2008 Woodie Awards
Campus reflects on VTech tragedy
Chan Park
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Inside WCC
- Page 1 of 1
Tragedy.
Unbelievable.
Sad.
These were some of the reactions around the Washtenaw Community College campus last week as people pondered the Virginia Tech shootings that took place last Monday.
As students and staff react and try to come to terms with this tragedy, they feel sad and overwhelmed as they try to cope.
"I thought that was really crazy, something really scary that I can't imagine what I would do if I was in a situation like that," said WCC student Fady Belbeisi, "So many people died. They really didn't do anything. I find that really scary and something disturbing."
Rachel Barsch, Events Coordinator of Student Activities, was concerned on multiple levels after she heard about the incident at Virginia Tech.
As a former college student, an administrator on a college campus and the mother of children attending public schools, "you just can't imagine how horrifying that was," Barsch said. "And I'm not even sure that I've wrapped my brain around it yet. It just makes you wonder how this could happen."
One major concern people have is how safe our campus is. Ron Schebil, Director of Campus Safety and Security for WCC and former Washtenaw Country sheriff, understands those concerns, but is reassuring.
He believes campus security is well prepared in the case of an incident like the shooting at Virginia Tech. In the past 5 years, WCC has spent more than $1 million improving security on campus. Electronic access controls, security cameras, and a PA system are some advanced technologies that campus security has at their disposal.
"We are going to continue refine those," said Schebil. "We're taking a look at our policies and procedures, to make sure everything is fine-tuned. But at this point in time, I think I feel pretty good about where we are."
David Waskin, an English professor at WCC, is concerned about media coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings. He recently discussed this topic with his Newswriting and Reporting class.
"Did the media rush to raise the question of blame too soon?" asked Waskin, "That is, did they start questioning administrators and campus security action regarding the timing of the first shooting and the second shooting too quickly without giving people chance to absorb the tragedy?"
He also wonders if NBC news was being ethical when airing excerpts from the gunman's so-called video manifesto that he sent the network.
One WCC student expressed disbelief at the shootings.
"I thought it was very unfortunate," said Elliot Munz, "I feel bad for all the families. And it was almost unbelievable how many people he killed."
Another knew people who had family and friends at Virginia Tech.
"It has affected them very hard," said Yusra Mohamed, "I just think that it's a really sad situation."
Unbelievable.
Sad.
These were some of the reactions around the Washtenaw Community College campus last week as people pondered the Virginia Tech shootings that took place last Monday.
As students and staff react and try to come to terms with this tragedy, they feel sad and overwhelmed as they try to cope.
"I thought that was really crazy, something really scary that I can't imagine what I would do if I was in a situation like that," said WCC student Fady Belbeisi, "So many people died. They really didn't do anything. I find that really scary and something disturbing."
Rachel Barsch, Events Coordinator of Student Activities, was concerned on multiple levels after she heard about the incident at Virginia Tech.
As a former college student, an administrator on a college campus and the mother of children attending public schools, "you just can't imagine how horrifying that was," Barsch said. "And I'm not even sure that I've wrapped my brain around it yet. It just makes you wonder how this could happen."
One major concern people have is how safe our campus is. Ron Schebil, Director of Campus Safety and Security for WCC and former Washtenaw Country sheriff, understands those concerns, but is reassuring.
He believes campus security is well prepared in the case of an incident like the shooting at Virginia Tech. In the past 5 years, WCC has spent more than $1 million improving security on campus. Electronic access controls, security cameras, and a PA system are some advanced technologies that campus security has at their disposal.
"We are going to continue refine those," said Schebil. "We're taking a look at our policies and procedures, to make sure everything is fine-tuned. But at this point in time, I think I feel pretty good about where we are."
David Waskin, an English professor at WCC, is concerned about media coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings. He recently discussed this topic with his Newswriting and Reporting class.
"Did the media rush to raise the question of blame too soon?" asked Waskin, "That is, did they start questioning administrators and campus security action regarding the timing of the first shooting and the second shooting too quickly without giving people chance to absorb the tragedy?"
He also wonders if NBC news was being ethical when airing excerpts from the gunman's so-called video manifesto that he sent the network.
One WCC student expressed disbelief at the shootings.
"I thought it was very unfortunate," said Elliot Munz, "I feel bad for all the families. And it was almost unbelievable how many people he killed."
Another knew people who had family and friends at Virginia Tech.
"It has affected them very hard," said Yusra Mohamed, "I just think that it's a really sad situation."
Be the first to comment on this story