Shooting in US - Virginia

[Mr. Bloom]

we are not promised another day

You're so right. I'm watching CNN at 4AM and the tone seems to be focused on why the University did not respond in a different way (like you can really have a plan to deal with the unfathomable?!?!?), but the armchair quarterbacks of the media will never focus on this one fundamental truth -

today is a blessing and tomorrow is not a promise.

[crazycanuck]

I don't understand.

WTF is wrong with people???? Use the thing that attaches to your shoulders!

Batbike-I'll keep VA tech in my thoughts.

*sigh*

c

[uforgot]

You're so right. I'm watching CNN at 4AM and the tone seems to be focused on why the University did not respond in a different way (like you can really have a plan to deal with the unfathomable?!?!?), but the armchair quarterbacks of the media will never focus on this one fundamental truth -

today is a blessing and tomorrow is not a promise.

I teach in a small High School, and yes, we plan for the unfathomable. All doors, except the front door, are locked on the outside, but can be pushed open from the inside. No one can enter from the outside without help. Propping or opening the door to strangers has severe consequenses. It's darn inconvenient, and we complain, but I don't think anyone will have a problem with it today. Only the front door is open, it's by the office and has a security camera on it. Visitors cannot go beyond the front door without approval. In the case of an emergency, we have a code word. If we hear that word from anyone, we are to lock our doors and keep our students in the classroom. In February, our local university had a student threaten others on campus with a white powder. The university was immediately locked down, classes cancelled, and commuters informed by the media to stay away. Entrances blocked, until the student was found and arrested.

No one thinks it can happen to them, but it takes just one crazy person. We plan, practice, (yes, we practice keeping them in the class when told) and we are doing our best to keep the students safe. I certainly appreciated the efforts at UMR, since my son is a student there. Some people think they over reacted, but in hind sight, their actions were appropriate. I'm not saying that it can't happen to us, but I think that schools everywhere should be more prepared for the "unfathomable".

I, too, am wondering why classes were allowed to go on when this man was still at large, and I'm sure this will come out in the next few days, as the questions are already starting. I can't imagine the anguish and second guessing the president of Virginia Tech must feel.

My thoughts and prayers go to everyone at the university, family, friends and employees.

[wannaduacentury]

I work at a small college and I read my email and one of our faculty/staff members son was killed at VT yesterday. The son's name was Michael Bishop. I personally don't know them, but it's incredibly sad that this even happened. When is school violence going to stop? My prayers are with his family and all the others involved. May God Bless and Keep them. Jennifer

[crazycanuck]

Wannadu-Please pass on my condolences to the people that knew Michael.

C

[wannaduacentury]

I work at a small college and I read my email and one of our faculty/staff members son was killed at VT yesterday. The son's name was Michael Bishop. I personally don't know them, but it's incredibly sad that this even happened. When is school violence going to stop? My prayers are with his family and all the others involved. May God Bless and Keep them. Jennifer

Correction- The father's name was Michael Bishop- not the son. I don't have his name yet. The president of my college has sent a heartfelt email to everyone and re-implemented safety protocols for our own school. The chapel is open to anyone that needs it and the campus chaplain is available for counseling. The Bishops are in Va. now. They had left yesterday after the shootings and that their son was injured. They only learned the horrible truth after they arrived, along w/ many other families. J

[wannaduacentury]

Wannadu-Please pass on my condolences to the people that knew Michael.

C

I will. I'll go by the chapel today myself. J

[wannaduacentury]

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/12250174/detail.html

The son's name was Christopher Bishop and he taught at VT. He was killed inside a classroom.

[uforgot]

Someone who was interviewed indicated that maybe the media needs to quit presenting this as a new record. (Deadliest shooting in US history.) While we need to be informed, I wonder what can be done about this attention that is surely attractive to some lunatic out there.

My thoughts are with you wannaduacentury and those who knew Christopher.

[roguedog]

The Bishops are in Va. now. They had left yesterday after the shootings and that their son was injured. They only learned the horrible truth after they arrived, along w/ many other families. J

??

i cannot imagine.. so my heart goes out to these folks (all of them)..

[Python]

I heard it on our news late last night just before I went to bed What is it that drives someone to do such a terrible deed?

My heart and thoughts go out to all the families involved in this awful tragedy

[missymaya]

This is just horribly tragic and my thoughts go to all who have been affected, both directly and indirectly. This is an event that is extremely hard to deal with and the victims need loving thoughts. I don't know anyone who is at that university, but my thoughts go to all the students, faculty, staff, and their family members.
As for what the school could do, well, I work in an extremely large university (one of the largest in population 48,000+) and this terrible event has brought many questions. What does a university do? How do they handle it? When is it bad enough to close/lockdown the school? Are we prepared for such an event? I know we are mostly prepared for natural disasters (hurricanes mostly) but I don't think we consider the worst of scenarios. It's in the COOP plan, but rarely practiced, which is needed for preparation. That,Im sure will change.
Again, I can not express how I feel, the sadness within me. We must heal this nation's and this world's soul to end such tragedy.

[IFjane]

My father graduated from VA Tech (class of '41). My brother attended for two years before getting an appointment to West Point. I now have a nephew attending as well as children of several friends. I cannot imagine the hurt & horror everyone is going through. What I do know is this: my father loved that school almost more than his own family. If everyone who has anything to do with Tech feels the same (and I think most do), they will pull together all over the world to help everyone get through this. There is no explanation for something this horrific. All we can do now is move on and appreciate each day as it is given to us. Unfortunately as a free and open society, we leave ourselves vulnerable to the lunatics in the word.

My father died in 2002. I am glad he was not here to see what happened yesterday.

[hellosunshine]

hard to know where to start.it is the sheer WHY factor,the broken lives,the fact that we shouldnt be living in this climate of fear.

im lucky in the uk,so very lucky,this gun culture hasnt grasped us (yet?)like it seems to have in the USA.but even the saftey awareness surrounding children and our freedom has magnified since i was young,we never would lock doors and had so much freedom for exploration.


it is simply all very sad and all very daunting.

[Thistle]

this is so awful i dont even know what to write. my heart goes out to everyone stay safe.