1 Killed in Shootings at Virginia Tech

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by kstar

Or because they always hold the conventions in mid-April?

?

Something about April I don't know?

[kstar]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

?

Something about April I don't know?

I was just saying that it isn't a coincidence, as many of those events were planned to happen (columbine at least) because of the historical significance of the dates. It also isn't a coincidence that they place the convention in mid-April, as it is a great time for travel (spring breaks over, but nice weather) and cheaper than summer rates at hotels.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by kstar

I was just saying that it isn't a coincidence, as many of those events were planned to happen (columbine at least) because of the historical significance of the dates. It also isn't a coincidence that they place the convention in mid-April, as it is a great time for travel (spring breaks over, but nice weather) and cheaper than summer rates at hotels.

Just had this thought, while reading this, that Hitler's birthday is also around this time?
Just checked: it is. April 20th

IIRC, there was some talk about this during the other events.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by kstar

I was just saying that it isn't a coincidence, as many of those events were planned to happen (columbine at least) because of the historical significance of the dates. It also isn't a coincidence that they place the convention in mid-April, as it is a great time for travel (spring breaks over, but nice weather) and cheaper than summer rates at hotels.

Ah. Got ya. That makes some sense. I hadn't thought about it that way.

And now, I remeber the Hitler birthday thing from the Columbine coverage.

This thing has had quite an effect around here due to our proximity to Columbine. (Daughter two used to live just across Clement Park from the high school)

Bad stuff.

[DeltAlum]

I think this is a pretty good analysis piece:

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local...lines-virginia

[James]

'I Saw Bullet Holes Coming Through the Door'
He almost cut French class. But Colin Goddard made the fateful decision to attend that Monday morning—and wound up full of bullets. One student in Cho's path.

April 18, 2007 - Monday began normally enough for Colin Goddard, a 21-year-old international studies student in his fourth year at Virginia Tech. His first class was French, at 9:05 a.m., in 211 Norris Hall, but Goddard was running a little late because he'd picked up a classmate who was having car problems. After toying with the idea of cutting class that day, the two of them decided to go. There were about 17 students enrolled in the course, many of them International Studies majors fulfilling their language requirements. Many had taken a lower-level French course together the previous semester.
As they entered the room, they heard a series of loud bangs that sounded like they were coming from the hallway, or maybe from the class next door. "Please tell me that's not what I think it is," the teacher, Madame Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, said to the class. "We told her it was no big deal," Goddard told NEWSWEEK. "There has been a lot of construction going on at Norris. People were complaining about it all semester, and it sounded like it could have been a hammer." Couture was concerned enough to open the class door and peek out into the hallway. "She immediately shut the door—she had this terrified look on her face—and she said 'Call 911,'" Goddard said.

Goddard pulled out his cell phone, dialed 911 himself, and with the operator on the line, began trying to explain the situation and where he was calling from. The operator was having trouble understanding Goddard and kept repeating the wrong location back to him. At the same time, other students were trying to barricade the classroom door that for some reason wouldn't or couldn't lock. "After that, I saw bullet holes start coming through the door," Goddard said. "It looked like he was trying to shoot the lock out. When he started firing at the door, I hit the floor."

After a few seconds, Cho came into the room. Goddard, his view of the classroom door partly obstructed by a desk, got his first glimpse of the killer. "He had on boots, dark pants and a white shirt. All of the students were on the ground, and he just started walking down the rows of desks, shooting people multiple times. He didn't say anything. He didn't demand anything. He was just shooting." The 911 operator was still on the phone, and Goddard, not wanting to draw attention to himself, dropped it to the floor. A girl named Heidi picked it up, begging the police to hurry. But it was too late, and Cho turned toward them. "I think he heard the police on the phone," Goddard said. "He shot some people near me, he shot the girl across from me in the back. Then I felt a very forceful rush of air and a pinch or a sting in my leg." Goddard felt himself flinch when the bullet hit him, but he did his best to stay still, to play dead. "Nobody tried to get up and be a hero," he said. Then the shooting stopped.

Goddard resisted the urge to move or try to look around. "I thought he was still in the room." Soon the gunshots started again, back out in the hallway; other sounds in the classroom were now audible. A few students were calling out to each other, Goddard said. He heard the voice of the 911 operator, still squawking into his cell phone, and saw Christina, the girl who had been shot in the back. A male student on the floor near him was making a low, constant gurgling sound. "We were just lying on the floor" for what Goddard estimates as 10 to 15 minutes. He heard more gunshots outside. Then, sirens. And shouts.

