Last Week the University unveiled a more permanent memorial to the victims of April. While a large, carefully planned and funded memorial will be eructed in a few years, the administration recognized the need for a more functional place for members of the community to gather and continue to grieve. The university is functioning, but the whole atmosphere in Blacksburg is slightly sedated from years past. With the beginning of football season, community healing can begin on a large scale, or at least provide a distraction from horrific recent events. Many students and faculty are plugging away, hardly affected outwardly, but everyone is struggling to some degree inwardly.
The idea that the peace and sanctity of the classroom at Virginia Tech will never be looked upon the same is sad. Where ever in the world Angela and I end up, people will have heard of Virginia Tech. Not for football or engineering, but for a shooting. The biggest image I have had since the tragedy is that of RA's on campus. Angela was an resident advisor for three years, I was for two. We knocked on countless doors to ask the occupants to lower their noise level (usually infernally loud stereos... modern technology and old buildings sometimes do not mix).
Our friend Stack, an RA in West AJ was killed doing an act we did without thinking, odd noises are so common in dorms. The memorial unveiled is appropriate in that it creates more space than was there before while it was an impromptu gathering site. On a sweltering day before classes started anew, 32 engraved Hokie Stones were uncovered to the sound of bell tolls. The band played a specially arranged version of Amazing Grace which incorporated 32 bell chords in the middle of the song.
It was emotional for the Marching Virginians, as Stack was an officer in the band for several years and well known to all. We still can't believe that this happened here, at a place we felt so safe at. Virginia Tech is still educating and will continue to educate while investing in research. Such a sad chapter of the school's history has revealed, though, the resiliency that exists in Blacksburg.
Last Week the University unveiled a more permanent memorial to the victims of April. While a large, carefully planned and funded memorial will be eructed in a few years, the administration recognized the need for a more functional place for members of the community to gather and continue to grieve. The university is functioning, but the whole atmosphere in Blacksburg is slightly sedated from years past. With the beginning of football season, community healing can begin on a large scale, or at least provide a distraction from horrific recent events. Many students and faculty are plugging away, hardly affected outwardly, but everyone is struggling to some degree inwardly. 
The idea that the peace and sanctity of the classroom at Virginia Tech will never be looked upon the same is sad. Where ever in the world Angela and I end up, people will have heard of Virginia Tech. Not for football or engineering, but for a shooting. The biggest image I have had since the tragedy is that of RA's on campus. Angela was an resident advisor for three years, I was for two. We knocked on countless doors to ask the occupants to lower their noise level (usually infernally loud stereos... modern technology and old buildings sometimes do not mix). 
Our friend Stack, an RA in West AJ was killed doing an act we did without thinking, odd noises are so common in dorms. The memorial unveiled is appropriate in that it creates more space than was there before while it was an impromptu gathering site. On a sweltering day before classes started anew, 32 engraved Hokie Stones were uncovered to the sound of bell tolls. The band played a specially arranged version of Amazing Grace which incorporated 32 bell chords in the middle of the song. 
It was emotional for the Marching Virginians, as Stack was an officer in the band for several years and well known to all. We still can't believe that this happened here, at a place we felt so safe at. Virginia Tech is still educating and will continue to educate while investing in research. Such a sad chapter of the school's history has revealed, though, the resiliency that exists in Blacksburg.
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