UMass Remembers Virginia Tech Victims

The Daily Collegian - 4/20/07

A vigil sponsored by several campus organizations took place Thursday last night to support members of the University of Massachusetts community in wake of the Monday and remember the victims of Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech.

The vigil, organized by the Religious Affairs Committee and , the Center for Student Development and Campus Life started at 6 p.m. on Thursday night in Campus Centerauditorium and drew in a crowd of approximately 600 people.

Chris Clark, chairperson of the Religious Affairs committee and a campus minister at the Newman Center, said that it is important for a group experiencing shock and grief to be able to gather in a safe space and process what they are going through.

Greg Callanan, a senior, said that although he was only able to stay for part of the vigil, it is important to support Virginia Tech.


"People join Facebook and other groups that are types of non-active support," Callanan said. "Giving a little bit of your time in a vigil is active support for a cause. It is important to come together as a college campus and community."

Callanan, who was driving through Virginia when he found out about the shooting, wondered how this could possibly happen to anybody.

"It could happen anywhere," Callanan addedhe said.

"Whenever you have an event of this magnitude, it raises fear, paranoia and uncertainty… these are all normal experiences for people to feel at a time like this," said Dr. Jen Lexington, a therapist at UMass Mental Health Services. (MHS), said.

Senior Katie Poulin, said that she is glad the campus can come together to show their support for the people from Virginia Tech and their support for each other.

"Having support is something we need to do as a college community. I know people from Virginia who were missing the support that we have here at UMass," senior Katherine Harris said.

The vigil featured various campus speakers, a moment of silence, a reading of the names of those known to be deceased and an emotional song by the UMass Chamber Choir to close the event.

Genevieve Feldman, a sophomore, said that it was a great honor to attend a vigil like this and see the community connecting this way. Feldman, who grew up near Blacksburg, VA Va. said that she went to the vigil because she wanted to show support to the friends she has in the area and those going through a hard time, as well as showingto show her respect for the Blacksburg community.

John Baillieul, a junior, thought that although the vigil was well done, he expected more people and said that it was "under attended."

Clark said that the groups responsible for the vigil were not looking for a high turnout but rather, only looking to help anyone who needed support at this point in time.

"The vigil was an important and crucial moment," Clark said.. "We need to be conscious of our need to create meaning around this event. Virginia Tech is showing us what a helpful response will be on our part.," Clark said."

"People are emotionally distraught now but these emotions will fade over time," Dr. Lexington said. To help in this support, MHS offers various counseling services and campus support forums.

Dr. Lexington also said that, depending on student support and response, a group opportunity could possibly be available to support those on campus in a smaller setting.

"We need to seize the moment, appreciate the day and love one another well.," Clark continued. "That kind of attention to each other is part of UMass life already. UMass has so much to be proud of," Clark continued."

Clark said that today the UMass campus is celebrating Hokie Hope Day to help support Virginia Tech. UMass students can take part in showing their support by wearing Virginia Tech's colors: orange and maroon.

The shooting at Virginia Tech took place on Monday at the Blacksburg, VA campus and ended with the death of 33 people, including the gunman.

The gunman, Cho Seung-hui initially killed 2 people in West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory, at 7:15 a.m. Two hours later, Cho entered Norris Hall and killed 30 other people before committed suicide.