support offered to commemorate those lost in the tragedy service personnel, but shops and res- at Virginia Tech on Monday morning. taurants are also doing their part for Downtown shops and restaurants the victims and those affected by the have also posted supportive signs on tragedy as well. their front windows and doors to Ryan Fowler, bar manager for announce discounts and to offer sup- Sharkey’s and Tech graduate, said that portive as well as mournful words for all the proceeds from Monday and the victims and those touched by the Tuesday will be donated to a fund for horrific events. the victims of the shootings. “Please On the billboard of The Lyric are the come in where you are safe and among words “Our hearts are with you VT.” friends, not so we can forget yesterday At Pee Wee’s Pit Barbeque, two rib- but so that we can overcome it,” says a bons similar to those posted on the sign on the front window. streetlights adorn the cashier counter. “Everyone who works and comes On the restaurant’s door and shop here a lot came here yesterday as soon window, signs declaring “free food for as they heard about what happened,” police, fire, and EMS today” welcome said Fowler. “No one wanted to go service personnel. home.” “The free food started after we At High Peak Sportswear, “In opened when things were safe,” said Memory Of” T-shirts will be sold Chris Vogt, owner of Pee Wee’s. “We today, for VT students, family mem- wanted to do something for the people bers, friends and loved ones who lost keeping us safe and figured that they’d a friend or family member during the need a good place to eat.” Free food tragic events of Monday,” according to was available Monday and Tuesday. signs outside of and within the store. “These people have been putting “We’re selling the shirts at the price themselves at risk for us and we’re it costs to make them, but we’re trying to express our appreciation,” not making a profit,” said Marcus said Vogt. McClellan, sales associate of High Peak Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches Sportswear and a junior at Blacksburg also offered their support with dis- High School. counts on catered food Monday From the ribbons to discounts afternoon to the Tech and Blacksburg and words of support, downtown Emergency Medical Services. Blacksburg businesses have been pro- SALLY BULL/SPPS Additionally, free food and platters viding and continue to offer constant were offered at some counseling areas. support. Ribbons saying “In loving memory” were tied to different poles around downtown and College Avenue yesterday. visit www.collegiatetimes.com for updated information
www.envirofusion.org.vt.edu APRIL 13 - 20 Tuesday - April 17 Speaker: Walter Adey Will Thursday - April 19 Speak on The Environmental Earth Day Fair and Energy Potential of Algal Drillfield 10AM - 4PM Turf Scrubber (ATS) Systems. Environmentally-conscious organizations Fralin Auditorium 6 PM and business will showcase their work Dr. Adey is the Director of the Marine and mission statements on the Drillfield. Systems Laboratory at the Museum We invite you to join us on the Drillfield. of National History, Smithson Institution. Please visit www.envirofusion.org.vt.edu His technology, the Algal Turf Scrubber to register you organization or business has been used in Biosphere II, Great Barrier Reef aquarium, Florida Everglades and municipal waste water Speaker: Frank Harman treatment plants. Fralin Auditorium 6PM Frank Harman, FAIA, multi-award winning Wednesday - April 18 architect and professor at NC State Rhizome Collective Will University; Bahama vacation home recently Present an Interactive published in the Green House: New Workshop on Permaculture. Directions in Sustainable Architecture. His Speaker: Fralin Auditorium 4:30 PM design is currently featured at the National The Rhizome Collective is a non-profit Building Museum in Washington, D.C. organization based out of Austin, TX. They operate an Educational Center for Urban Sustainability and a Center for Community Organization. They are a Friday - April 20 consensus-run organization. Global Video Conference. 1000 Torg. 10AM - NOON Speaker: Rick Walker Will Participants: World Bank, Latin Speak on Going Green in the America, Europe & Africa Business World; Challenges Rather than simply listen to an academic and Opportunities. lecture, participants will have the opportunity to participate within a global Fralin Auditorium 6PM video conference to directly talk about the Rick Walker is the senior national global environmental issues. environmental solutions manager for Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. He serves on the Existing Building Care Committee for the U.S. Green Building Speaker: Marilyn Brown Council, which sets the direction for and 129 McBryde 3PM makes changes to the LEED rating Marilyn A. Brown, professional and chair of system for existing buildings. Energy Policy at the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy. Brown is one of the 16 Week Long Event: members of the National Commission on C2C Home Design Competition Exhibit Energy Policy and the former director of the at the Architecture Annex. Design will Engineering Science and Technology lead to actual construction. And homes Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. will be built with a goal of achieving the new standards of sustainability set up in Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. C2C Home is turning ideas into reality and turning ideas into reality and turning the world of design and construction upside down. www.envirofusion.org.vt.edu Wednesday, April 18, 2007 page 7
Editorial Board: Amie Steele, Bobby Bowman, Joe Kendall, PINIONS Laurel Colella, Joey Bernardo OStudents struggle for understanding and meaning
Dan of peace. matter what protocol failed, the person who is ultimately While many universities across the nation have posted As President Steger said, “our sanctuary has been vio- responsible is the man who shot these people, and in his on their websites messages of support and solidarity, I was Sheehan lated,” but this is not just an attack on Virginia Tech, this final act of cowardice, shot himself. especially moved by the note from President Casteen from is an attack on the entire system of higher education and This affects all of us: some will show their emotions pub- the University of Virginia. the environment of learning and cooperation on which it licly, others will grieve in the privacy of solitude. Seeing UVa students wear maroon and orange in sup- is built. I’ve always tried to write with a certain wit and sarcasm, port of us was a moving sight, and really puts our priorities regular columnist We, as students of higher education, need to show the but I lay that aside today and write with a sincerity that into perspective. community and the world that this senseless act of vio- comes only with the most solemn of circumstances. Have