VT Graduate Responds

I am a  graduate of Va Tech and like the rest of the nation I am deeply saddened by the events that took place on April 16th at our school.  My heart breaks for the families and what they now must endure.  Their lives and their families will never be the same and I pray for each and every one of them.

As I was wrapped up in the news coverage and watching all of you I did see some goodness that came out of this senseless tragedy.  The strength, the dignity and the courage that you all have shown in the face of such horror has truly impressed me.  You have represented yourselves, your families and your school with honor.  Everywhere I went I heard people commenting on how well spoken, caring and compassionate that the students they saw on tv were.  They were truly amazed by you.  I have always been proud to be a Hokie but never more so than I am right now.  Thank you all for showing the nation the true meaning of  “Hokie Pride”.

Diane Bayer

York, PA

Class of 81

The War At Home

The War At Home

Why another one?
Just when we were content
The columbine of colleges
Is what there calling it

Theses words can’t express
The heartache this country feels
To come home to news of murdered youth
How will we deal?

10 dead, no 20, 30 now 32
One was bad enough
How are we to continue?

I wish we all could just wake up
From this frightening nightmare
Why did this have to happen?
The country is once again united in fear

Attacked once, then left
Came back attacked again
Like a bullet to the chest
When will the bloodshed end?

Classrooms are made for enriching
Not murdering and cutting down
How will they go back to teaching?
With part of there class not around

Virginia Tech, my heart goes out to you
The world is your shoulder to cry
As we’ve demonstrated from the past, we will pull through
Never forget those who’ve died

April 16th, last year was just another day
Now it’s my first true loss of freedom
I know longer feel safe
To shaken to continue
Don’t know what to say

Ian Brand
Long Island, NY

Family’s Deepest Sympathy

I just wanted to express my deepest sympathy for all the students there at
Virginia tech, the faculty and staff, the families and the citizens of
Blacksburg. Several years ago when I was in high school, I attended a few
football games there. I thought the campus was really nice and naturally
anything that could get me away from school for awhile was for me. I even
thought about attending there after graduation because I liked the
atmosphere so much. Blacksburg and the tech campus had a very friendly
environment and was a very exciting place I thought. I bought a few
souvenirs while there which I still have. What I want to convey is the sense
of pride that I feel for having tread on the grounds of Virginia Tech.
Sadly, I have never given it much thought until now. I will wear the colors
of Virginia tech with pride. I will display the souvenirs that I had bought
those days there with pride. I will be a fellow Virginian with pride. I will
think of those that lost their lives while trying to better their lives with
a sense of pride and I will always remember. I will be a hokie at heart now
and forever and never forget what happened that tragic day on campus. As
someone has already said, we all are Virginia Tech. Hang in there guys. I
know first hand about God’s love. He has carried my family through the last
7 months that my child has been ill. He most definately will carry you. Have
faith and stay strong Virginia Tech. We will be praying for you.

Kathy, Jeff and Maddie Rife

Tale From a VT Alumni

I am proud of the seven years I spent in
Blacksburg, five and a half of which I was in the
Virginia Tech graduate community.  I am proud to
be a Hokie.  The terrible tragedies have left me
grief-stricken, especially because I am unable to
be there in Blacksburg with all of my friends and fellow Hokies.

I wrote the following story to express some of my
feelings, and I thought it might be worth sharing with your readers.

———-

We are the Hokies

In Blacksburg, Virginia, it is not uncommon to
see bumper stickers that read, ‘If God isn’t a
Hokie, then why do the leaves turn orange and
maroon in the Fall?’  Sarah had always found that
silly, a sign the driver was a bit too much into the football team.

Though Sarah was a senior and would be graduating
soon, she had managed not to go to a single game
on campus.  She’d never cared for sports, and a
part of her was offended that so much pomp was
given to the games, but so little to the
studies.  Sure, Virginia Tech prided itself on
being a top-notch engineering school, but you
didn’t see the ridiculous orange and maroon
turkey mascot cheering students valiantly struggling with electrical circuits.

