22 dead in Va. Tech shooting rampage

gee, and here i was thinking i could use

* First Amendment: addresses the rights of freedom of religion (prohibiting the Congress establishment of religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition.

to voice my opinion..

(yes its tragic, but... ;) )
 
gee, and here i was thinking i could use

* First Amendment: addresses the rights of freedom of religion (prohibiting the Congress establishment of religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition.

to voice my opinion..

(yes its tragic, but... ;) )

I don't care if you voice your opinion. I just ask that you don't derail this thread in doing so. There are plenty of other places that you can make your opinion known. This is NOT the place.
 
gee, and here i was thinking i could use

* First Amendment: addresses the rights of freedom of religion (prohibiting the Congress establishment of religion over another religion through Law and protecting the right to free exercise of religion), freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the freedom of assembly, and freedom of petition.

to voice my opinion..

(yes its tragic, but... ;) )


It's not applicable here.

Hokie - How many people go to VT?
 
What an absolutely horrible occurance. The biggest question is simply "why?" I'm really at a loss for what else to say. My thoughts are with all the unfortunate families. :cry:


Come on guys, this political bickering is the most disrespectful thing I've seen on these forums. I know all of you are better than that. Show at least a little respect.
 
There's roughly 26,000 students at Tech, and 10000 faculty/staff. 8000 Grad Students, 18,000 Undergraduates. About 9000 students live on campus and the rest live in apartments off campus.
 
One last thought before going to bed tonight. I ask that those of you who can, to wear orange and/or maroon tomorrow in remembrance of those killed today. Thanks.
 
One last thought before going to bed tonight. I ask that those of you who can, to wear orange and/or maroon tomorrow in remembrance of those killed today. Thanks.

I'll do my best to wear those colors and I hope that you and your friends/family are alright. As others said I am at a loss for words. I came home after school and was flipping channels and saw this on CNN and it was hard to grasp the reality of it all. My high school only has 2600 students but it's hard to imagine a classroom or a classroom and half completely disappearing. I'd just like to send my regards to you and of course the parents/families of those who passed away.

R.I.P to all those who have passed on today.
 
One last thought before going to bed tonight. I ask that those of you who can, to wear orange and/or maroon tomorrow in remembrance of those killed today. Thanks.

If I don't have to go into work, I'll definitely wear orange.
 
Horrible news...I received an email from my school just now about this:

April 16, 2007

Dear students, staff and faculty,

The entire campus community is stunned and saddened by today?s shootings at Virginia Tech. On our behalf, I faxed a letter today to Virginia Tech President Charles Steger that said, in part: "I want to extend our heartfelt condolences to you, your campus, and its wider community of parents, family, alumni and friends, for the tragedy that took place on your campus today. ? Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all of those affected."

The University of California Police Department is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all of us on this campus. We have highly-trained and equipped sworn police personnel who work 24 hours a day to prevent and respond to crimes and critical circumstances.

Mike Lane, our police chief, said as details emerge from Virginia Tech, his department will make use of their tragedy to keep our campus safe. He said he relies on each student, faculty and staff member to take an active role in telling UCPD about any criminal or suspicious activity. He asks all members of the campus community to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency.

The UCR Counseling Center is a resource for anyone from the campus community who is distraught. Our counseling center is staffed with a number of trained and licensed professionals who are experienced in helping our students with a broad range of emotional questions and challenges. The UCR Counseling Center operates from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding university holidays. The phone number is (951) 827-5531, for appointments.
The Center also offers a walk-in service between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for individuals who are in crisis. The Web site is http://counseling.ucr.edu.
After hours, students in crisis should call the HELPline at (951) 686-HELP for a 24-Hour Crisis/Suicide Intervention Hotline. Additional assistance is also available by calling 9-1-1 and the police will respond promptly.

The campus will lower flags to half staff and will plan a campus memorial for the lives lost.

Sincerely,

France A. C?rdova
Chancellor


Is it possible to delete off-topic posts? Just a thought.
 
Current news over here: 32 dead including the shooter, but he isn?t identified yet....I really feel sorry for the ones killed & injured as well for everyone involved (even if I said some rather rude stuff about the gun laws).....

And that it were the computer games was so clear....as soon as something like this happens it is always computer games and Marilyn Manson sort of music, even if the killer isn?t identified he surely played computer games and listened to evil music. Bah. Media.
 
Most Marilyn Manson songs are as evil as a bunny rabbit. Dress funny, and you're evil. Right.
 
That news really made me depressed. More than 30 dead, on account of one man?
That is horrible. I wish these things could be prevented in future. I feel sorry for everyone involved and i hope that those that did not die will be ok, both physically and mentally.
What on earth were killers motives?
 