Also in that statement were lines from a poem, written As roughly 32 of my peers lay deceased in Norris and lence will not hinder the openness to people and their patience with your fellow students, teachers and friends. by a Virginia student, about the violence of Monday’s wind West Ambler-Johnston Halls, I struggle for the words to ideas, which we as Tech students, hold so dear. We need During these times, emotions are high and everyone deals and how we could all feel it beating down upon us. describe how I feel. to show that the actions of one man cannot and will not with grief in their own way. What a perfect metaphor for the entire situation, and I As eager, ambitious students, we all want to make history break the spirit of this university. Watch over your friends and be there for them when was touched by how deeply this has affected all members and leave our mark on the world: None of us wanted to There are many questions that are on our minds. Why they need you. Since 2003, I’ve been fascinated with the of the learning community. I think I speak on behalf of all be a part of the history that unfolded on campus Monday was campus not shut down immediately after the murders power the Virginia Tech community derives from each of Virginia Tech when I say how much these words and morning. We now share the burden of having been unwill- in WAJ were discovered? Why did many of the university’s other’s mutual love for everything Hokie. the words of all who expressed their condolences mean ing participants in one of our nation’s worst tragedies. emergency communication methods fail? This is an unparalleled test for the bonds that hold our to us. I’ve been in school of some form for 18 years, and in all These are all questions that the administration has university together, and I say with faith and confidence that 32 members of our community were murdered, sense- those years, I’ve never encountered words that can truly to answer. These are all questions we deserve to have this atrocity will not break the spirit of Tech, but will fortify lessly. It is our duty as the survivors to carry on the spirit express the sorrow, anger, fear and disbelief that we all answered. Be patient. Let the police piece together what the bonds that hold us together, and together we can show of Virginia Tech and the spirit of higher learning that was share this day. Virginia Tech is a place of learning, a place happened before we point the finger. Remember that no the world that no one man can erase what we stand for. extinguished in them, but lives on in us. Letters to the Editor Blacksburg tragedy has Moving forward from Virginia Tech during this time of crisis and tant story that took place in Blacksburg. far-reaching e! ects subsequent mourning. We will never be able to replace the emptiness I do not need to belabor the point of what in our hearts where our friends once resided, I am a Virginia Tech alumnae and a former each and every one of you, your parents and but we can honor their memories by conduct- copy editor for the Collegiate Times. I just loved ones have had to endure in the past ing ourselves in a manner that serves them, our devastating tragedy want to express my condolences to the entire hours. families, the university and ourselves. campus, the CT staff, President Steger and the But the manner with which each of you indi- Please know that you have the full and unend- Jacob Blacksburg Police Department. vidually and as a collective whole have carried ing support of your families, friends and fellow Caporaletti It’s hard for those of us who are no longer yourselves through this tragedy has struck me alumni in this time of dire need. I applaud and in Blacksburg to sit here and do nothing as so deeply that I cannot let it go with out com- pray for you, the students of Virginia Tech. the news stations run their little tickers count- ment. ing names and numbers, but it must be even Your cooperation with law enforcement and Justin R. Bachtell harder for those still on campus who are sitting university officials has allowed these groups to Class of 2004 regular columnist there feeling just as helpless, right in the thick further protect each and every one of you, care Industrial & Systems Engineering of the disaster. for those who required assistance and conduct Columbine, Nickel Mines and Bailey are all famous for conjuring up images of My thoughts and prayers, and those of my their investigations in the proper manner. school violence. Now our own Blacksburg joins that list as the greatest of them all friends and family, go out to every member The interviews I have seen given by students Media unfairly exploits with 33 of our fellow colleagues dead, including the gunman. of the VT community, however far removed have been conducted in a manner befitting this VT tragedy We were all present that fateful day and there is no question the memory will they may be right now. We Hokies are strong, great university in order to help tell the sad story of stay with us for the rest of our lives. As witnesses to the greatest mass murder in and we will overcome this horror, one day at what unfolded on campus Monday morning, I am a student here at Virginia Tech, and like American history, we were all humbled by what happened on the morning of a time. as well as to provide insight into the emotions everyone else, I was shocked and saddened April 16, 2007. I live right across from West Ambler-Johnston in Cochrane Hall. pulsating throughout the community in the by Monday’s events. I am also angered at the I even lived in WAJ during my sophomore year. To know that such a bloody epi- Erin Anderson hours that followed the incidents. national media’s coverage of our tragedy. sode began where I once resided is sobering. And all those who were at or near VT Class of ‘05 Never once did I see a student act unprofes- The constant assumption of the incom- the scene face even greater hardships. But this tragedy extends much further than sionally or immaturely and this is something of petence of our school officials is unfair and the memories of that day. which the world will take notice. The media uncalled for. We at Virginia Tech know that our From now on, Virginia Tech will no longer be known as the home of the Sorrow pervades entire has done its best to stir up controversy where school cares deeply for our safety and would Hokies, runners up in the 1999 National Championship and ACC Champions VT community perhaps none needs to be created. never knowingly put our lives in danger. of 2004. Our prestigious engineering school and sports program will no longer As I watch the live telecasts I fear that the I feel that we need to let President Steger and be what people think about when they think of our history school. From now on This note is addressed to the students of major newsgroups are beginning to dishonor the members of the emergency respondents we are