So, when Sarah set foot inside Cassell Coliseum
that Tuesday, it was the first time she’d ever
been there.  The hall was normally used for
Basketball games, but not today.  So many faces
around her, some she knew, many she did
not.  Almost everyone was dressed in orange and
maroon, eyes either wet or empty.  Many still had
wax on their fingers from last night’s
vigil.  Sarah felt her gut clench in agony.

Yesterday, the quiet campus had been torn
asunder.  Yesterday, people she did not know had
died.  They had died in classrooms she had once
been in.  Only last semester she’d had an
engineering class there.  How could this have
happened?  How in this wonderful school, this
tranquil community, this well-loved home, could such violence take place?

Sarah watched the families of the victims fill
the rows near the stage.  She wished that it had
never happened and that she had known one of the
victims.  She wished she could have been there,
even thought she had no idea what she could have
done.  Tears came to her eyes, and nobody had said anything yet.

The President came and spoke, as did the
Governor.  Sarah heard their words, but the pain,
the questions, they lingered.  Someone nearby
broke into a sob.  Sarah saw several hands reach
out to embrace the student; she was surprised to
discover one of those hands was her own.

Then the university president began to address
them.  Sarah looked to the man, saw the horrible
wound in his heart, and for the first time since
she arrived, saw something different.  He
knew.  The President and the Governor, eloquent
as they were, couldn’t understand the pain.  They
didn’t live here like Sarah and the rest in the Coliseum.  They weren’t Hokies.

One by one, the students rose in applause to the
university president.  Sarah choked back her
sobs, tears blurring her vision.  She joined the
ovation which grew into a thunderous roar.  All
of them, joined in one voice, supportive, grieving, together.

And when their president stepped down, he was
soon followed by another speaker.  And
another.  Sarah could no longer tell who was
speaking through her tears.  Until the last.  The
last speaker was a professor and a poet, and as
she spoke, all Sarah could do was weep.  The sea
of orange and maroon shifted and blurred like
paint on a canvas.  The agony twisted inside her,
but her questions always seemed to end with the
poet’s refrain, “We are Virginia Tech.”

With firm voice, the poet reached the final
stanza.  Sarah brushed the tears from her eyes
and stood tall.  All of Cassell Coliseum was
filled, in the place of grieving students, with
proud orange and maroon turkeys – Hokies.  She
looked at herself, saw the beak, orange legs, and
deep red feather all of them now bore.  They were
no longer rick or poor, short or tall, male or
female, Christian or Jew, black or white.  They were Hokies.

The poet stood tall, tail feathers spread wide,
and crooned, “We are the Hokies!  We will
prevail!  We will prevail!  We will prevail!  We are Virginia Tech!”

And as all of the campus joined her, Sarah knew
it was true.  This was the answer to her
questions, the balm for their pain.  Each
other.  A day would come when they would see
their differences again.  But for now, they were
the Hokies, and that was all that mattered.

Sarah hugged her fellows and cried again.  It was time to mourn together.

———-

Jason Gillespie
Pittsburgh, PA
Graduated December 2003 in Mathematics who taught frequently in Norris Hall.

Friend’s Tribute to Reema Samaha

My name is Talley Griffith, and I was a friend of Reema Samaha, who perished in the horrific events here last week.  I met Reema through a mutual friend, and from the first moment we laughed together – discussing everything from Lebanon to music and dance – I knew she was a special person.  A magnetic personality with a mega-watt heart fueled by a love for people, dance, and her heritage.  I knew right away that she was destined to make a difference in this world.

In fact, I do not recall ever meeting anyone so honest, pure, optimistic, and yet aware.  Obviously, when I was notified by family as to her demise…I was rendered paralyzed with grief and utter disbelief.  These emotions soon gave way to a sense of loss, and an insatiable ache for her parents and siblings.

