<p>yes, if vt was my child's first choice, this incident would not sway my decision. vt will probably be the safest campus around because everyone will be on alert. every other campus across the country is probably thinking it will never happen at their school...vt knows that it can happen and everyone will be proactive....although i really don't believe any school could have been prepared to prevent the tragedy of this past week.</p>
<p>I'm not a parent, however, I was accepted to Virginia Tech as a transfer student prior to this incident. While my mother does not want me to enroll, my father has no problem with it. Personally, I have worked very hard to get into Virginia Tech, and still plan on attending.</p>
<p>Off-topic a bit, I should probably post this on another thread, but here goes...</p>
<p>Just saw a story on CNN that features a company that provides customer opt-in text messaging services for universities to disseminate information to its constituents. One of the universities that currently uses the service e2campus <a href="http://www.e2campus.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.e2campus.com</a> is Penn State, through its PSUTXT service. Found this on Penn State's PennLive.com
[quote]
** Bill urges colleges to use text-messaging alert systems**</p>
<p>Thursday, April 19, 2007
BY DANIEL VICTOR
Of The Patriot-News
Could the key to saving lives come 120 characters at a time on a tiny screen?
That tiny screen -- that of a cell phone -- is usually on hand for an estimated 90 percent of college students. E-mails might be quick, but the shootings at Virginia Tech showed they won't be able to give vital information to students in classrooms or in cars on their way to campus.
You could try landlines and answering machines, but those are so 1998. College students are using them sparingly, having moved toward the constant connectedness of cell phones.
"This is everyday life to those individuals," said Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, who introduced a resolution yesterday urging colleges to implement text-messaging alert systems. "This is what they do."
Conklin urges Pennsylvania schools to adopt alert systems similar to Penn State University's. <a href="http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117694414155250.xml&coll=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/117694414155250.xml&coll=1</a>
[/quote]
As parents, we should all put pressure on our childrens universities to install this type of service. We dont have to be concerned about civil liberties, because its an optional program.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Good question!! Too often institutions allow the threat of legal action by one individual out weigh their duty to protect the masses.</p>
<p>This country has failed to develop an adequate mental health system. It only cares about the mentally ill when they do something spectacularly wrong. Then we pass bad legislation. Other than that they are just a pain in the neck on the streets.</p>
<p>Until she retired in November my wife was the chief of the branch in US DHHS, Center for Mental Health Services, that provided the states and the territories with their mental health block grant funds. Do you know how much she had to distribute: over $400,000,000, less than $500,00,000 and that includes funds for the protection and advocacy programs funded by DHHS. This is a mere pittance. It's nothing. It's shameful.</p>
<p>I would be comfortable if either one of my 2 college aged kids wanted to attend VT. </p>
<p>However, as corrranged wrote: "I would advise my child of the tremendous period of mourning, transition, and recovery that will present at VT in the years to come. Incoming students need to be prepared to face the aftermath."</p>
<p>This comment especially hits home for me. S, who currently attends Tulane, went back there after his 1st semester freshman experience had to occur elsewhere. H & I fully supported his intent to return, worrying mostly (then and now) about the hurricane risks. We really hadn't considered seriously enough, nor counseled S enough, about the aftermath of the tragedy and how it would affect the emotions of this campus and community. It is painfully obvious to us now that it DOES have an impact--a big one. It changes the dynamics of the 4 year college life experience in a major way.</p>
<p>S would probably still have gone back anyway, in spite of any warnings we might have shared. However, it is not a small consideration. </p>
<p>Ironically, one of his top choices was Virginia Tech. We all loved the campus and community spirit we felt there and would have been proud had he chosen it. He didn't choose it, in the end, primarily because it was "such a small town and nothing ever happens there". We all wish this was still true.</p>
<p>In line with the topic of this thread, I wonder what life is like for students (and their families) who accepted an offer of admission to Virginia Tech before this happened -- and who burned their bridges by rejecting their other offers.</p>
<p>Do we have anyone in that situation? Any regrets?</p>
<p>Since the notification date for most colleges is May 1, I imagine they still would be able to change their minds by contacting the colleges that they rejected.</p>
<p>We don't have the entire story yet, but I'm concerned that the professor's reporting him, as well as the police intervention on the stalking issues didn't flag him in the housing system. To randomly assign him to unsuspecting roommates, when there was at least some measure of awareness of a problem, troubles me. Of course, it's impossible to know how this situation would have been handled elsewhere but my impression (right or wrong) is that a smaller school might have handled things differently.</p>