Virginia Tech, home of the worst school shooting in history. No matter Virginia Tech. Never in one day have I been the memories of our fallen classmates and know how grateful and thankful we are for what we achieve from this point forward, that label is going to stick with us until so stricken with grief and sorrow for my fellow friends in order to fulfill their own vanity and their efforts, and also I feel that we as a com- another tragedy of greater magnitude supersedes it. Hokies, while at the same time been so proud career goals by creating issues that do not serve munity need to unite behind them in the face We all know what will happen next. There will be a huge public outcry from to be part of the Virginia Tech community. the greater good. of this negative media coverage. parents and politicians alike. High emotions will rule the day as everyone pushes As an alumnus and a very proud Hokie, I Yet, every student I have seen for answers in hopes of preventing a tragedy like this from happening again. would like to take this opportunity to com- interviewed — regardless of their stance on the Leslie Corbus But sadly, no recourse from the school or the state can ever bring back the 33 mend the students and student body of controversy — has not lost sight of the impor- Senior, Communications lives that were lost. No gun law or security measure can stop a determined shooter from doing such heinous acts. There will be a lot of finger pointing. Everything from Satan to rap music will be blamed for this tragedy and nothing will come of it. No one will ever know why Editorial the shooter did what he did. There are just some things we can’t predict. Local Issue We are powerless. We can only know what happened. The bigger questions like why and what if are forever lost to us. Nothing made the shooter commit these acts. He made a choice and we all have to live with it. It’s only natural we would seek a fitting explanation. Unfortunately, no major tragedy is that simple. So where do we go from here? If we can’t know the reasons or make the changes Convocation brings hope to students that will prevent this tragedy from ever happening again, what can we do? First off, we can stop pointing fingers. Casting blame won’t give us the answers we The day after the deadliest shooting The convocation was scheduled to However, Nikki Giovanni stole to accept and understand this terrible want. Secondly, we can stop asking why for just one moment and pause in spree in United States history, Virginia begin at 2 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum, but the show, allowing so many of us to tragedy. remembrance of the victims. They are the ones who need our support most Tech students, Blacksburg residents and by 11 a.m., crowds lined the sidewalks feel hopeful, for the first time since The visits of both Kaine and Bush right now. They are the ones deserving of our emotional outpouring. We must supporters from far and wide came out of Washington Street, anxiously await- Monday’s tragedy. Giovanni’s perfectly provided us with stability and strength always remember the people who were hurt, not the disturbed individual who to pay tribute to the 32 fallen victims. ing the start of something unforget- appropriate poem, written specifically when facing unimaginable horror, and took their lives. At the core of the media spectacle, table. in the wake of this tragedy, incited feel- Giovanni proved herself an inspiration. For the next few weeks, many students and staff will be scared. Every one of us taking place in the humble town of Cassell held the maximum capacity of ings of passion and resilience in the There were other important aspects could have just as easily been the victim that fateful day. But it is useless pondering Blacksburg, is a complete trag- 10,052 people, in addition to the extra hearts of so many. Her poem, brought of yesterday’s convocation including what might have been. All we can do now is look at what has happened and learn edy, affecting each and every one of seats lining the Coliseum floor. The us together as one, and reminded us the comforting music provided by the from it. Some will call for radical change, but these changes will always fall short us in our own ways. After the events overflow of people who didn’t fit into that, “We are Virginia Tech.” Whitey-Tighties, and the Lord’s prayer, because they create an illusion that there is a simple fix. of Monday, so many of us were left Cassell were brought to Lane Stadium Her heart-felt respect was evident, recited in unison by nearly everyone This was one incident out of countless days of peace this community has with feelings of helplessness, despair, and flocked to the field by the thou- and her enthusiasm contagious. She present. enjoyed. Living in fear is too high a price to pay for an event such as this. Nobody unsure of whom to turn to or how sands, watching the presentations on raised her hands in the air, and spoke President Bush’s presence was over- knows what the next day will bring. All we can do is make each day count and to grieve. the JumboTron. with fervor, deserving of the lasting powering, but Giovanni’s poem was never forget what we lost that day. No matter how tragic, the sun will rise again Yesterday’s convocation gave people Among the most distinguished of standing ovation she received. The exactly what we as a campus com- over Blacksburg. We’ll go to classes, make the grade and live our lives as aspiring hope. In the midst of darkness and grief, speakers at the convocation included cheers and applause turned to a collec- munity needed. She ended her poem students of this historic institution. we were brought together and given the Gov. Tim Kaine, President George tive “Let’s Go Hokies” chant, reminding with, “we will prevail, we will prevail Our identity has been forever tarnished by this tragedy, but the future is clear choice to believe in the chance for heal- Bush and distinguished professor, Nikki us all of the magic that makes Virginia we will prevail, we are Virginia Tech,” for us rebuild. Next year, Lane Stadium will cheer a little louder. Next year, Cassell ing and in the power of the Virginia Giovanni. Kaine’s speech was optimistic Tech great. an appropriate closing sentiment, and Coliseum will rock a little harder. The eyes of the world have fallen upon our Tech community. So much of this yet sympathetic, while President Bush’s We felt alive, we felt invincible. In the necessary acknowledgment in mov- sleepy mountain town. We all have something to prove now. It is up to us to show renewed faith in optimism is thanks to tone, message and delivery were impec- wake of such a tragedy, the convoca- ing forward from this heartbreaking everyone that we are more than just a tragedy. We are and always will be Virginia our leaders: local, state and national. cable. tion was a valuable step in beginning disaster. Tech, home of the Hokies.