As a professional musician, (or as any artist would) I sought solace in my music.  Thinking of Reema dancing in the clouds, across the sunset and lighting the heavens with that radiant glow.  I thought of what she would say had she lived, or not attended class that fateful day.  Of how she would be the first to help others and work diligently to focus on the strength of the human spirit – not its flaws.

I dedicated a new piece of music (an instrumental) to Reema.  Indeed, if you close your eyes while listening – you can almost picture her graceful movements in perfect syncopation with the flowing music.  The lead guitar part was created to simulate (literally) a crying guitar.  The sound of my soul and heart weeping through an instrument at the thought of this world losing such a passionate leader in life.

I sent it to my friend Jean Jadhon at WDBJ, who was overwhelmed herself.  They decided to run this as a tribute story on Thursday night’s 6pm broadcast and others that followed.  Since then, I have received tons and tons of emails, comments, and messages from all over the globe.  From Grammy winners who said they were “moved beyond words” and while listening, could feel this girl whom they had never known…to students and families of victims who thanked me for such a heartfelt tribute.

As humbly appreciative as I am for the compliments and support – this is not about me.  It is about Reema, and her life (more so than her death).  It is a chance for others who never got to know her to see that in this jaded world of instant gratification, corruption, greed, and doubt of everything – that others may know that such a glaring example of all that is good in this world had shared this same small planet with us.

That such an angel not only existed, but thrived and was on course to make a difference.  And although the method of her passing will forever be etched in history, that it was her life (regardless of the bastardized manner in which it ended) that was most important.  I wanted people to know her.

Reema did not simply exist or live…she devoured life.  The desire to help, love, and affect positive change coursed through her veins like fire.  As did her passion for her heritage and her love of music and dance.  I only hope some day that her dream of portraying Lebanon’s history through dance theater will come to fruition in her honor and memory.

So today, I share this with you.  In the grand scheme of life, it is nothing but a song for a fallen angel.  But beneath the surface, it is more than a tribute…it is a song about a young lady who was an inspiration to everyone.  An inspiration - for each day forever – to never take a grain of hourglass sand for granted, and to live our lives as Reema would.

Please take a second to watch this news story from CBS affiliate WDBJ-7 in Roanoke. They did a stellar job in paying homage to Reema, and I find their expression to be very moving.

To view the video from the WDBJ site, you may click the link below, and then click the yellow camera icon on the left when it opens.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=6398782&nav=S6aK

You, and anyone else who may desire – are welcome to go to my Myspace page and listen and download the song titled “TEARS FOR REEMA”.  It is the first track, and will play automatically.  There is also a slideshow on my page with pics of Reema, and several comments from others who were inspired by her example.

As is the case with compressed mp3 files on Myspace, the quality may not be that good.  If you prefer a better quality version, please advise and I can have one sent directly to you via email.

{LEGALESE: (if needed), I hereby declare as owner of all copyrights that anyone is welcome to download and own, share, trade, or give away without fee or price, the aforementioned song “Tears for Reema”.  However, no one may sell it for nay monetary gain or use the song for any for-profit commercial enterprise or promotion.  I further grant unrestricted rights to full use in and by any news media who may desire to use the song to share with the world the story of Reema and her life in a positive manner. Sorry about that, but my attorneys insisted.}

I want to thank CT for your heartfelt, excellent, and informative coverage of the events and the victims.  With your continued positive editorial leadership (so aptly displayed last week), I KNOW that our beloved Tech will emerge from this nightmare not as a symbol of tragedy…but as an inspiration for the world of the triumph of spirit, faith, and human will.

Thank you all, and may peace, grace, and love find you all of your days.  Warmest regards to you and yours….

Talley Griffith

Musical Artist & President – Blackwater Music Group/DreamSound Music

Rock Castle Records/Kylime Music Publishing/BMI.

