Photo by Skip Rowland
Lee-Davis students gather around the flagpole Friday morning to remember the victims at Virginia Tech.

What can be done?
By Ken Odor
Apr 24, 2007

After a week of coverage of the tragic events at Virginia Tech April 16, one thing is clear.
Many Tech students are angry at the media for second guessing the decisions of Virginia Tech President Steger and Police Chief Filchum. Their loyalty is admirable, and has made another thing clear to all: Tech students have a love for their school and a bond to each other perhaps unlike any other campus body.
But like it or not, the questions will continue.
Gov. Kaine has appointed a panel to investigate the shootings, and the university is conducting its own inquiry.
This is as it should be.
Certainly it was premature and perhaps insensitive to bombard shocked students with questions just hours or days after the tragedy about what should have been done differently and who might be at fault.
But with an incident of this magnitude, not to delve into what might be done differently in the future to prevent a similar tragedy would be irresponsible.
Like the investigations conducted after every airplane crash by the National Transportation Safety Board to improve airline safety, perhaps something useful can be learned by these inquires that will enhance campus safety.
And although the point made by many is certainly true, that not all tragic events can be prevented, it would be foolish not to make all reasonable attempts to determine what might have prevented the Tech deaths.

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