Please send any photos or personal accounts you would like shared with the campus community to [email protected]
An independent student-run newspaper serving the Virginia Tech community since 1903
Letters, commentaries and edi- VOICE YOUR OPINION. READERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND LETTERS AND COMMENTS TO THE COLLEGIATE TIMES. torial cartoons do not reflect the 365 Squires Student Center, Blacksburg, Va. 24061. Students must include name, year, major and phone number. Faculty tionship to Virginia Tech (i.e. alumni, parent, etc.). Letters should views of the Collegiate Times. Fax: (540) 231-9151. and staff must include name, position and department. All other not exceed 300 words, and should be in MS Word (.doc) format if e-mail: [email protected] submissions must include name, residence, and if applicable, rela- possible. Editorials are written by the Collegiate Times editorial board as CT Staff Positions shown above. Editor in Chief Amie Steele Opinions Editor Laurel Colella Online Director Christopher Ritter Assistant Advertising Director Andrew Cady Managing Editors Bobby Bowman, Joe Kendall Sports Editor Ryan McConnell Multimedia Editor David Grant Distribution Manager Dave Krause Letters to the editor are submis- Public Editor Adam Smith Associate Sports Editors Clark Ruhland, Web Developer Tim Tutt Account Administrators Jennifer Cho, Xavier L. Herrera, sions from Collegiate Times readers. Production Managers Claire Craft Charles Barrineau Web Designer David Harries Patrick Fitzgerald, Miles Greene, Robert Zayas We reserve the right to edit for any News Editor Saira Haider Sports Reporter Torrey Smith Business Manager Jake Darby Account Executives Katelynn Reilly, Kate Balfour, reason. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Associate News Editors Kevin Anderson Head Copy Editor David Harries Ads Production Manager Bridget Monastra Katie Lewis, Ashley Culbreth, Kent Shackleford, News Reporters Katie Reineberg, Brittney Davis, Copy Editors Kati Ann Leonberger, Dustin Dunnagan, Assistant Production Manager Amanda Kubista Devin Armstrong, Mike Bury, Josh Allen, Owen Alexandra Hemenway, Meg Miller, Janelle Frazier Mary Hardbarger, Cate Summers Ads Production/Creation Ben Traynum, Ricketts, Don Janocha •Have a news tip? Features Editor Sharon Pritz Photo Editors Shaozhuo Cui, Sally Bull Ashley Shoemaker, Anika Stickles, Public Relations Manager Kim Blessing Call 231-9865 or e-mail Associate Features Editors Drew Jackson, Caroline Black Layout Designers Jenna Wolfe, David Covucci, Krystal Ryan Huber, Jonathan Mills Credit Manager Patrick Fitzgerald [email protected] Features Reporters Kimberly Berkey, Stevens Office Manager Adeel Khan Duncan Vick Graphic Designer Ben MacDonald Advertising Director Megan Oliver CT Phone Numbers The Collegiate Times, a division of the Educational Media Company at Virginia The Collegiate Times can be found online at
visit www.collegiatetimes.com for photo galleries and updated coverage
Need Summer Storage?
5x5 only $20-$31/month 5x10 only $36/month 8x8 only $40/month
Now Reserving for the Summer! Prices Fork Self Storage 951 - 4208 [email protected] Temporary Student Library Positions Art/Arch Library in Cowgill Hall $10/hour Friday, April 20th Girls' Night Out! Newman Library is hiring students to fill temporary positions to assist with Ladies in FREE all night! an upcoming renovation project in the Art/Arch library in Cowgill Hall. A night of live music and dancing begins at 9PM Duties will include assembling library shelving, loading and unloading books, moving furniture and other tasks associated with relocating the Featuring Shapiro and Jefferson Planecrash. facility. See www.attitudesbar.com for more details. You must be available to work beginning Thursday, May 10. The shift will be Monday through Friday, 4PM–midnight with a lunch break. The project Saturday April 21th is scheduled to last approximately 10 days. Applicants must be able to lift 50 pounds and be able to stand for long periods of time. To be Big Brothers and Big Sisters eligible, you must be enrolled as a VT student and provide documents Benefit with Sigma Phi Delta proving employment eligibility. Beat on the Street with Hot 100 8PM–2AM. The Biggest Dance Night in the NRV! Applications will be available Monday, April 23 through Thursday April 26. Apply at the Dean's office, 6th floor, Newman Library 8AM–5PM.
540.552.7001 | 900 Prices Fork Rd Wednesday, April 18, 2007 page 9 Cartoon sparks controversy, outrage DAVID HARRIES “I was not here last night, I actually was not able to see the cartoon until Head Copy Editor this morning” said Lauren Morgan, The Red & Black, the student editor in chief. newspaper serving the University If Morgan had been in the office, of Georgia, ran an editorial car- she said that she would have “held it toon with a caricature of Tech’s for two or three days.” signature “VT” logo. The car- The Red & Black’s editorial adviser, toon, written by Bill Richards, Ed Morales, had his own take. raised controversy on campus in “I tell them (the paper staff) what I Blacksburg, as well as on UGA’s cam- think and they decide what to run,” pus in Athens. Morales said. “(I would think) they would have Morales also said that timing of the more consideration for what we’re piece was inappropriate and that if he going through,” said Jonathan Gaines, had seen the cartoon early enough, he mechanical engineering graduate would have had serious reservations BRENDAN LESTER/SPPS student about running it. A student waits to depart the Tech campus with their bags. “I don’t like it,” said Travis Zoda, civil Richards hoped to assuage outrage engineering sophomore “(It’s) hateful by explaining his cartoon. — insulting really.” “To make an understatement, Reactions from The Red & Black’s today’s cartoon hasn’t been well RED & BLACK Students leave website were mixed: received by readers,” Richards said. text adequately conveyed my sym- level of misunderstanding this would “This is disgusting. The Red & Black “Since the last thing I would want pathies and anger, but I was wrong. create,” Dunlop said. “You have to put once again shows its lack of class and is for readers to think I was making I’m my own worst critic, and I’ll be faith in the people who work for you.” sensitivity. I am ashamed for you,” light of the worst mass shooting in the first to admit that I didn’t think The Black & Red opinion page campus for home wrote one respondent. U.S. history, I’ll do my best to explain this one through as fully as I should includes a forum for discussion “This incident is already shocking the cartoon. I combined the Virginia have. Before I drew it, I should have and has a similar editorial policy to enough, this comic is neither