May God Give You Peace

Having suffered loss in my life including twins, I have always found comfort in this poem by Henry Scott Holland and I do hope that it helps your community at Virginia Tech deal with the loss of loved ones.

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room,

I am I and you are you;
Whatever we were to each other, That we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used,
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant,
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well.

I fully believe that those we have lost are not that far away from us.  They are in that next room and in times when you need to speak with them, I do believe they will hear you and give you great comfort not only through these times, but in times to come.  While I may not have known these loved ones, please know that they were our brothers and sisters across this nation and we do cry along with you.  May God give you peace.

Sincerely,

Mary MacElveen
Sound Beach, NY

Ut Prosim Takes on a Whole New Meaning

It has been very difficult this week to express how I feel by all that is transpired. People who are not Hokies are having a hard time understanding how I can possibly feel like I do. I did not know any of the victims personally, yet I feel as if I lost a family member. I have lost all my grandparents, friends and other relatives, but I have never quite felt as sadly as I have the past few days.

Out of this tragedy has come the remarkable stories of the students and professors who passed away, their obituaries full of both accomplishment and promise. When I read about what these Hokies have achieved and aspired to achieve, I am overwhelmed with pride over this cross-section of Hokie Nation, the absolute best and brightest we have to offer.

At the same time, I look at my life, and what I have done with it, and am a little ashamed at how relatively little I’ve done with it compared to the victims of this tragedy. For me, this event, more than anything else, has truly put Ut Prosim in its highest and best context. This event has crystallized for me not only the precariousness and blessing of life and how each day truly matters, but also how I have an opportunity, simply by being alive, to do my absolute best every day to serve society, to do
my absolute best every day to be the best husband, brother, father, son, friend, public servant, and coworker I possibly can be.

One of the oft-quoted lines from the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” is the phrase “Get busy livin’, or get busy dyin’.” I always thought it was a great movie line, but never quite realized, in a world where someone you don’t even know can come into your classroom and kill you, just how true that saying really is.

I feel that those who perished on April 16, 2007 had so much to offer the world, and because of those events, the world has been cheated of their efforts. Accordingly, I feel like I should do my best to take up the slack, to fill in where they tragically cannot, as a good Hokie teammate always should. Together we have no option but to take this tragedy and these emotions to inspire us to the greatness that is within each of us.

It is, I believe, the only appropriate way to honor our fallen brothers and sisters.

Hokie Hokie Hokie Hi,

Scott Rowe
Graduate Student, Urban and Regional Planning

4-16-07

In silence now, we bow and cry.
We pray and rage; we grieve, we try
To find some way to ascertain,
Some hint, some clue, that might explain
This day that now has passed us by.

But you can’t hear us weep, or sigh,
Nor see our candles light the sky,
Or taste the tears which fall like rain
In silence now.

One day we’ll laugh once more; defy
Our sorrows, raise our voices high
In songs of hope. We’ll smile again,
But you won’t know our joy or pain.
No, you won’t know, because you lie
In silence now.

Matthew Haase
Senior, Computer Science

What Does the Hokie Bird Sing?

What Does the Hokie Bird Sing

By Paul Cherry

Virginia Tech c/o 1999

 

what does the Hokie Bird sing

does he sing like Nikki G

inspiring chants and cheers

GO HOKIES

with eyes still filled with tears

 

what does the Hokie Bird sing

does he sing for victory

for a nation filled with grief

GO TECH

our hearts in disbelief

 

what does the Hokie Bird dance

does he dance right where he stands

puffed chest and waiting ear

LET’S GO

stands strong against the fear

 

what does the Hokie Bird dance

does he dance now all alone

as he waits for a reply

HOKIES

in strength he yields to sigh

 

what does the Hokie Bird cheer

does he cheer for those who died

in his voice we hear them say

H-O-K-I-E-S

together as we pray

 

what does the Hokie Bird cheer

does he cheer for those alive

we lift our voices to cry out

HOKIES

one voice we stand and shout

 

what does the Hokie Bird sing

he sings to dance and cheer

with him we stand and say

LET’S GO HOKIES

invent the brighter day

 

what does the Hokie Bird sing

he does sing for victory

this family will prevail

LET’S GO TECH

in God’s steps we won’t fail

 

