2008 Woodie Awards
Va. Tech. cause for concern
Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: Op-Ed
Since first hearing about the incident at Virginia Tech, I have been ruminating over what has been said and discussed in the media and with those around me. I have been very hesitant to make any comments on this issue, for sake of causing arguments about things that cannot be changed, but with everything being said on campus and in the news, I feel the need to put an alternate view out there.
While I understand the pain and loss that everyone is feeling right now and my thoughts are with the entire VT community, I feel that during these kinds of events people tend to forget many of the real issues at hand and want to one, blame, blame, blame and two, find out every deep dark secret and nuisance of the person who caused it. In my opinion, both of these are not beneficial to anyone involved or the community at large and tend to make things worse.
Blaming the University is ridiculous. There is no way any school, no matter how prepared, could respond to an incident like this in a perfect way. The VT community did the best they could. Securing a campus this large, informing so many students and locking down the number of buildings they have is not an easy task. The media has been very quick to harshly question the University and place the majority of the blame on the University and the president and police, in particular. It is my belief that if someone is set on doing something to this extent, they will find a way to do it, no matter how prepared or secure we think we are.
What the time right now should be used for is remembering those who have been lost and comforting those who are injured or suffering. The blame game is doing no good in helping anyone heal. Sufficient healing time is necessary before trying to make changes and discuss areas that could have had more preparation. Give the students and families some time to grieve. Give the president and school administration time to grieve. I guarantee this is overwhelming enough for them without being blamed for it or being questioned about every single decision made throughout the incident. They did the best they could for what they were prepared for. I know I would never have been able to handle this type of incident. Yes, schools need to look at this incident and try to improve, but pointing fingers will not accomplish anything. Careful assessment and planning will.
While I understand the pain and loss that everyone is feeling right now and my thoughts are with the entire VT community, I feel that during these kinds of events people tend to forget many of the real issues at hand and want to one, blame, blame, blame and two, find out every deep dark secret and nuisance of the person who caused it. In my opinion, both of these are not beneficial to anyone involved or the community at large and tend to make things worse.
Blaming the University is ridiculous. There is no way any school, no matter how prepared, could respond to an incident like this in a perfect way. The VT community did the best they could. Securing a campus this large, informing so many students and locking down the number of buildings they have is not an easy task. The media has been very quick to harshly question the University and place the majority of the blame on the University and the president and police, in particular. It is my belief that if someone is set on doing something to this extent, they will find a way to do it, no matter how prepared or secure we think we are.
What the time right now should be used for is remembering those who have been lost and comforting those who are injured or suffering. The blame game is doing no good in helping anyone heal. Sufficient healing time is necessary before trying to make changes and discuss areas that could have had more preparation. Give the students and families some time to grieve. Give the president and school administration time to grieve. I guarantee this is overwhelming enough for them without being blamed for it or being questioned about every single decision made throughout the incident. They did the best they could for what they were prepared for. I know I would never have been able to handle this type of incident. Yes, schools need to look at this incident and try to improve, but pointing fingers will not accomplish anything. Careful assessment and planning will.
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anonymous
posted 4/30/07 @ 6:11 PM EST
oh please. i agree with laura its insulting to plaster that on our campus merely weeks after. fundamentally her and i both agree that its sad and it was his life and he was ill yes but to put him on the same level only weeks after and tell the victim's parents he should be honored is bullshit. (Continued…)
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