Menu
In Remembrance
By Crystal D. Hancock
Nevada Daily Mail
The mood was somber and respectful as the sunset approached, the beauty of the moment contrasted with the harsh reality that had spurred Cottey student leaders to organize the event.
Cottey College students and staff gathered for a candlelight ceremony in honor and remembrance of those lost in the Virginia Tech shootings earlier this week. Cottey's spiritual life consultant, the Rev. Elizabeth Hadler, provided a brief message to all those in attendance Wednesday night. Nearly 100 Cottey students and citizens attended the approximately one hour memorial service for the slain Virginia Tech faculty and students. Thirty-four candles were lighted by the Cottey suites, one for each victim and one for the families of those who were slain. Tea lights were also available for purchase, with all money raised being sent to a fund for the families of those lost.
Colleges and social groups around the country have been doing what they can to show support and sorrow for the victims of the horrible tragedy. Just a few include a memorial service at Stamford University on Wednesday, one at the State of New York University at Buffalo, where memorial ribbons were also made available and candles were burned in memory of the victims; Duke University's bells tolled; Georgia Tech held a memorial event on Tuesday. Numerous tributes have appeared on the Internet. For example, Facebook, a popular Web site similar to myspace.com, frequently used by college students, also has a series of memorial postings for victims.
The Virginia Tech massacre was a university shooting that unfolded as two separate attacks, about two hours apart, on April 16 on the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va. A gunman killed 32 people and injured another 29 before committing suicide, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Another victim later died, bringing the death toll to 34.
According to news reports that followed the event, Cho Seung-hui, identified by authorities as the gunman, was born in South Korea and grew up in Virginia. He had permanent residence status and was a fourth-year English major at Virginia Tech. Many professors and tutors had been concerned for more than a year and half about the mind set and sanity level of the student, but no voiced concerns were heard.
Cottey students indicated it is not until a situation such as this arises that Americans realize the importance of taking others seriously when they seemingly cry out for help. As all citizens already know, this is not the first time that this type of violence has occurred. The mood and purpose of the candlelight vigil was to voice the concerns of not only the Cottey community but the citizens of the United States as an entirety. There has to be a solution to the seemingly constant acts of violence that occur in this country among youth. It is evident that colleges and universities around the world have already and will in the future feel the effects of the Virginia Tech tragedy.
Though Blacksburg, Va., is many miles away, the massacre has affected Cottey students close to home. One local Cottey student said that she can't imagine what the students of Virginia Tech are feeling right now, wondering if they are safe from another violent occurrence or not, and not knowing how to feel about the entire situation. Several other Cottey students said that they hope the families of the victims receive all support possible and that they are praying for the students who were injured.
At this time, there are no worries that this type of incident will happen here. Many students pledge that there is much emotional support at Cottey, not just from staff, but from fellow students.
One first year student said, "We are all away from our families and all need support, so we lean on each other to keep spirits and attitudes positive. We notice when a fellow student is hurting or in need, and we support them in any way that we can."
A group of students at Crowder College's Nevada campus will also be holding a vigil at 8 p.m., Monday.
Visit www.vt.edu, the Virginia Tech Web site, for more information and to show encouragement and spiritual support for those lost in this tragedy.