<p>Anecdote: At my D's school there was an issue first semester with a youngster who secluded themselves, shaved their head (and not well or safely), and wrote in excrement on the walls. I don't know if Hipaa and Ferpa came into the equation, but if so they were quickly swamped by the technical diagnosis of "bug-eating nuts" and more importantly did I mention the excrement?</p>
<p>I believe they , the admin, chose to proceed under "disciplinary action" rather than the diagnosis and that far more clunky process and that is what I would have suggested to the school had I been counsel. "See the wall?" <bang the="" gavel=""> Next case.</bang></p>
<p>I believe if one wanted to , and felt this was the appropriate time, they could draw parallels to the VT case as some of the perp's previous acting out could have been grounds for disciplinary action without regard to its causation or level of disease process or clinical or legal findings of mental status. Sometimes we make things more difficult than they need to be.</p>
<p>Curm, that's a brilliant point. Hadn't thought of it that way. I'm curious, too, as to why a professor can't have a student removed for inappropriate conduct.</p>
<p>z-mom, thanks but I'd say practical.. <blush> I pride myself on being a "practical" lawyer. Get it done. Take the easy way when it is offered. ;)</blush></p>
<p>I'm curious, too, as to why a professor can't have a student removed for inappropriate conduct.</p>
<p>I'm sure if you go to the website that the procedure is there.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm curious, too, as to why a professor can't have a student removed for inappropriate conduct.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, there could be issues if the student was officially identified as having special needs. Schools get all tangled up in their own procedures when a student with an identified disability breaks a rule and it can be argued that the inappropriate behavior was a manifestation of the disability (e.g., a kid with Tourette's Syndrome making noises in class).</p>
<p>But I'm not sure whether this applies at the college level.</p>
<p>My son is slated to attend Tech as a freshman in the fall. I have no regrets at all. </p>
<p>What made Tech special before is as true now as it was last week - perhaps more so. I am aware that the university will need to move positively forward and rekindle the spirit that was shaken -- but not shattered. That is an issue only the students themselves can decide now and as they go through this life. </p>
<p>Do we tell our young men and women to shy away from a difficult situation or encourage them to use the strength so much on display this week, and to help rekindle a community that was attacked. </p>
<p>College is an important decision for college students but it is only, after all, four years -- one year at a time. If one does not care for the environment, you can transfer. </p>
<p>There is no more of a safety risk at Tech than any other venue in the country. None. This could happen anywhere and will. The dedication of the staff to the students, and vice versa, is uncommon.</p>
<p>What is the risk? Only this, that the university would lose its spirit but that is not likely after the spirit gracefully displayed this week. And if it does change, then one can say they tried, but it wasnt for them, and transfer as a sophmore or junior. Many did so before for just that simple reason.(12%).</p>
<p>What is to gain? Being part of a courageous and indeed stronger community. There is a facet of contributing to a communtity in need, and the simple ethical gesture of lending a hand by standing strong should not go unnoticed. </p>
<p>I suspect very few incoming freshmen will change their minds. They wouldn't have been attracted to Tech to begin with. It still has everything we want, only more so.</p>
<p>One of the victims was a faculty child. As well as I am aware her parents plan to stay in Blacksburg and the professor plans to continue his work at Tech. Unfortunately despite some earlier comments on this thread, I am not aware that many of those close to the victims have been in on much of the criticism. They simply are not that at point, this is all still very soon after, I realize at this point most of the country is moving on from the initial shock but this is really almost just hitting the people closest to it as the media, etc, starts to die down. Most of the people criticizing the university indeed have little personal stake in the events that occurred Monday, compared to some others. I am not saying they have no right to their opinion, they certainly do, however this is just my observation. I do wish people would not attempt to speak for others or imply they know what all the people closest to this feel about the university or university leadership. </p>
<p>I read a local article today that quoted a mother as saying she hopes her son gians his transfer admission from Tech to UVA because "UVA is safer." Before the events of Monday, which I honestly can tell you I believe could have happened at UVA as well as Tech if this individual happened to be a student there, that statement would have been laughable, simply because C'ville is not considered as safe as Blacksburg, and in all actuality, probably isn't. I have nothing against UVA and believe it's relatively safe (nothing in life is 100%), in fact there is a good chance I will go there next year, but it is not, never was, and won't be "safer" than Tech IMO. </p>
<p>I also believe there is some misconception on this thread about "fit" and statements that were too broad about what kinds of students "aren't right" for Tech. There are many "individuals" on the Tech campus, in fact one of the people who escaped unharmed from the German class (bless her) seemed quite individual to me as she interviewed, based on her clothing and shaved head (not that there's anything wrong with that but it's not exactly "conventional"). "Fit" is individual, and indeed I have known a great variety of people that have chosen Tech and flourished there. Just because someone isn't conventional on the outside doesn't mean they won't find something in Tech or inside really appreciate big spirit that is present there. It was suggested that those of a certain race were rare, for sure Tech is not Va's most diverse school (that would be Mason), but I feel it is irresponsible to suggest that minorities will have a bad time at Tech. Ryan Clark was, obviously not white, and he was taking an extra semester at Tech because he enjoyed what he was doing there so much. Maybe I read too far into the comments but I felt compelled to say something because they struck me as misinformed. </p>