appro- Tech logo with a smoking gun to taken into account the ways readers the Collegiate Times which states: CHARLES R. BARRINEAU priate nor funny. While this was prob- convey the overwhelming nature of could misinterpret the cartoon. Like “Letters, commentaries and editorial ably not done maliciously, there is a yesterday’s atrocities. I meant for the it or not, people do judge my work cartoons do not reflect the views of the Associate Sports Editor lack of sensitivity. In the future please cartoon to be a comment on how based on their visceral reactions, and I Collegiate Times;” this has not served With Virginia Tech President Charles Steger cancelling classes until Monday, don’t try to grab our attention at the Virginia Tech has been transformed failed to consider that fact. I hope this to slow down the torrent of negative April 23, many of the approximately 9,000 on-campus residents in Blacksburg expense of victims and their families,” from a prominent university into not clarifies the piece, and that now we comments. are heading home. said another. only a site of horrific atrocity, but also can all direct our sympathies toward “It’s Bill’s work, he signed his work, Many students who are leaving Blacksburg have similar reasons for their deci- The Red & Black’s management a symbol for all the senseless gun vio- the Virginia Tech community.” it’s his opinion,” Dunlop said. sions. commented on what went through lence that takes place in this country Managing editor, Colin Dunlop, The Red & Black user com- “It’s kind of weird being on campus right now,” said Jade Worobec, a freshman their heads and on the motivation day after day. I thought that the black spoke on Richards’ cartoon. ments were gathered from http: West Ambler-Johnston Hall resident. “Walking around and still seeing press and behind the cartoon. background, stark image and lack of “(Richards) did not understand the //tinyurl.com/356gth. police everywhere is kind of off — and walking by the fourth floor is kind of eerie.” Some WAJ residents had already left to go home Monday. “It was nice and my parents were glad that I was home,” said Emily Foster, a freshman fourth-floor, resident. “They were pretty freaked out by the whole thing, so it was nice to be able to see them and be with my friends.” Connecting to tragedy on the World Wide Web Foster and her fellow Roanoke resident Devon McCarty, a freshman and fifth- floor WAJ resident also went home Monday. She was thankful to be able to do MICHELLE QUINN tory major checked their pages on Facebook, the fans of Virginia Tech sports, turned into a makeshift so. social-networking site. meeting place where visitors could seek word about “I think it’s a nice thing,” McCarty said. “When something like this happens, I & ALEX PHAM “I was able to immediately find out who was OK,” loved ones. always have (home) to be able to go back to whenever I want. And other people Los Angeles Times she said. “Without Facebook I have no idea how I “It allows you to feel closer to the situation,” said — it’s a lot harder to drive four hours to be somewhere to be more comfortable.” would have found that out.” Robert Niles, editor of USC’s Online Journalism Students hope time away from campus, with family and friends, will leave them Hiding in his dorm room, Virginia Tech freshman Every tragedy now seems accompanied by an Review and a former Rocky Mountain News rejuvenated and with a fresh perspective. Bryce Carter did what anyone his age would do in a outpouring of grief and solidarity on the Internet reporter who covered the Columbine killings. “To “I think it will be hard coming back, but a week will definitely help I hope,” time of crisis — he blogged. — a fire hose of news, rumor, photos, cell-phone see that there is a functioning community is very Foster said. “It won’t be easy.” First he assured friends that he was alive. Then videos and instant opinion. So was the case Monday, reassuring to people who are disturbed by some- A third freshman, Francesca Narro, also living in WAJ echoed Foster’s he posted a video he shot of police cars gathering as the death toll climbed to 33 at the Virginia Tech thing as horrible as this.” sentiments, although she feels different not being directly connected outside and still photos of sharpshooters. campus. As the story broke, users of Digg, a popular news- to the tragedy. “My friends could be dead,” he typed on “Bryce’s For many college students, this could become their sharing site, posted stories by CNN and ABC News, “I’m not technically grieving anybody that I personally know,” Narro said. “I Journal,” which is usually dedicated to partying, the defining tragedy. Most were only in grade school or then returned to those posts to share fatality counts, guess I’m just going to come back and get used to the adjustment of what hap- environment and Hokies sports. “Tears continue.” perhaps middle school during the Columbine High warm wishes to survivors, condolences to families pened on campus.” Members of the most wired generation in history School massacres of 1999 and the Sept. 11 terrorist of the dead and links to a cell-phone video recorded dealt with Monday’s bloody campus rampage by attacks two years later. by a Virginia Tech student outside Norris Hall as the connecting on blogs, Facebook and other Web sites. By Monday evening, more than 16,000 had shooting happened. Their eyewitness descriptions, photos and video flocked to Facebook’s “April 16, 2007 — A Moment “What this link became was a place to learn what Have memories or pictures of those who made the trauma unfolding in the rural Virginia of Silence” discussion group. Other impromptu happened in the last five minutes,” said Jay Adelson, died or were injured during the tragic town immediate and visceral to millions. memorial groups drew thousands of members chief executive of San Francisco-based Digg. Thousands of miles from the shootings, each. Anthony Le, 19, a civil engineering student at shootings Monday? University of Southern California sophomore “Since the launching of Facebook, there’s probably Virginia Tech, kept his ear pressed to a police scan- Charlotte Korchak received a call from her mother nothing that has impacted the college audience as ner all morning as the drama unfolded, then posted in Maryland — Virginia Tech, she learned, was a this has,” said Brandee Barker, a spokeswoman for whatever information he learned on Digg. death scene. Rather than tie up the cell phones of the 3-year-old site. “The count of the fatalities was a lot slower on Share their legacy at collegiatetimes.com friends who attend the school, the 19-year-old his- On Monday, TechSideline.com, a Web site for CNN than on Digg,” Le said.
...Still need a place to live? Live at Thehe CChase!hase!