I'm going to share a 33 year old folk song that a friend of mine passed on to me: (the video part is just a picture slideshow that doesn't have anything to do with the song, so just listen to it and read the lyrics)

[youtube=LsJey0VSX9A]Sniper by Harry Chapin[/youtube]

It is an early Monday morning.
The sun is becoming bright on the land.
No one is watching as he comes a walking.
Two bulky suitcases hang from his hands.

He heads towards the tower that stands in the campus.
He goes through the door, he starts up the stairs.
The sound of his footsteps, the sound of his breathing,
The sound of the silence when no one was there.

I didn't really know him.
He was kind of strange.
Always sort of sat there.
He never seemed to change.

He reached the catwalk. He put down his burden.
The four sided clock began to chime.
Seven AM, the day is beginning.
So much to do and so little time.

He looks at the city where no one had known him.
He looks at the sky where no one looks down.
He looks at his life and what it has shown him.
He looks for his shadow it cannot be found.

He was such a moody child, very hard to touch.
Even as a baby he never smiled too much. No no. No no.

You bug me, she said.
Your ugly, she said.
Please hug me, I said.
But she just sat there
With the same flat stare
That she saves for me alone
When I'm home.
When I'm home.
Take me home.

He laid out the rifles, he loaded the shotgun,
He stacked up the cartridges along the wall.
He knew he would need them for his conversation.
If it went as he planned, then he might use them all.

He said Listen you people I've got a question
You won't pay attention but I'll ask anyhow.
I found a way that will get me an answer.
Been waiting to ask you 'till now.
Right now !

Am I ?
I am a lover who's never been kissed.
Am I ?
I am a fighter who's not made a fist.
Am I ?
If I'm alive then there's so much I've missed.
How do I know I exist ?
Are you listening to me ?
Are you listening to me ?
Am I ?

The first words he spoke took the town by surprise.
One got Mrs. Gibbons above her right eye.
It blew her through the window wedged her against the door.
Reality poured from her face, staining the floor.

He was kind of creepy,
Sort of a dunce.
I met him at the corner bar.
I only dated the poor boy once,
That's all. Just once, that was all.

Bill Whedon was questioned as he stepped from his car.
Tom Scott ran across the street but he never got that far.
The police were there in minutes, they set up barricades.
He spoke right on over them in a half-mile circle.
In a dumb struck city his pointed questions were sprayed.

He knocked over Danny Tyson as he ran towards the noise.
Just about then the answers started coming. Sweet, sweet joy.
Thudding in the clock face, whining off the walls,
Reaching up to where he sat there, answering calls.

Thirty-seven people got his message so far.
Yes, he was reaching them right were they are.

They set up an assault team. They asked for volunteers.
They had to go and get him, that much was clear.
And the word spread about him on the radios and TV's.
In appropriately sober tone they asked "Who can it be ?"

He was a very dull boy, very taciturn.
Not much of a joiner, he did not want to learn.
No no. No no.

They're coming to get me, they don't want to let me
Stay in the bright light too long.
It's getting on noon now, it's going to be soon now.
But oh, what a wonderful sound !

Mama, won't you nurse me ?
Rain me down the sweet milk of your kindness.
Mama, it's getting worse for me.
Won't you please make me warm and mindless ?

Mama, yes you have cursed me.
I never will forgive you for your blindness.
I hate you!

The wires are all humming for me.
And I can hear them coming for me.
Soon they'll be here, but there's nothing to fear.
Not any more though they've blasted the door.

As the copter dropped the gas he shouted " Who cares ?" .
They could hear him laughing as they started up the stairs.
As they stormed out on the catwalk, blinking at the sun,
With their final fusillade his answer had come.

Am I ?
There is no way that you can hide me.
Am I ?
Though you have put your fire inside me.
Am I ?
You've given me my answer can't you see ?
I was !
I am !
and now I Will Be
I WILL BE !!!​

One last thought before going to bed tonight. I ask that those of you who can, to wear orange and/or maroon tomorrow in remembrance of those killed today. Thanks.

Will do.

I hope you and your friends make it through this OK, and my heart is with you. For all those who died: Rest in peace.
 
The entire Hokie Nation thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Even though I am safely removed from this situation, it hits way too close to home. Thankfully my friends are safe, but I still wait to hear the full list of names, for acquaintances and professors. As I said earlier, One of my favorite professors from college was in that building, at that time, and I would like to know that he wasn't involved.
 
He was a Chinese national here on a student visa.
 
Glad to hear you're okay, hokie.

I suppose this hit home with me a little more than it probably should, mainly because VT was my other choice for college. I gotta get ahold of my old roommate, he transferred in from VT.

Oh yeah, and this is definatly a man to remember:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liviu_Librescu
 
there is already a wikipedia entry? In my opinion this is tasteless until all victims are buried and the circumstances are cleared....but at our school shooting in Erfurt we had a teacher like that who tried to stop him and finally locked the gunman into a room, brave men they are/were and should be honoured :(
 
What a nice country this america... That happens when guns are legal. Sad but true.
 
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