Brookhaven Courier

Issue date: 4/30/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Chris Vivero More than 50 Brookhaven College students and faculty attend a memorial April 19 for those killed in the Virginia Tech tragedy.

Media Credit: Chris Vivero Mian Ahad Hayaud-Din, Dr. Claude Caffee and Dr. Sharon Blackman look on as the names of Virginia Tech victims are read aloud.

Media Credit: Chris Vivero "We Will Remember"

With flags lowered at half-mast, Brookhaven College students and faculty gathered around the flagpoles in front of S Building to remember those who lost their lives in the tragedy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Va.

Thirty-two people were killed and 29 others wounded by 23-year-old student Seung-Hui Cho, who also took his own life, April 16. Classes were cancelled for the week and resumed April 23.

Virginia Tech administration announced students do not have to finish the semester if they do not want to; they can leave with the grade they have or take a "W."

Brookhaven President Dr. Sharon Blackman opened the memorial by saying, "This is a sad occasion that brings us together like this, and we feel as though we are a community here."

She said it is difficult for many of us to imagine what happened at Virginia Tech.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who fell victim," she said.

A moment of silence was observed to remember the victims.

Brookhaven journalism student Praveen Sathianathan who organized the memorial said, "We wanted to do something for the students at Virginia Tech because it could have been any of us."

During the memorial representatives from campus organizations read the names of the victims and a statement was read about each one.

Brookhaven student Jim Sanchez said, "It makes me hesitant to come to school."

Students and faculty were given the chance at the end of the memorial to say a few words.

Brookhaven student Rachel Onions said people need to remember those at Virginia Tech as well as others who have fallen victim to violence around the world.

Brookhaven Police Chief Dave Reagan said, "We are the first responders to an incident on campus; we can get anywhere on campus in two minutes."

He said if an incident occurred in a building, officers would respond to that building first; other officers would be sent to the other buildings to notify classes and lockdown the buildings. He said there are no planned incident training drills for the entire campus.

Reagan said administrators are in charge of notifying students of an incident. He said faculty members would be informed via e-mail and relay it to students.

Police would then post alerts around campus. Reagan said the campus does not have a public-address system, but a request for one has been given to the district officials.

"We would do our best to shut down the campus; we would have to physically go around to each building and lock them with a key," Reagan said.

He said the school is researching an electronic key system, which the police would have control of.

Reagan said, "With one push of the button we could lock each building from the exterior."

Reagan said he feels the campus is safe. He said our officers are actual police officers and are trained for crisis situations.

Brookhaven student Larry Chazez said, "The tragedy makes me more aware of my safety and my surroundings."

Reagan said if anyone sees anything unusual they should contact the police via the red call boxes located throughout the campus and an officer will respond.

Brookhaven student Chris Michael said: "I am more cautious. It has made me treat people differently; you do not know what is going on in their lives."

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