Spring Break
Tragedy hits Virginia Tech campus
Thirty-two are dead and 15 are injured after gunman opens fire at two separate locations
Nick Ngo
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: News
While watching the television in McNary Dining Hall, sophomore Laura Renecker was amazed by how many people died at Virginia Tech on Monday.
"Its such a horrifying day for the kids at that school," Renecker said.
On Monday morning shots were fired in two separate incidents that occurred on Virgina Tech's campus. Thirty-two people were killed and 15 were wounded, as of late Monday night.
CNN reported that the gunman entered a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. and killed two people. Two hours later the gunman entered the engineering and science mechanics building, Norris Hall, chained the doors and started shooting people. Later the gunman at Norris Hall took his own life.
"Its just overall crazy," said Andy Vosper, a junior in construction engineering. "I'm appalled that somebody actually would demonstrate that kind of disregard towards other people's lives. College is suppose to be a place of learning and development."
Other students are wondering why it happened and what the gunman's motives were to kill so many people.
Andrew Shike, a junior in business, said that he was surprised when he read about the shooting.
"I haven't read enough to know about it, but I was wondering why it happened," Shike said.
OSU President Ed Ray offered a response to the incident via the university Web site.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the parents, families, and friends of those who loast their lives or who were injured today," Ray said in the statement.
Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Ellen Taylor sent out an e-mail to all the students saying that if anyone needed to talk about the incident, counselors is available through CAPS.
"Each of us may experience some variation of a stress reaction," Taylor said in the e-mail. "The response to such an overwhelming event is normal."
She also posted tips in the e-mail for students as well. Some include talking with the people who students trust to tell about their reaction, and recognize that a student's reaction is normal and symptoms will improve with time.
In a prepared news release from the Oregon University System, Chancellor George Pernsteiner addressed the incident and what OUS is doing.
"When incidents such as this occur," Pernsteiner said in the news release, "it naturally raises concerns for everyone about the safety of students in our own schools and education institutions.
"Each campus has in place emergency preparedness plans for student and campus community safety in the event of any type of crisis."
Oregon State Police Lt. Phil Zerzan said the story of the shooting is still developing and that the university will wait to receive more information before taking steps in any direction.
"Its an unbelievable tragedy, everybody's thoughts and prayers go to the Virgina Tech community," Zerzan said. "This is something we think about on a daily basis. Part of what our job is to hope for the best and plan for the worst."
He encourages students to get a hold of them if they have any concerns about someone who's acting in a matter that would worry them. OSP would then in turn go talk to them and intervene to prevent anything from happening.
Zerzan said the school already has procedures installed in order to prevent and deal with a crisis.
One of them is going to talk at orientations. Another one is a tactical response involving organizations like OSP and Corvallis police. Along with having a tactical response plan, officers now receive active shooter training.
"An old idea [of dealing with incidents] is to isolate and negotiate, but since Columbine that has changed," Zerzan said. "Current response is to isolate, move in and remove the threat."
Students wonder about what kind of security actions would be taken in response to the Virginia Tech incident.
"What are they going to do about it, increase security?" said Jennifer Fideler, a freshman in food science and technology. "We can't have metal detectors in the dorm rooms."
Fideler also wondered about how security would be enforced for students who live off-campus.
Students like freshman Nathan Lee said what happened was shocking and bad, but is dissatisfied with how the media is reporting incident.
"I hate how the media locks in on it and people have this sick fascination," Lee said. "In my lounge, back at the dorm, there were six people watching CNN for the last hour and to me that's silly, I guess.
"It happened, shocking, bad, yes- but why fixate on it all day, why focus on these negative things."
Reckener said the news coverage is just repetitive and she wants to know more about those affected. She wants to know more about the stories of the students and the motives of the gunman.
"They're not giving any news except about the dead and injured," Reckener said. "I wish they would not repeat the news and get in there."
Students and staff can find visit the Web site of university Counselling and Psychological Services here
"Its such a horrifying day for the kids at that school," Renecker said.
On Monday morning shots were fired in two separate incidents that occurred on Virgina Tech's campus. Thirty-two people were killed and 15 were wounded, as of late Monday night.
CNN reported that the gunman entered a dormitory around 7:15 a.m. and killed two people. Two hours later the gunman entered the engineering and science mechanics building, Norris Hall, chained the doors and started shooting people. Later the gunman at Norris Hall took his own life.
"Its just overall crazy," said Andy Vosper, a junior in construction engineering. "I'm appalled that somebody actually would demonstrate that kind of disregard towards other people's lives. College is suppose to be a place of learning and development."
Other students are wondering why it happened and what the gunman's motives were to kill so many people.
Andrew Shike, a junior in business, said that he was surprised when he read about the shooting.
"I haven't read enough to know about it, but I was wondering why it happened," Shike said.
OSU President Ed Ray offered a response to the incident via the university Web site.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the parents, families, and friends of those who loast their lives or who were injured today," Ray said in the statement.
Director of Counseling and Psychological Services Ellen Taylor sent out an e-mail to all the students saying that if anyone needed to talk about the incident, counselors is available through CAPS.
"Each of us may experience some variation of a stress reaction," Taylor said in the e-mail. "The response to such an overwhelming event is normal."
She also posted tips in the e-mail for students as well. Some include talking with the people who students trust to tell about their reaction, and recognize that a student's reaction is normal and symptoms will improve with time.
In a prepared news release from the Oregon University System, Chancellor George Pernsteiner addressed the incident and what OUS is doing.
"When incidents such as this occur," Pernsteiner said in the news release, "it naturally raises concerns for everyone about the safety of students in our own schools and education institutions.
"Each campus has in place emergency preparedness plans for student and campus community safety in the event of any type of crisis."
Oregon State Police Lt. Phil Zerzan said the story of the shooting is still developing and that the university will wait to receive more information before taking steps in any direction.
"Its an unbelievable tragedy, everybody's thoughts and prayers go to the Virgina Tech community," Zerzan said. "This is something we think about on a daily basis. Part of what our job is to hope for the best and plan for the worst."
He encourages students to get a hold of them if they have any concerns about someone who's acting in a matter that would worry them. OSP would then in turn go talk to them and intervene to prevent anything from happening.
Zerzan said the school already has procedures installed in order to prevent and deal with a crisis.
One of them is going to talk at orientations. Another one is a tactical response involving organizations like OSP and Corvallis police. Along with having a tactical response plan, officers now receive active shooter training.
"An old idea [of dealing with incidents] is to isolate and negotiate, but since Columbine that has changed," Zerzan said. "Current response is to isolate, move in and remove the threat."
Students wonder about what kind of security actions would be taken in response to the Virginia Tech incident.
"What are they going to do about it, increase security?" said Jennifer Fideler, a freshman in food science and technology. "We can't have metal detectors in the dorm rooms."
Fideler also wondered about how security would be enforced for students who live off-campus.
Students like freshman Nathan Lee said what happened was shocking and bad, but is dissatisfied with how the media is reporting incident.
"I hate how the media locks in on it and people have this sick fascination," Lee said. "In my lounge, back at the dorm, there were six people watching CNN for the last hour and to me that's silly, I guess.
"It happened, shocking, bad, yes- but why fixate on it all day, why focus on these negative things."
Reckener said the news coverage is just repetitive and she wants to know more about those affected. She wants to know more about the stories of the students and the motives of the gunman.
"They're not giving any news except about the dead and injured," Reckener said. "I wish they would not repeat the news and get in there."
Students and staff can find visit the Web site of university Counselling and Psychological Services here
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