NoNow lleasingeasing foorr Augustugust 2007!2007! • 4 bedroom, 2 bath apartments CMG Leasing Downtown Properties 205 Church Street • Walk, bike, or ride the BT to campus (behind Backstreets) & downtown from Roanoke Street [email protected] www.cmgleasing.com • Washer and dryer in every apartment • Friendly management staff
EQUAL HOUSING 951951-00514514 • 24 hour emergency service OPPORTUNITY page 10 Wednesday, April, 18, 2007
SUMMER WORK Great Pay! RESTAURANT COOK PART TIME Sub-Lease Apply NOW, begin after fi nals, Part/Full Time Restaurant Help. For Sale Greek Notes fl exible schedules, can continue The Boston Beanery is currently my guilty in fall, customer sales/service, accepting applications for line cooks. VT STUDENTS-ROOM FOR RENT conditions apply, all ages 18+, Competitive wages DOE. Preference FACT OF THE WEEK! Let everyone 1 bdrm available in a 3 bdrm condo possible scholarships, all majors given to those with day hours 1998 SUBARU know something special about off S. Main St., Blacksburg. Newly pleasure... considered Arl/Alex/FlsCh: 703- available. Please apply in person. your greek organization each renovated. W/ D, AC, no smoking, OUTBACK AWD 504-9030, Fairfax/Nova: 703-359- 400 Turner Street, Collegiate Square week! www.collegiatetimes.com no further pets (1 cat already living Legacy station wagon. PW, PL, 7600, Newport News: 757-594- 540.951.9780 540.961.9860 there). Common area complete with 0100, Richmond: 804-270-4300, AC, AT Good mechanical cond. new furnishings. $400/ mo including FUND RAISING? Let the Roanoke: 540-345-1988, VA $4,900 540.230.5798 cable, utilites and ethernet. MOVE student population know and
Beach/Norfolk: 757-557-0080, 540-351-0558 703.963.7674 help! Promote your efforts summerworknow.com COORDINATOR here! www.collegiatetimes.com Automotive HELP WANTED ASSISTANT 540.961.9860 Campus Events Premier Mayfl ower, household During Summer Break for Mover in Blacksburg is seeking SELLING YOUR RIDE? Let Pritchard Hall Door an other students know here! For Rent PROMOTE YOUR EVENTS Replacement Assistant to the Move w w w . c o l l e g i a t e t i m e s . c o m Students reading this paper are May 14-July 31 $9.00 hr 540.961.9860 probably bored. Give them something Coordinator Summer 2007. WALK TO CAMPUS email [email protected] to do. Advertise your campus events People friendly, telephone and 704Montgomery Street here! www.collegiatetimes.com SUMMER JOB IN NOVA Ice Cream computer skills Notices 3 BR 540.961.9860 Catering Summer Positions Available Helpful. Fenced back yard in NOVA $12/hr. Scoops2U.com Apply at 3101 Commerce St., 571.212.7184 AWARDS Awards and Recognition $800 / month 540.355.6862 Blacksburg, or call 540.552.1231 Plaques. Quality engraving with quick Textbooks for !BARTENDING! Make Up to $250 NAGS HEAD four month Student x 102 turnaround. Call 540.382.6468. Summer Rentals from May through a Day. For more information. Sale August, seabreezerealty.com No Experience Necessary. 540.552.1231 Training Available. 252.255.6328
1-800-965-6520 EXT210 Roommates TEXTBOOK EXCHANGE! Want WE LOVE more than $10 back for your SUMMER JOBS moving Personals books? Sell them to other students company in woodbridge Va. SOFTWARE ROOMMATES NEEDED 2 female here! www.collegiatetimes.com $10/ Hr no experience required roommates wanted. Non-smokers. 540.961.9860 DEVELOPERS email [email protected] 325/month utilities included. ADOPTION 703.550.8077 Exciting Positions - In University Terrace. contact [email protected] Prof. woman to give infant a Lost & Found NEED EMPLOYEES? The Apply Now loving home. Help with medical students who read this paper need 2007-08 HUNTERS RIDGE Webmail.us, a Blacksburg and legal expenses. Evenings jobs. Advertise your openings 2 roommates wanted $240/ company, is hiring software toll free 866-205-5004, 8833. LOSE SOMETHING? The here! www.collegiatetimes.com developers. We’re hiring part- mo contact [email protected] Collegiate Times offers free lost and 540.961.9860 time students and full-time 703.969.0071 found ads. www.collegiatetimes.com graduates. We were recently 540.961.9860 LOCAL SUMMER JOBS ROOMMATE WANTED Three Downtown voted the best tech company guys are looking for a fourth in
No experience necessary. to work for in Southwest Pheasant Run Crossing. Lease is Living
Help Wanted Premier Mayflower, a household goods Virginia. Send your resume from August to May, so don’t worry mover with locations in Blacksburg and to [email protected] or visit about summer costs. E-mail Bobby at [email protected] LOOKING FOR CONVENIENCE? Salem, is seeking packers and movers to www.webmail.us/jobs for more Advertise your downtown vacancies *YOU* Get REAL experience join its team for the upcoming summer with the Southwestern Summer info. here! www.collegiatetimes.com season. Program. Average student profi t 540.961.9860 last summer was $8736. Qualifi ed? Summer 2006 employees earned up to 615.238.4784 $6500, depending on experience . I read the CT! Premier is a drug free environment. Apply at 3101 Commerce St., Exprxpressess Yoururselself.f. Blacksburg or call 540.552.1231 for Design Write more information. Paint Draw EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY www.silhouette.collegemedia.com su|do|ku
Instructions: Complete the grid so that each column, row and 3x3 box contains the numbers 1–9.