Paul Cherry

Tower City, PA

VT, UVa and Ut Prosim

I am a graduate of the Virginia Tech College of Arts and Sciences, class of 1994.My Dad and my uncle graduated (64’ and 55’ respectively) when Tech was “old school” – namely when it was primarily ROTC and the Corps of Cadets. My other uncle, Jimmy, graduated from UVA and later went on to become a general surgeon and almost sole practitioner for a small community in “Southside” Virginia. Jimmy was heavily involved with the local rescue squad up until two weeks before he passed away and was considered a pillar of the community.

Jimmy was affectionately known as the “black sheep” of the family for being a UVA grad. 

I don’t tell you these things as a way of impressing you but as a way of impressing upon you what Thanksgiving was like at my Granny Sue’s house. After all turkey was consumed and all home-made biscuits were eaten (we were an extended family of predominately boys so you were expected to heap up at least 2, and ordinarily 3, helpings), my family had an odd tradition whereby everyone would push back from the table with a contented sigh and the UVA/VT jokes would be exchanged in earnest. Jimmy always defended UVA and the unofficial rule was that the most recent student/graduate of Virginia Tech would counter him.

“Did you hear they had to cancel the driver’s education course at Virginia Tech?”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, the mule died.” 

“Did you hear it is state law now that when driving through Charlottesville you have to have the windows of your car rolled up?”

“Why is that?”

“It’s to prevent UVA from throwing a diploma in at you.” 

Jimmy was merciless and every year he had a bag full of new jokes. Some were from patients; some were from rescue squad members. Hell, when he first started as a doctor he accepted chickens as payment because, in some cases, that’s all the families he provided services for could offer. He probably took a new VT joke as payment a few times. Back and forth the jibes would pass until someone called it quits, usually when the desserts that were available in Granny Sue’s kitchen would become too distracting (Jello/custard/pound cake, pumpkin pie, or my favorite, blackberry cobbler), or until a really good football game came on and everyone would adjourn to the living room to chat and catch up.

I wish… I really wish – right now, more than ever – that my biggest concern in life was making sure that I had a new joke to counter against Uncle Jimmy on Thanksgiving.

I don’t know how to convey to you – all of you – the sorrow I feel over this: the sorrow for the families of those who were slain; the sorrow for the student body; the sorrow for the university; the sorrow for the community.

It seems cliché but the expression “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle” rings true not only of individual human beings but of groups of people and institutions. I’ve asked myself why this didn’t occur somewhere else – Why Tech? The only answer I can find is an answer I feel as an implicit truth: if it had to happen somewhere… anywhere… then God laid one of the heaviest burdens at one of the strongest points. I attended Tech before football put us on the map. What I noticed about our teams then has thankfully carried over to all of our athletic teams today. Acceptance and incorporation of the values of the “blue-collar” region around Blacksburg into how the school operates and how our teams played: Work hard. Do the right thing. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Don’t be ashamed of your past. Accept your mistakes, learn from them and move on. It is these values… this strength… that will allow Virginia Tech to survive this.

Almost all communications I’ve had via phone, email, and blogs with other Alums of VT have had the same theme resonate: The composure of the students and faculty throughout. Every generation of Hokie I’ve talked to has commented on it. From students’ decisions to refuse interviews out of deference to families affected, to families’ decisions to refuse to be interviewed based on the questionable actions of the TV networks, to the coming together of the student body to provide mutual support – I speak for every Alumnus I know when I say we are sorry but we are proud of you and we love you. Very much.

Ut Prosim.

Keith Kirkland
Class of 1994