As I write this, it is unknown what the reasons are behind the massacre at Virginia Tech. But like after Columbine all of us know this will tear at the very fabric of America. College, a place where we send our children with a certain expectation of safety, not running a convoy from Ramadi to Baghdad or the feeling that some parents may have of sending their children through the "mean streets" of the central cities of America.
There will be arguments on all sides, pro-gun and anti-gun, questioning the response of police and authorities. Questions how this man could get access to such firepower, questions about morality and humanity, the gigantic philosophical questions of how a loving God could let all of this happen. Smaller questions such as why is our news media not capable of covering any situation without making it into an Entertainment Tonight style story.
While I cannot answer any of these questions, especially those that are the big philosophical ones, I do want to comment on one of the innocent victims. Early indications say that a resident assistant was among those that were killed. I supervised 16 resident assistants as residence life professional staff at UMass when I was a graduate student. RA's are probably among the most misunderstood of college students, they go into it for different reasons, often economic, sometimes for the "single", sometimes because they are active students who can make a difference and yes, sometimes even for "the power trip".
But an RA is always there for you, whether it be a 3 am lockout, a flood, a problem with a roommate, girlfriend or professor, or yes even to get involved in an interpersonal conflict. RA's in my building were sometimes threatened, cursed at and even assaulted by residents and guests as they enforced the rules that threatened to moderately constrain their "extracurricular activities".
In this incident, this student/resident life employee gave their life. It was a morning encounter, certainly no one is ready to confront this kind of craziness at any hour, but morning to most on a college campus is not a time of confrontation, students shuffling off slowly to class on a Monday morning, or rushing having slept through the alarm clock. The early indications are that it was a spurned man who brought this evil to the sleepy Monday morning. I am sure no one expected this tragedy, especially this resident assistant who likely was annoyed to be shuffled off to what he probably thought was a minor boyfriend/girlfriend squabble.
I don't mean to diminish the loss of any of those who passed away during this ripping of the soul of the campus, the loss of innocence for every student involved. The incarnation of evil. I do want every college student though, to think about that college student who gave their life in the exercise of his duties. And to think about their own safety in any situation.
My prayers go out to all those and their families affected by this tragedy, there are no words that can describe it. College can be a collection of the most transformative experiences of one's life, to allow you to grow from an ignorant high school kid to one that knows of the world through meetings with other students, and work and study experiences that expand your understanding of the world. I hope that all can recover and heal.
There will be arguments on all sides, pro-gun and anti-gun, questioning the response of police and authorities. Questions how this man could get access to such firepower, questions about morality and humanity, the gigantic philosophical questions of how a loving God could let all of this happen. Smaller questions such as why is our news media not capable of covering any situation without making it into an Entertainment Tonight style story.
While I cannot answer any of these questions, especially those that are the big philosophical ones, I do want to comment on one of the innocent victims. Early indications say that a resident assistant was among those that were killed. I supervised 16 resident assistants as residence life professional staff at UMass when I was a graduate student. RA's are probably among the most misunderstood of college students, they go into it for different reasons, often economic, sometimes for the "single", sometimes because they are active students who can make a difference and yes, sometimes even for "the power trip".
But an RA is always there for you, whether it be a 3 am lockout, a flood, a problem with a roommate, girlfriend or professor, or yes even to get involved in an interpersonal conflict. RA's in my building were sometimes threatened, cursed at and even assaulted by residents and guests as they enforced the rules that threatened to moderately constrain their "extracurricular activities".
In this incident, this student/resident life employee gave their life. It was a morning encounter, certainly no one is ready to confront this kind of craziness at any hour, but morning to most on a college campus is not a time of confrontation, students shuffling off slowly to class on a Monday morning, or rushing having slept through the alarm clock. The early indications are that it was a spurned man who brought this evil to the sleepy Monday morning. I am sure no one expected this tragedy, especially this resident assistant who likely was annoyed to be shuffled off to what he probably thought was a minor boyfriend/girlfriend squabble.
I don't mean to diminish the loss of any of those who passed away during this ripping of the soul of the campus, the loss of innocence for every student involved. The incarnation of evil. I do want every college student though, to think about that college student who gave their life in the exercise of his duties. And to think about their own safety in any situation.
My prayers go out to all those and their families affected by this tragedy, there are no words that can describe it. College can be a collection of the most transformative experiences of one's life, to allow you to grow from an ignorant high school kid to one that knows of the world through meetings with other students, and work and study experiences that expand your understanding of the world. I hope that all can recover and heal.
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