BYU-Idaho expresses its sympathies to Virginia Tech
- posted: 24 Apr 2007
- scrollcampus@byui.edu
It was a quiet Monday morning on April 16 until gunshots rang through the air at Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va.
At the West Ambler Johnston Hall dorm, arguing was heard between Emily Jane Hilscher, 19, and Cho Seung-Hui, 23, at 7:15 a.m. Resident Assistant, Ryan Clark, stepped in to alleviate the situation when Cho opened fire on Clark and Hilscher, killing them both.
While Authorities were notified by residents of the dorm Cho returned to his dorm room, gathered more ammunition, and put together a package that contained 27 video clips and 11 photos of him posing with guns. In these videos Cho stated, in past tense, his hatred of religion and the rich. Cho mailed the package at a nearby post office to NBC headquarters in New York at 9:01 a.m.
At 9:15 a.m. Cho arrived at the Norris Hall engineering building and chained the doors shut. A short time later shooting was heard as Cho pulled his gun on students. Police arrived on the scene too late and entered the building to hear the last gunshots. They found 31 more students and faculty killed, including Cho, and 26 wounded.
Many here at BYU‑Idaho are shocked by this unfortunate event. Troy Richmond, a junior from Spottswood, Virginia, said, “It was a huge surprise that something like that happened! It’s absolutely crazy. I can’t believe 33 people were killed so close to where I grew up.”
Mindy Schlosser, who grew up in Blacksburg, has many acquaintances that were in Norris Hall. Schlosser said it feels as though “Blacksburg is hurting, and I’m hurting with it.” Schlosser went on to say her first reaction to the shootings was, “Why Blacksburg?”
Crime never seems to happen in this close-knit town and now shootings have happened twice this year, Schlosser reports.
President George Bush addressed the nation Monday afternoon saying, “Schools should be places of safety, and sanctuary, and learning. When that sanctuary is violated the impact is felt in every American classroom, and every American community.” Flags were flown at half mass on Tuesday to show support to Virginia Tech and its students.
BYU‑Idaho’s Executive Office has said it “extends its deepest sympathy to the Virginia Tech community and prays the victims of this violent act will be blessed and comforted.”
The Executive Office has reassured its students that “proper procedures are in place to ensure the campus is safe and protected. Campus police officers have received specialized training that deals with this type of situation.”
BYU‑I has also notified students on things they can do to help cope with this tragedy. Among these coping strategies are to have students surround themselves with loved ones and to focus on their responsibilities. 