<p>To answer the original question, yes, without a doubt, had I been sold on Tech before I would attend in the minute. One of my best friends just sent in her deposit. Her decision was made before and one of the first things she said upon hearing was that she was proud to be a Hokie and always would be. I will be proud to attend any of the schools I was admitted to. UVA and W&M really stepped up in support, it has been truly touching. I actually no longer care about being rejected from the reaches, I don't think I would have gone anyway at this point. I am so proud to be attending of these Va colleges next year, we really have so many wonderful options. As many people said at all the admitted students' weekends in regards to choosing between all these schools, "you know, you really can't go wrong."</p>
<p>My daughter is one of those who has wanted to go to Virginia Tech since we first drove her onto the campus. When she was accepted, her smile was radiant and she has not let go, despite watching, in shock , as the event played out the morning after we left the campus. We couldn't get her to join us and drive to her second favorite school one more time. A few days ago she announced with certainty that Virginia Tech is where she belongs. She doesn't care if its reputation or identity has changed in the eyes of some people She knows there will be a healing process on camppus. I think the community she enters into will be more thoughtful than ever, which will be a good place for ther to be and it will welcome her as another Hokie whose spirit cannot be knocked down. I will worry, no matter what. She will be 400 miles from home. And she understands that transferring is not the end of the world, should she really want to someday.</p>
<p>Tia3, your daughter sounds like she has her head on straight.</p>
<p>I would not hesitate to send my child to Va Tech if that's where he wanted to go. I would warn him of the healing process, and that there may be somewhat of a divide for a little while between "those who were there" and those who came in later. But Tech is still the same school it was before, maybe a little scarred, but certainly more sure of its identity.</p>
<p>"Do we tell our young men and women to shy away from a difficult situation or encourage them to use the strength so much on display this week, and to help rekindle a community that was attacked. "</p>
<p>Everything that I have read about VT is that it's a fine institution. I don't believe it is any less safe than is any other university. One of my former students will be going to grad school there next year, and still plans to go there.</p>
<p>That being said, however, I wouldn't be supportive of a child of mine going there to undergrad as a freshman or transfer student next year. Why? The trauma from the shooting will be affecting the entire campus for months to come. Due to the scope of the tragedy, many people on that campus can be expected to be coping next fall with things such as post traumatic stress syndrome, survivor's guilt, etc.</p>
<p>Consequently, as a result of the shooting, it's very unlikely that grieving faculty and staff will be able to put the thought and effort that they normally would be able to put into helping freshmen and transfers transition. Upperclassmen, too, may not have the ability to be as helpful to freshmen as they normally would be.</p>
<p>While I believe in community service, I don't believe in sending a student off to college in order to help rebuild a community. </p>
<p>If I had a senior h.s. student who planned to go to VT, I would suggest that they take a gap year so the campus could get back more to normal before my student began their studies there.</p>
<p>I don't know. I sent my child off to New Orleans specifically for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the rebuilidng of a community. I realize that the situations are not entirely parallel. But there was much much grieving in New Orleans, many people struggling to cope.</p>
<p>There is so much more to learn in life than a curriculum which comes from a syllabus. I cannot tell you how much I saw my son grow from his two semesters immediately post-Katrina in New Orleans. The insights and wisdom he gained from being there, in the immediacy of the community's need to face and overcome, were amazing. Much more than I think he would have gained in a normal two semesters. I could see it in his writing, his thoughts about what matters, his thoughts about what builds character, community and spirit. I saved one of his essays on what it means for a community to have "soul" and how he learned that by being in that place at that time.</p>
<p>I can also tell you that his academic learning did not suffer. The faculty who were there were so committed, so grateful to be there. Doing what they wanted to do. Certainly some must have been distracted by the traumas they had suffered, the dislocation of their families, the issues of rebuilding they faced. But there are always going to be complications in peoples' lives, just perhaps not always so visible to us exactly what they are.</p>
<p>I think it may play out at Virginia Tech quite differently from what Northstarmom envisions. I believe there will be extra care, extra effort, extra plans and programs put in place to help existing students as well as entering students transition, face tragedy and learn from it. That is how it played out at Tulane.</p>