The Observer, April 20, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 25
Virginia Tech Tragedy shakes campus
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The serene campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University was marred permanently on Monday morning when 23-year-old student Cho Seung-Hui's gun rampage and suicide left 33 people, including the shooter, on the campus dead.
While the tragedy is somewhat removed from the Case campus, it is still foremost on the minds of student, faculty, and staff alike. And in the wake of the tragedy, the campus has sprung to action, reminded of its own shooting at the Peter B. Lewis building in May 2003.
On Tuesday, USG President Neil Ursic sent a letter to Zenobia Hikes, vice president for student affairs at Virginia Tech, expressing sincerest sympathies on behalf of all Case undergraduates.
In addition, USG invited several student organizations on campus to their general assembly meeting Tuesday night for an open forum about the Virginia Tech tragedy. University Program Board, Class Officers Collective, Interfraternity Congress, Panhellenic Council, Residence Hall Association, and Media Board all joined the student government to decide how to support VT in its time of need.
While students debated the proper way to memorialize those who lost their lives, others felt that nothing could replace what the campus lost as a whole.
"I don't know what's right, basically. I don't think anything we do can be useful or right," said student Michael Petrick.
The organizations ultimately decided in favor of several gestures. The wall outside of Thwing, now orange and maroon, stands in support of the VT campus and those who lost their lives. In addition, students were asked to wear maroon and orange today and to stop by Thwing between yesterday and this afternoon to sign a very large card to be sent to the campus. Students wearing the proud Hokie colors are asked to stop by Freiberger Field today at 1 p.m. to take a group picture to be sent with the card.
But no matter what the campus does in support of VT, the school will never be the same. And neither will the Case campus.
Since Monday's incident, students and faculty have expressed a heightened interest in campus security, especially with several recent robberies on the elephant stairs. After many critiqued VT's response to the initial dorm shootings, students on campus wondered how Case would respond in a similar situation.
To answer all questions about current security measures in place and developments to take place, President Eastwood held an open forum yesterday with the Case campus.
"We are always trying to improve security," said Richard Jamieson, VP of Campus Services. "On July 1, 2006 we upgraded our security staff to a full Case Western Police Department. This helped to increase utility and improve public safety. We are looking at new technologies, such as increased camera systems. When an event like [Virginia Tech] happens, every university looks to see what lessons can be learned."
But Jamieson also pointed out Case's efficiency in handling the PBL shootings in 2003. Since campus buildings cannot be locked at all times, campus services has to be ready to react and respond to all situations.
"During the PBL event, we had a rapid response to the emergency call. We had, and still have, a good security system on the building. The shooter had to break in through the back door, setting off the alarms. The rapid response helped to contain the individual," said Jamieson.
Although Jamieson and other campus security officials feel confident in their ability to react to a situation like Virginia Tech's, some students on campus feel differently.
"The tragedy makes me wonder how prepared our campus would be in such a situation. I think that's the foremost thought on everyone's mind," said sophomore Adrie Welsh.
"I feel that my safety has been jeopardized," said sophomore Frank Masters. "What would stop my peer across the hall from spontaneously rampaging through the dorm after a particularly bad exam? He has card access, he is a student. He can theoretically enter any place I can. If he acts on his own – no one may know his intentions, and the chance of prevention becomes less."
Edythe Zimmerman, a counselor from University Counseling Services, said, "We certainly get students that people are concerned about but we work with these students, provide them with the help they need, and stage interventions if necessary."
But students fear for their safety on a much smaller scale than the massacre at Virginia.
"I've been a little paranoid about the danger [of recent robberies] on the elephant stairs because it's on campus and wasn't in the middle of the night or anything. It could have been anyone," said sophomore Jeffrey Zabinski. "There should be security cameras on the stairs. I know many people don't know how to use the yellow call boxes, and other people are concerned that not all of them work. It would be nice to be given assurance that they work, and that the police response to the location is timely."
Myles Nikolich, VP of Student Life, said that USG has been working to replace all the emergency phones that do not work on campus this year. The new, working phones are now blue.
"Hopefully, the tragedy will allow us to improve our own security. I definitely think that a shooting like VT's can happen here again," said Nikolich.
The emotional response to the shootings has been overwhelming on campus. Whether students knew Virginia Tech students personally or empathized with the enormity of the situation, the tragedy has affected every student in some way.
"I have friends who go to Virginia Tech, and knowing that they were OK was really good to hear – even though they are only beginning to start the healing process," said freshman Nayyir Qutubuddin. "There are so many questions left unanswered."
"I put myself in the VT students' shoes and feel for those who lost friends. I find it sad that any student could have had that much hate in them to go and do something like what happened," said junior Selim Kahveci.
"Just being at a university, you can't help but put yourself in their positions. I wish there were something we could do to help in some way," said Zabinski.
"I try to focus on it in a less personal manner, but in a conceptual manner. Like, why does something like this happen?" said sophomore Hilary Michel.
Students who are having a particularly hard time dealing with the tragedy should seek out the Counseling Center.
"We want students to know that counselors are always available and that we are always here to provide support for students," said Zimmerman.
