04-24-2007, 02:29 AM
Hi all,
I'm just a few hours away from the campus and I can tell you that the effect of the tragedy spread very quickly and has engulfed the campus of GW. Everywhere you go there are Virginia Tech t-shirts, pins and accessories to commemorate the victims.
I got into a discussion with my fiancee regarding the actions of the campus police there, mainly because she works for our campus police department. It made me wonder about how safe my own campus is, especially given that our police department doesn't even carry firearms, and most of the officers are more of a "big brother" to the students than actually law enforcement officials. Even though firearms aren't permitted in the District, I'm sure that some could find there way in without difficulty. Luckily the Metropolitan Police Department is relatively close, so I'm sure they could take control of the situation at a moments notice, especially since the campus is only 4 blocks from the White House.
Still -- its a tragedy and I really wonder if there is anything that anyone could have done to prevent such a disaster. I mean, against such premeditated and senseless violence, is there any chance of stopping such things from happening? I have a cousin who attends the university, luckily she wasn't hurt, but even she showed signs of distress when I spoke to her a few days ago. Hopefully campus security forces will learn from this experience and at least try to respond more quickly to initial problems. My prayers are with the families of the students killed, and with the students who experienced the sheer horror.
I'm just a few hours away from the campus and I can tell you that the effect of the tragedy spread very quickly and has engulfed the campus of GW. Everywhere you go there are Virginia Tech t-shirts, pins and accessories to commemorate the victims.
I got into a discussion with my fiancee regarding the actions of the campus police there, mainly because she works for our campus police department. It made me wonder about how safe my own campus is, especially given that our police department doesn't even carry firearms, and most of the officers are more of a "big brother" to the students than actually law enforcement officials. Even though firearms aren't permitted in the District, I'm sure that some could find there way in without difficulty. Luckily the Metropolitan Police Department is relatively close, so I'm sure they could take control of the situation at a moments notice, especially since the campus is only 4 blocks from the White House.
Still -- its a tragedy and I really wonder if there is anything that anyone could have done to prevent such a disaster. I mean, against such premeditated and senseless violence, is there any chance of stopping such things from happening? I have a cousin who attends the university, luckily she wasn't hurt, but even she showed signs of distress when I spoke to her a few days ago. Hopefully campus security forces will learn from this experience and at least try to respond more quickly to initial problems. My prayers are with the families of the students killed, and with the students who experienced the sheer horror.
Gaius Tertius Severus "Terti" / Trey Starnes
"ESSE QUAM VIDERE"
"ESSE QUAM VIDERE"
