Nationals wear Virginia Tech hats

[leopard88]

What the hell are the Dynamo trying to raise money for? It's not like a natural disaster or something occured. I don't think there can be many repairs needed or anything like that. And the school has a huge budget anyway, so they can fix their own problems (what is this, the third shooting they've had over there? It's probably written into the finances already).

Scholarship funds for the children of the deceased perhaps? Erection of an appropriate memorial on campus? Memorial scholarship fund in the names of the deceased, separate from the children of any of the deceased? Shall I go on?

Plus, this being the third shooting and all (?), the "Gunshot Remediation" line item in the budget is probably depleted. The Dynamo can help with that as well.

What they (and every other college) should be spending the money on is tighter security. Security at every college ive been to (going to my fourth different college in August) is a horrible joke. Most college campuses are like small towns, and therefore they should be enforced with a fleet that can handle the load of a small town, rather than having one 325 pound 70 year old with thyroid problems named Marty at the front entrance who carries a whistle and a flashlight. Seriously, mall security looks top notch compaired to college security.

It's hard to argue with that. It doesn't help that many students, feeling what is probably a false sense of security, do little to help the cause (propping open residence hall doors that should otherwise be secured, for example).

[FiddySicks]

What the hell are the Dynamo trying to raise money for? It's not like a natural disaster or something occured. I don't think there can be many repairs needed or anything like that. And the school has a huge budget anyway, so they can fix their own problems (what is this, the third shooting they've had over there? It's probably written into the finances already).

Scholarship funds for the children of the deceased perhaps? Erection of an appropriate memorial on campus? Memorial scholarship fund in the names of the deceased, separate from the children of any of the deceased? Shall I go on?

Plus, this being the third shooting and all (?), the "Gunshot Remediation" line item in the budget is probably depleted. The Dynamo can help with that as well.

What they (and every other college) should be spending the money on is tighter security. Security at every college ive been to (going to my fourth different college in August) is a horrible joke. Most college campuses are like small towns, and therefore they should be enforced with a fleet that can handle the load of a small town, rather than having one 325 pound 70 year old with thyroid problems named Marty at the front entrance who carries a whistle and a flashlight. Seriously, mall security looks top notch compaired to college security.

It's hard to argue with that. It doesn't help that many students, feeling what is probably a false sense of security, do little to help the cause (propping open residence hall doors that should otherwise be secured, for example).

Yeah it definately has to be a joint effort. Students have to do their part as well.

And disgitlin, im not talking a full scale lockdown with metal detectors and pat downs. But I would like to see it (for example) where an incident on the south side of the campus doesnt have to be handled by the tenured security guard napping three miles away on the north end. I personally would much rather know that the school is spending WAY too much on security than WAY too little.

And on top of that (Id have to look this up, but ive got class in about 15 mins, go figure) I think I read somewhere that more rapes happen on college campuses than anywhere else. Dont you find that alone to be just slightly alarming?

[VitaminD]

And on top of that (Id have to look this up, but ive got class in about 15 mins, go figure) I think I read somewhere that more rapes happen on college campuses than anywhere else. Dont you find that alone to be just slightly alarming?

Sadly, I don't. The combination of adolescents living away from home for the first time, drugs and alcohol being more than readily available and a lack of parental authority, blended with parties nearly every night, peer pressure and awkwardness at what is, for many, their first experience with the opposite sex (leading to misinterpreted signals, unwarranted advances and people failing to understand the concept of "no means no") makes that fact very possible indeed.

I found campus security very good when I was in school. Rare was the instance you didn't see at least one uniformed cop on the street and at least one patrol car moving around. Crimes still happened, but in a community of 25,000 people, you can't realistically prevent everything from happening. But I always felt safe on and around campus. I hope the students and families of Virginia Tech can rediscover what that feels like, and I hope no other college has to lose that feeling in such a way.

[hecticbro]

Security was fine where I went to school. There were university cops patrolling the whole campus and any trouble usually got handled basically the same way it would be in a non-campus setting. I've never been to the VT campus, but I'd assume their security problems aren't completely out of control. This situation wasn't horribly mishandled. It was just a very rare case of a motivated criminal who expertly carried out a well-planned attack. It could have happened almost anywhere in the country, on campus or not. There's a reason this doesn't happen (at least on this scale) very often: It's very hard to do and very few people would both want to and be able to go about doing it.

[meetthemets]

Security was fine where I went to school. There were university cops patrolling the whole campus and any trouble usually got handled basically the same way it would be in a non-campus setting. I've never been to the VT campus, but I'd assume their security problems aren't completely out of control. This situation wasn't horribly mishandled. It was just a very rare case of a motivated criminal who expertly carried out a well-planned attack. It could have happened almost anywhere in the country, on campus or not. There's a reason this doesn't happen (at least on this scale) very often: It's very hard to do and very few people would both want to and be able to go about doing it.

