BULLETIN: Virginia Tech tragedy

Your Genial Quizmaster · Mon Apr 16, 2007 3:07 pm

If anyone has any news on (or better yet, from) members of the Virginia Tech quizbowl team, please post it here. It's bad enough when you read a news story like this in the abstract, but when you know people who may have been there...

[Note: Edited to remove avatar, which popped out as painfully inappropriate when I saw my message -- apologies for lack of forethought.]

Snoopy17 · Post by **Snoopy17** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:17 pm

The latest that i have heard is that 32 people including the gunman are dead. Here is the link: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech. ... index.html

Everyone of the Academic Competition Organization of Virginia Tech is safe and ok. We deeply appreciate the concern that everyone has shown.

Thank you,
Sarah Mahood
President - Academic Competition Organization of Virginia Tech

grapesmoker · Post by **grapesmoker** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:18 pm

We're glad to hear that you're all OK. Can you provide any kind of information about what went down beyond what's on the news already?

Snoopy17 · Post by **Snoopy17** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:24 pm

I have heard many different things. I am not sure what is heresay what is not.

[A member of our organization requested that I take down the story that I had previously posted. ]

orangecrayon · Post by **orangecrayon** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:27 pm

Wow.
Our thoughts are with you all. Very glad to hear that you and your teammates are safe. If there's anything we can do for you, please let us know.

Rothlover · Post by **Rothlover** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:38 pm

Christ. That is beyond disturbing.

AKKOLADE · Post by **AKKOLADE** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:08 pm

Jesus Tapdancing Christ, this is one of the most appalling things I've ever seen. Glad that all the VT team members are okay, but I'm beyond sorry to hear that this happened at all. If they offer grief counselors, please take advantage of them. Competent ones can make a world of difference in a situation like this.

The Goffman Prophecies · Mon Apr 16, 2007 6:55 pm

Very glad to hear the ACO made it back safe and sound.

If anyone here ever has the opportunity to make the trip and explore Blacksburg, do so. It is a wonderful, vibrant town, whose residents love the University and embrace the country around it.

I spent a dozen years in/around Blacksburg (my parents still work there - and both are thankfully safe), and words cannot describe the shock and sorrow I feel watching the videos and pictures and the events unfold today.

DrJulieBug · Post by **DrJulieBug** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:41 am

Dear Sarah,

We're relieved that you and your teammates are all safe. I don't know what else to say. I don't think there's a college campus in the country that's not collectively stunned right now.

Is there anything that the QB community can do?

-- Julie

First Chairman · Post by **First Chairman** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 9:44 am

Let's make sure we avoid any hearsay... let the media get embarrassed for getting things wrong. :)

I'm listening to bits of the news conference, and apparently they have named the perpetrator (acting solely). I commiserate with those who are affected by this tragedy.