For the solution to today's Sudoku puzzle, go to www.collegiatetimes.com Wednesday, April 18, 2007 page 11 Tech athletic department cancels events, spring game CLARK RUHLAND Along with football, tonight’s baseball game against the “Today, we are all Hokies.” Stadium. Senior Sta! Writer William & Mary Tribe has been cancelled and will not be Hokies, from the golf, track & field, and softball teams The Avalanche will play tonight and plan to once again made up. However, baseball will be the first sport to once will resume play this weekend, even before athletes resume hold a moment of silence for those involved with the After the tragic event Monday morning on campus, the again set foot on a field in Blacksburg against Miami on classes. tragedy. Tech athletic department is taking a longer hiatus includ- Friday. The only form of sports continuing in the area is the However, the impact of baseball reached far beyond ing spring football practice. However, the first Hokies to compete will be the minor league Salem Avalanche baseball team, who post- the minor league ranks. Accros Major League Baseball, On Tuesday, Tech director of Athletics Jim Weaver and men’s and women’s tennis squads at the Atlantic Coast poned their Monday night game to yesterday. Those who all teams honored the vicitms by flying flags at half head football coach Frank Beamer decided to cancel the Conference Championships in Cary, N.C. showed up for the doubleheader early in the morning were mast. The Washington Nationals team wore Virginia remaining practices, which includes the annual spring Conference commissioner John Swofford issued a state- decked out in orange and maroon. Before the National Tech hats during their game last night against the game this Saturday. ment about the league’s decision to memorialize Monday’s Anthem of the first game, fans paused for a 32-second Atlanta Braves. “There’s never been a more important time than to events. moment of silence. Regardless of direct or indirect affiliation with the care for victims and their families,” Beamer said Tuesday “In solitude and solidarity, we will remember those who “It is at times like these when communities must join Hokies, those in the sports world are stepping back to real- morning on ESPN2’s Cold Pizza. “There will be a time have lost their lives and honor our friends, colleagues and together in the face of tragedy and show a united strength ize the magnitude of the tragedy in Blacksburg. for football again, but right now we need to turn all of our fellow students at Virginia Tech with a moment of silence and compassion for the victims and their families,” said “We’ve just got to move on,” Beamer said. “The thing you attention to the victims and their families.” at each of our ACC Spring Championships,” Swofford said. the public address system at Salem Memorial Baseball have to know is that this is so unlike Virginia Tech.” Events too close to home for Holocaust survivor murdered on many students remembrance day Yom HaShoah DAVID GRANT “He’s a Holocaust survivor. He’s a man who survived one of the worst CT Sta! Writer atrocities in human history only to Professor Liviu Librescu was slight of build and long of be gunned down by somebody in his tooth, Stephen Schuler said. The sophomore engineering own classroom. It doesn’t make sense. major (who had skipped Librescu’s class Monday morn- I don’t even know if there’s a word for ing) was shocked when he first heard that his professor had it. It’s one of these events that makes thrown himself at the door of his Norris classroom, instruct- you think that life is unjust,” said Matt ing his students to flee out the windows while he held off Cho Frank, a junior interdisciplinary stud- Seung-Hui, the 23-year old shooter who police say terrorized ies major and Hillel’s vice president the Virginia Tech campus Monday. of religion. Librescu The 76-year-old engineering science and mechanics pro- Tragically, Librescu lost his life on Yom fessor was one of the tales of heroism early Monday. He was HaShoah, the day on which Jews all over the world memorial- also one of 32 fatalities. ize the Holocaust. For Caroline Merrey, the entire horrific sequence flashed More than 1,000 students joined a variety of Facebook by. groups honoring Librescu’s heroism. One student and one “We heard gunshots in the hall and as they were coming Israeli national went so far as to post the professor’s profes- closer a student stuck his head out the door and saw what was sional resume. Members of Librescu’s department backed the happening. The next thing I know I’m leaning out the win- professor’s sterling academic credentials. dow and Professor Librescru was against the door,” Merrey, a “His research has enabled better aircraft, superior compos- senior engineering major, said. “I really don’t think me or my ite materials, and more robust aerospace structures,” Ishwar other classmates would be here if it wasn’t for him.” K. Puri, the head of the engineering science and mechanics Merrey, who landed on her back after jumping from a department, told the Associated Press. Norris Hall second-story window, sustained only minor The local Jewish community honored Librescu, among injuries. others at a Yizkor, a Jewish memorial service for the departed, The Jersualem Post reported that Librescu and his father Tuesday night. were deported by the Nazis at the onset of World War II; Kevin Granata, a fellow ESM professor, was also killed in the Librescu was sent to a Russian work camp. Saved by local shootings. Puri described Granata as a “world-class research- townspeople, Librescu, a Romanian Jew by birth, became a er” to The New York Times. A graduate of the Ohio State scientist but struggled under the oppressive regime of Nicolae University and a former faculty member at the University ANNABELLE OMBAC/SPPS Ceaucescu until his 1978 immigration to Israel. Librescu of Virginia, Granata’s recent research focused on “movement Cassell was filled to capacity for the convocation yesterday. Many students and members of the came to Virginia during a 1986 sabbatical. He never left. dynamics associated with cerebral palsy.” community were asked to view the event from Lane Stadium, where they watched on the Jumbotron. David the people these kinds of things happen to? Go comfort Covucci them, not us. It’s not us. Then out came Charles Steger. We gave him a standing For updated news and photo ovation. “We mourn, we grieve, all along hoping we will awaken from this nightmare,” he said. regular columnist That has to be it. Right, one terrible, collectively bad galleries, please visit dream? Because this can’t be real. This doesn’t happen to us. Are you sure it’s us? It just plain doesn’t happen to us. Tim Kaine, who was woken up by the news, must haven It’s one of those things you see on the TV and think “My known it was a dream. He’ll set us straight, tell us we have www.collegiatetimes.com God!” For awhile, you’re glued to the TV, in shock and nothing to worry about, tell us it wasn’t us. horror. But then you move on, because it wasn’t us. So it But no, he said that “this is the darkest day in the history wasn’t real. of this university.” It’s never us; it’s always somewhere else, somewhere far No, no, you’re wrong. This didn’t happen. away where we don’t have to worry about it. It happens to The president spoke next. The president doesn’t speak other people, in other places, at other times. here. He has no reason to come here. Why is he here? So Monday couldn’t have been real, it can’t be. It