We held our breath, hoping for good news from VT. But it was bad news instead.

[Buzz Clik]

We had three colleagues who taught in that building and a dozen of former students who took classes there. Even with more than 30 dead, we hoped. When the news began to break, we were heartbroken.

Of those we knew, three of the students and two of the faculty did not survive. Among the fallen was G. V. Loganathan, a brilliant researcher and gifted teacher. He had strong ties to our school, and, particularly, was best friends to one of my favorite people. My friend and others here are now struggling to understand all of this, and is slowly coming to terms with his grief.

There will be some long days and sleepless nights. My thoughts go out to all of those who lost someone dear in this needless tragedy.

[Richardo]

1. So sorry for you, your friends and your losses

:hug:

[MedleyMisty]

2. (((((hugs))))))

I'm sorry that virtual hugs are all I have to give.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

3. Don't Struggle To Understand...

I'm sorry for your loss. Mourn the lives of those who were taken. Pray for their families and friends. But don't try to find an answer to why or how.

There just is no answer. Except to say that there are evil people in the world, capable of doing HORRIBLE things. Aside from what might have been done to stop this in advance or during, there was no way to control the mind of the SICK individual who perpetrated the crime.

It's truly sad that people exist like this, but they do, and there will be others unfortunately. There is no way to understand them.

[Hekate]

4. I'm so sorry. This is senseless beyond words.

:hug: :cry:

Hekate

[AZBlue]

5. No! I'm so sorry!

My condolences to you and all your friends and colleagues. What a senseless loss.

[rodeodance]

6. yes, needless is right. Best to you.

[babylonsister]

7. I'm so sorry to hear that, Buzz Clik. My thoughts are with you all. nt

[Cha]

8. I'm really sorry for your

personal loss. :grouphug:

[etherealtruth]

9. My heartfelt condolences

[City Lights]

10. Oh, Buzz Clik, I'm so sorry for your losses.

:hug:

So, so sad. I hope you find peace...

[hlthe2b]

11. I'm so sorry...

It has been so many years since my college days at VT, but they were very good ones--that I remember fondly. I am so sad that for the 25,000+ students and faculty, their memories of VA Tech will be marked by this incredible tragedy. Even those who may not be touched with the personal sadness of losing a friend, family member, or colleague, will be impacted by the events.

THat sleepy southwestern haven and the marvelous campus it contained, will never be the same.

Much love to all who share the pain... :hug:

[CrazyOrangeCat]

12. Terrible news.

So sorry about this tragedy, Buzz Clik.

Hugs to you and yours.

-Cat

[Mandate My Ass]

13. My deepest condolences

It's so tragic that your fears were confirmed. I wish it was otherwise but I wish healing to all those suffering over this tragedy.

[BlackVelvet04]

14. My heartfelt condolences.....

I live in the area and am surrounded by people who have kids at Tech. It's a very sad time.

[saracat]

15. (((((hugs)))) My sincere condolenes. This is a tragedy.

[Breeze54]

16. I'm so sorry for your devastating loss.....

N.E. Students Killed In Va. Shootings

Mass., R.I. Men Among 32 Killed By Va. Tech Gunman

Ross Alameddine


SAUGUS, Mass. --

Two New England natives are among the 32 people that were killed in Monday's
shooting rampage at Virginia Tech.

Ross Alameddine, 20, of Saugus, a sophomore at the university, was gunned down on the
school's campus in Blacksburg, Va., Monday. Alameddine was shot and killed in French class.

An engineering graduate student from Rhode Island was also killed in Monday's shooting massacre.

Daniel O'Neil, ( http://www.residenthippy.com/ ) of Lincoln, R.I.,

was killed, according to a spokesman for Connecticut College,
where O'Neil's father, Bill, is director of major gifts.

O'Neil graduated in 2002 from Lincoln High School and later graduated
from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., before heading to Virginia.

Listen to his music!!

"Over That Now" By Daniel O'Neil
http://www.residenthippy.com/Dan%20O'Neil%20-%20Over%20That%20Now.mp3

"Haunt You" By Daniel O'Neil
http://www.residenthippy.com/Dan%20O'Neil%20-%20Haunt%20You%20(Live%20in%20VA).mp3

More........

----------------

Ross Alameddine's mother waited all night for any news from him.
The school didn't call her or tell her until this morning.
I felt so bad for her, waiting like that....

:hug: Buzz Clik

[Buzz Clik]

25. That was touching.

Remembering these people one at a time is the ultimate tribute.

[Maat]

17. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Please express my condolences to the others you know who lost friends and loved ones.

Our family's thoughts and prayers are with you.

:hug:

[Bake]

18. It's beyond understanding

Grieve. Mourn. Embrace. Pray, if it helps you. That's all you can do.

Bake

[renate]

19. I'm so sorry

Even though the numbers wouldn't have changed whether or not you knew any of the dead, reading that you had a personal connection to five of them makes it even more real and awful.

:hug: to you and to all who are grieving.

[flyarm]

20. I AM SOOO SORRY FOR ALL OF THE LOSES..AND THOSE OF YOUR FRIENDS

my heart is breaking as well...my son is a former Hokie..and was just on campus last week...my heart is breaking for all VT families , students, faculty and the friends of VT people...


fly

[Buzz Clik]

21. Thank you for the kind words, folks.

It was shocking how many we knew were struck by this tragedy.

[GumboYaYa]

22. All of you Hokies are in my thoughts and prayers today.

Us folks from South Louisiana know tragedy and heartbreak. We also know how important community is. If there is anything the DU community can do to help, let us know.

[Cabcere]

23. Oh no, Buzz Clik...

:cry: I am so sorry. :cry: :hug: My thoughts and prayers are with you and the other friends and family members of the victims - I know that probably sounds cheap and worthless right now, but please know that I mean it sincerely. :hug: Peace.

[Buzz Clik]

24. We've started receiving emails from the survivors we know at VT:

Here's one that is really typical:

Thanks to so many of you who have sent your expressions of sorrow to
us here in Blacksburg.

This has truly been a horrific couple of days but I'm hopeful that
the Virginia Tech community will be resilient. Our students, staff,
and faculty have responded in an amazingly heroic and unified manner.

I personally was affected by the deaths of 4 people -- Julia Pryde, a
grad student in Biological Systems Engineering with whom I had
assisted on an undergraduate campus food waste composting project;
Jamie Bishop, a German professor whom I met through a friend and
fellow faculty member in the Foreign Language Department; G.V.
Loganathan, Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor who taught
hydrology to many of our Environmental Science students; and Jocelyne
Couture-Nowak, French instructor and wife of Dept of Horticulture
Chairman, Jerzy Nowak.

Thanks once more for your thoughts and support.

I mentioned another friend in the OP who was very close to Loganathan. We have a dear friend at VT who not only was an everyday colleague with two of the deceased among the faculty, she lost eight students from her program. EIGHT. My god.

It is truly amazing to me that I did not personally know a single person who died in 9/11 nor did I have any friends who knew anyone personally who died that day. The VT tragedy had a mere 1% of the deaths that day, yet I am surrounded by grief and sorrow for those mourning personal and close friends.

For those who find it confusing that the VT tragedy can fill our psyches to such a degree when Iraq has the equivalent of VT every few days, I can only say that our Marine survived two tours of Iraq. We spent every day thinking of him and many hours caring for his family. Our greatest fear was that we would experience the grief we are feeling today. So, yeah, we get it; but, tragedy and mourning really doesn't depend on scale. It's all very real when it's close to home.