We Are Virginia Tech

James Geiger, a junior studying theatre performance, intended not to speak at all on Wednesday. Wearing a shirt that read Sometimes you must be silent in order to be heard, he was honoring GLSEN’s Day of Silence, a protest by the LGBT community which occurs annually on April 18th to silence the discrimination and harassment experienced by LGBT students and their allies. Geiger decided to break his vow for a moment and offered these words:

"Human suffering is not a good thing. We need to come together as a race and realize how precious life is. We need to appreciate each other. Love each other as a human beings"

Rose Pierre-Louis is a sophomore studying education. Like the rest of the country, she watched the events unfold throughout the week. "My heart literally dropped. I was scared to come to campus today. Puts a bit of worry in your mind." When asked if she had ever feared coming to school before, she answered: "After 9/11, I thought it was taken care of. No worries. But now, it has put a little bit of worry."

She's one of many who puts her faith in school being a safe place. “And God,” she said.

Pierre-Louis recently signed up for USF MoBull program, which sends text messages to registered cell phones in the event of an emergency.

Jeffrey Jackson is an active member of Greek Life and came to the vigil with a sense of loss for VT, as well as for other friends he's lost this year. Jackson said he’s never felt unsafe on campus, despite acknowledging that anything can happen anywhere. Jackson offered the possibility of more surveillance cameras on campus, citing security can't be every where all the time on the expansive campus.

He added that in his 3 years on campus, there had never been so much as a fire drill to prepare the students for emergency situations.

Lt. Meg Ross, a Public Information Officer with the University Police, said the overall sense of security that students feel on campus is a good thing, though “Safety is a relative term. We're here 24/7 hoping to protect them.”

Like an small city, USF has many crimes. “We have bike theft and book thieves. We're a microcosm of the rest of the world,” said Ross.

I asked if there were any emergency training or drills for students in the event of an emergency.

MR: "There are some programs in place. We [police] train for such an event, but every situation is different. To provide a plan for students to act on may not fit every situation…We have to rely on them to report things that they see, that their instincts say are just not right. And rely on the police to do what we can. This can't be prevented. This is something we just have to prepare for."

DM: What is the law regarding guns on campus?

MR: "It's a felony to have a firearm on campus. University Police will check in firearms if students feel the need to bring them from home. But if they bring one on campus, they will be arrested, even with a concealed weapon permit."

Gardner and 3 other Virginia Tech Alumni, including a USF professor, mustered up their game faces and some positive energy in front of the USF crowd of several hundred to close the vigil with a cheer to conjure up happier times and healing.

They instructed the left side to shout “Let’s Go!” The right, “Hokies!”

It was choked out the first time; it felt a little silly the second. But by the third, everyone was laughing. It was like a sigh of relief letting go of the breath being held since the news of the shooting first broke on Monday.

In times of a crisis, University of South Florida students can call the Victim Health line at 813 974-5757. All other Hillsborough county residents can find help by calling 211.

Photos by Aimee Blodgett of USF.