just This can’t be happening. E can’t. “We take comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving HANC That isn’t us on the TV, that isn’t our buildings, our God,” he said. “We must overcome evil with good.” UR C friends. No, this can’t be real. This doesn’t happen to us. No, it wasn’t real, because Bush, Webb and Warner YOURYO CHANCENGE Monday, as everyone around the world watched the already left. They’re gone. Today, Kaine will leave. And E A CHA news, it wasn’t real to them, because it wasn’t them. soon with them, slowly but surely, will the mass of media. TOTO MMAKEAK A CHANGE Monday they could comfort themselves be saying thank Soon, too, the thoughts about this will leave the minds of heaven it wasn’t us. other people. COME TELL US HOW YOU WOULD SPEND A MILLION DOLLARS... So it must not have been us either. And that’s probably when it’s going to hit ours. Mentoring/Advising Study Abroad First-Year Experience Scholarship & Research Residential Learning Communities It has to. Does it? Why else would 20,000 people headed See, we’re all still in shock, in disbelief. This couldn’t have to Cassell Coliseum on a Tuesday afternoon. Because it happened, this is as safe town, a happy campus. But at the was us? No. Yes? same time, there’s something tiny in the back of our heads YOU TALK... If someone was looking from above, watching all the that says it’s real. No matter how much we don’t want to Thursday throngs flow into Cassell, they would assume we were believe it. WE LISTEN heading in to cheer on some Hokies. Because we know, no matter how hard we don’t want it Were we? There were no basketball or football stars out to be, it is us. April 19 on that court. There wasn’t a distinction that separated So maybe that’s why we packed Cassell. Because we 12:30PM in Squires Student Center those people on the court from those people in the stands. knew, that finally, it wasn’t them. It was us. And this is So why were we there? real. Brush Mountain Room A & B (3rd Floor) And why were these others people here too? President And that’s why, at the end of all this, a cheer of “Let’s Go Bush? Gov. Kaine? Both our Senators? What are they Hokies!” rang out. It rang from the stage to the rafters, doing here? Is it for us? They certainly talked like it. louder than it has ever been chanted before. Because it Food Provided “I’m the son of a doctor,” said Sen. John Warner. “And he is us. used to tell me that a mind can fracture and break just like At that moment, we knew. At that moment, that’s why For more information and to register a leg or an arm. This seems to fall into this area, but only every pair of eyes welled up. Because it is us. And at that for the forum, visit www.sacs.vt.edu. time will tell.” moment, that moment, we decided that our college Drop-ins welcome! What are you talking about? careers, our lives, would not be defined by one person. Senator Jim Webb said the same thing: “You just never No, at that moment, we decided, that out college Contact: Tim Filbert (231-3673) or Mike know the volatility of the human mind.” careers, our lives, would be about us. Not him. It has to Ellerbrock (231-7722 or 231-3842) What? Why are you here? This didn’t happen to us. This be about us, because this time, for the first time ever, Help us identify ways to enhance your experience doesn’t happen to us. It happens to other people. Aren’t we it was us. here at Virginia Tech. Co-sponsored by CSA, QEP committee, and by SACS Reaccreditation watching this ceremony on TV? Why need to worry about So, let’s go, Hokies. Feel small at your job?
Come make a difference with the Collegiate Times!
The Collegiate Times is looking for organized students with fresh ideas to join our circulation and public relation team. For job description and application, visit www.collegemedia.com/join. Please contact Robert Bowman at [email protected] with any questions. page 12 Wednesday, April 18, 2007 German Club prepares KIM BERKEY Monday. During the hours they had trying to escape from the events to prepare for the event, they had an of Monday was impossible. Many CT Features Reporter overwhelming response in donations people were still being notified of There was little time to prepare and volunteers. student deaths. A girl separated herself between the convocation and candle Alex Stewart, junior in public and from volunteering, crying and vis- light vigil, however, students set forth urban affairs, was there to participate. ibly distraught, after finding out about with determination and perseverance. “I got involved because I am part of someone’s death. Other volunteers They gathered and labored at the the German Club and Student Alumni were already aware of some of their German Club Manor — organizing Associates (SAA). I was trying to help friends passing and felt like they were boxes of candles and cutting slits in out the community and university,” volunteering to honor their memory. stacks of cups that would serve as wind Stewart said. Steward vocalized what many of the shields. He continued, “It really helps to get volunteers wanted to say, “We give back James Tyger, senior in manage- your mind off of all the tragedy and to the community, unite as a univer- ment, said they started planning things that happened.” sity and make this night a memorable for the Tuesday night vigil at 5 p.m. However, even in the midst of work, night.”
ERIC CONNOLLY/SPPS Malissa Bradshaw, sophomore marketing major, is helped by Aidan MacDonald, 5, unwrapping candles for last night’s candlelit vigil. SGA organizes events for Tech DREW JACKSON Students need answers from admin- administration effort, Bagai said. istration,” said Hart. “(Students) need In terms of literal voices of the uni- Associate Features Editor to see a joint interaction between the versity, said Hart, Zenobia Hikes and Less than 24 hours since the tragedy, administration and the student body. Nikki Giovanni were “only fitting,” university administrators organized a There is a disconnect that exists until offering the ceremony Hikes’ influ- convocation to allow the Virginia Tech that happens.” ence as the Vice President of Student community an opportunity to come The preparation of the event Affairs, and Giovanni’s authority as together and mourn as a whole. included inviting dignitaries to come the “poetic voice of Virginia Tech for “This is what the administration and express their own sentiments on many years.” would do in any situation like this,” what everyone was feeling. Hart said The convocation was the organized said Liz Hart, senior communications all the speakers were chosen for very reaction of the administration of major and Director of Public Relations specific reasons. President Bush and Virginia Tech, but its preparation for SGA. “The idea is to gather every- Governor Kaine provided a nationally brought about a separate reaction by one together in on public discussion.” recognizable and meaningful voice to the students and Hokies United in the Hart said the administration began the mourning of Virginia Tech. form of a candlelight vigil. Hart said planning of the convocation right after Sumeet Bagai, former SGA president, that the convocation coupled with the the news of the shootings said that the university “recognized the vigil allowed for the union of a struc- “In situations like these immediacy is urgency, and all the parts fell into place.” tured ceremony, and a more personal, the best thing. Students want comfort. The convocation was completely an student oriented event.