Agreed. Trying to stop somebody who's crazy enough to take his own life for the sake of mass murder is virtually impossible, That's the sad reality of the situation. Increased security won't really do a whole lot to prevent it.

[dbackdiehard17]

This is one of the most powerful discussions I have EVER read on a message board.

Everyone is going to have their opinions, that's a given. And thank God we have the right to voice our opinion. But, this is a tough situation.

Things like this should definetly be covered, but in a sensitive way. I hate when the media tries to make a circus of these type of events, and overdoes it.

The tragedy itself will never be forgotten. Some one on this board said something very true:

The fact that so many people died wasn't the only huge reason that this was a shocking and disturbing story.

The way it was carried out, and the fact, that in a small proportion to 9-11, affected our sense of security. Just like 9-11, security (this time on campuses) are being scrutinized, in an effort to make our schools safer. When someone is so sick, and motivated like this guy was it's difficult to stop.

I think the bigger picture as well here, is not who's cap the Nationals wore, but how this event brought everyone closer. Its sad that it takes these type of events to remind us how precious and unguaranteed life is, but events like these make everyone closer, and more aware that life is a gift. I am so touched this past week, what schools, teams, people in general have done in reaching out to the Blacksburg community.

Events of this proportion don't happen too often (thank god), and so when it does, its at least a small constolation, to know that plenty of people have hearts and souls, and can look beyond material items, to see real people, real life situations.

Whether you knew someone or not affected, that is not the bigger picture.

The way we reacted and the way we reached out is. VA Tech will bounce back in due time. They will get back on their feet. It will be tough, but they will pull together, and be the most family-oriented university in the country. hopefully this incident has brought everyone closer together.

[Tomcat7742]

I love how discussions over a teams uniform turn into politics

Sorry if it's been posted before but here are a couple stories about how Hokies merchandise is flying off the shelves.

Stores sell out of Tech clothing for 'Hokie Hope Day' - Virginian Pilot

Hokies gear flying off shelves - CNN.com

[McCall]

I love how discussions over a teams uniform turn into politics

Sorry if it's been posted before but here are a couple stories about how Hokies merchandise is flying off the shelves.

Stores sell out of Tech clothing for 'Hokie Hope Day' - Virginian Pilot

Hokies gear flying off shelves - CNN.com

People aren't buying these because of some marketing ploy, but rather because they wanna show their love and spirit for their/the school that was hit with tragedy. It's for Hokie Day. A day to honor and remember. So think about that before you start blasting merchants for capitalizing on these tragic events. People are buying this stuff on their own accord, not because some advertisement or Marketing strategist told them to. They believe it is a way they can show those affected that they are thinking about them.

(BTW, Tomcat7742, this was not implying that that's what you were doing. It's to everyone in general. Just wanted to clear that up in case you thought it was a personal attack on you. I know you were just posting the links for everyone to see.)

[DrBear]

Things like this should definetly be covered, but in a sensitive way. I hate when the media tries to make a circus of these type of events, and overdoes it.

Sadly, there's no agreement on where the line is. Back when Sen. Joseph McCarthy died, Edward R. Murrow - whose show helped bring McCarthy down - made sure to play the announcement very straight on his newscast: name, age, cause of death, senator from Wisconsin since 1948. Nothing else, no look back at his history, nothing. And he got plenty of letters accusing him of "gloating" over McCarthy's death.

People with an emotional involvement will see things differently from those who don't. (Example: an official's call.)

I will say two things as a member (small-time division) of the news media: 1. The main problem is with instant communications, we get it all, too fast, with no time to digest it, and no new developments but we feel the need to report Something.

2. Anytime Geraldo is involved, that automatically makes a circus of it

[hecticbro]

I sense a conspiracy! Some marketing genius in the school's athletic department took over that kid's brain with a mind control drug and set the spree in motion so they could boost sales of Hokies gear.

Frightening world.

[meetthemets]

I sense a conspiracy! Some marketing genius in the school's athletic department took over that kid's brain with a mind control drug and set the spree in motion so they could boost sales of Hokies gear.

Frightening world.

[Jigga]

I love how discussions over a teams uniform turn into politics

Dude, how long have you been coming here? EVERYTHING turns political eventually!

[Shumway]

Figured I'd put this up here. Joe Saunders, the only VTech grad in the MLB, wore a VT cap in his last start. At least I think he started the game.

[jman077]

There's a good list of VT tributes over at UniWatch. Link:

http://www.uniwatchblog.com/?p=456