2008 Woodie Awards
Editorial: Lessons learned from an unthinkable tragedy
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Op-Ed
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Tragedy struck the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) and the nation last Monday when Seung-Hui Cho committed a horrifying series of murders, killing 32 of his peers and injuring 20 others. The incident has gripped the attention of people around the world and instilled fear in students around the country. The Quad was equally as disturbed, as we are sure our readers were upon hearing, reading or watching the news unfold, and we extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
Mistakes were made at Virginia Tech which we are sure will be exposed. While the slayings of 31 university students is undoubtedly a tragic occurrence, the real tragedy lies in the fact that many of those killed and injured may have been able to escape danger had proper communication systems been in place and utilized.
An apparent assumption by Virginia Tech's police department and University administrators that Cho had left campus may have cost lives. Classes continued and not a warning was dispatched to students. "The second shooting was totally unanticipated," Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger said.
Students, in fact, were encouraged by word-of-mouth to seek safe shelter in Norris Hall. Shortly thereafter, Cho returned to kill another 30 people in that very building. Am e-mail was only sent to students and faculty after Cho had killed himself. That's over two hours after the first incident in West Ambler Johnston Hall that left two dead and minutes after 30 others were killed. Most students didn't even know that they received an e-mail.
Everybody thinks it couldn't happen here, but Blacksburg, Va. isn't much different from West Chester. It isn't much different from most college towns. This kind of stuff 'doesn't' happen in West Chester either - but it could. And imagine if this were to happen here. Would we be sitting in class, unaware that a killer was walking down the hall towards us? It's difficult not to play that situation out in one's mind. Every student should be asking himself or herself: "If I was in danger, how would I know?"
Mistakes were made at Virginia Tech which we are sure will be exposed. While the slayings of 31 university students is undoubtedly a tragic occurrence, the real tragedy lies in the fact that many of those killed and injured may have been able to escape danger had proper communication systems been in place and utilized.
An apparent assumption by Virginia Tech's police department and University administrators that Cho had left campus may have cost lives. Classes continued and not a warning was dispatched to students. "The second shooting was totally unanticipated," Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger said.
Students, in fact, were encouraged by word-of-mouth to seek safe shelter in Norris Hall. Shortly thereafter, Cho returned to kill another 30 people in that very building. Am e-mail was only sent to students and faculty after Cho had killed himself. That's over two hours after the first incident in West Ambler Johnston Hall that left two dead and minutes after 30 others were killed. Most students didn't even know that they received an e-mail.
Everybody thinks it couldn't happen here, but Blacksburg, Va. isn't much different from West Chester. It isn't much different from most college towns. This kind of stuff 'doesn't' happen in West Chester either - but it could. And imagine if this were to happen here. Would we be sitting in class, unaware that a killer was walking down the hall towards us? It's difficult not to play that situation out in one's mind. Every student should be asking himself or herself: "If I was in danger, how would I know?"
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