Suddenly, the classroom door burst open again. The killer was back. "He came back in and started going around the room again, shooting people." Up one aisle and down another, Cho moved through the room, repeating the path he had taken the first time. When the killer reached Goddard, he felt two more bullets punch into his body, one in the shoulder, and one in his buttocks. "My chest and torso were kind of underneath a desk, that's why I think I got shot in my extremities," he told NEWSWEEK

[BetteDavisEyes]

My school, The University of La Verne, held a prayer service for the victims of the tragedy last week. There are also ribbons commemorating each life taken (minus the killer) outside the school library. It was very touching to see them this week and read the names on each ribbon.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by James

'I Saw Bullet Holes Coming Through the Door'
He almost cut French class. But Colin Goddard made the fateful decision to attend that Monday morning—and wound up full of bullets. One student in Cho's path.

Horrifying. I understand the school has set up funds to assist victims and their families. I hope that the survivors are able to get the best counseling possible to help them cope. How can they ever feel safe again?

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by jon1856

How is this, a member of the media in his own blog, saying how poor the media's responce to this was.
APRIL 20, 2007
The First Virginia Tech Cartoons were Terrible
When a lunatic killed 32 people at Virginia Tech University earlier this week I knew what to expect from political cartoonists, who don't react well to tragedy. Some of the cartoons seemed insensitive, as today's generation of jokesters struggled to respond to a story with no lighter side.
http://cagle.com/news/BLOG/main.asp

And some of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
http://cagle.com/news/VirginiaTechShootings/

Why is this guy writing about all that and complaining, yet he posts them on his website? Hypocrisy.

[Taualumna]

I'm just wondering if any media have addressed stigma attached to mental illness in certain cultures, which may have played a role into the killer's disintegration (I know that he has had help, but I am wondering if it was already too late). Or is this too sensitive a topic right now?

[jon1856]

How is this, a member of the media in his own blog, saying how poor the media's responce to this was.
APRIL 20, 2007
The First Virginia Tech Cartoons were Terrible
When a lunatic killed 32 people at Virginia Tech University earlier this week I knew what to expect from political cartoonists, who don't react well to tragedy. Some of the cartoons seemed insensitive, as today's generation of jokesters struggled to respond to a story with no lighter side.
http://cagle.com/news/BLOG/main.asp

And some of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
http://cagle.com/news/VirginiaTechShootings/

[ΑΓΔSquirrel10]

Originally Posted by jon1856

How is this, a member of the media in his own blog, saying how poor the media's responce to this was.
APRIL 20, 2007
The First Virginia Tech Cartoons were Terrible
When a lunatic killed 32 people at Virginia Tech University earlier this week I knew what to expect from political cartoonists, who don't react well to tragedy. Some of the cartoons seemed insensitive, as today's generation of jokesters struggled to respond to a story with no lighter side.
http://cagle.com/news/BLOG/main.asp

And some of the good, the bad, and the ugly:
http://cagle.com/news/VirginiaTechShootings/

I just looked through those and about half of those were tasteless. Don't cartoonists realize that families are grieving? It's called common courteousy!

[kddani]

Originally Posted by Taualumna

I'm just wondering if any media have addressed stigma attached to mental illness in certain cultures, which may have played a role into the killer's disintegration (I know that he has had help, but I am wondering if it was already too late). Or is this too sensitive a topic right now?

Isn't there a stigma against mental illness in pretty much all cultures?

[_Opi_]

Originally Posted by kddani

Isn't there a stigma against mental illness in pretty much all cultures?

some are worse than others.

[KSUViolet06]

I got thos email in my mailbox from HQ this morning. I'm sharing because contains the address where you can send cards and things:


All Tri Sigmas mourn the tragic loss of life and injuries that occurred last Monday at Virginia Tech University. We must join together in thoughts and prayers for the friends and families that are suffering so at this time.

Let us take the time to renew the worth of each human life and to be mindful that we are so blessed to have our sisterhood and our families in the very dark times. We also must be vigilant about our own safety and those around us. We must cooperate as campus officials grapple with how to best make campus life safe.

Please note that while Tri Sigma does not have a collegiate chapter at Virginia Tech University, we are sure that we have members who are affected because of family members or friends who attend Virginia Tech.

In memory of those young bright students and educators that lost their lives at Virginia Tech, Tri Sigma will make a donation to the Virginia Tech University Foundation.

If you or your chapter sisters would like to send letters, cards, banner, etc. to the Virginia Tech family, you may send to:

Together We Mourn
225 Squires Student Center (0138)
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Laura Sweet
National President