We all remember the horrible Virginia Tech shootings that occurred several months ago. Over thirty people, students and faculty, lost their lives. After incidents such as this, people start questioning what could have been done differently. Families of the victims look for something or someone to blame for their loss. I cannot say that I would not do the same.
Late last month, a panel decided that indeed Virginia Tech could have done something differently and saved lives. It was determined that if students were notified earlier, lives would have likely been saved. From the time the first shootings happened, it took the school two hours to get emails out to the student body. It is believed that had the emails been sent out one hour earlier, some students may still be alive today.
Some feel so strongly that the campus’s actions are to blame for the deaths that they want Virginia Tech president Steger forced to resign or fired. Steger defends the school officials and himself by stating that he feels based on the circumstances, things were handled to the best of everyone’s abilities. He says he has no intentions of resigning from the school. He does admit that the school was not aware of Cho’s mental history. The school now has a “threat assessment team” to identify potentially dangerous students.
Most of the interviewed students also agree that the school had no idea that Sueng-Hui Cho would return to the campus for a second attack.
I agree with president Steger. No one can prepare themselves for what actions they will take in a situation such as the Virginia Tech shootings. No one can predict the terrible things that a person may do. All that we can do is what we feel is right. No one knows what might would have happened if emails were sent out one hour earlier. Things may possibly have been for the better. However, who is to say that things might not have been worse?
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