Grieving for Virginia Tech

The tragedy at Virginia Tech yesterday has been weighing heavily on my mind since I first heard about it. The power was off in our apartment, so I didn't even hear the news of what was going on until I set foot in the Student Stores on campus and saw a huge crowd of people gathered around the tv in the Ram Shop. I panicked when I saw the news report; I have a friend who was intending on going with his fraternity to Virginia Tech this coming weekend, and the news just made my heart drop into my stomach. I only know one person at VA Tech, my old community director and boss, Matt Grimes. I believe that he is okay, and hope that the campus will be able to recover and heal from this tragedy. Having been to VA Tech to visit the beautiful campus recently, it is hard to imagine that something like this could happen in such a tranquil environment. A friend of mine mused on how she couldn't imagine something like that happening here. We have had our own tragedies here at UNC, with the shooting incident on Franklin St about 10 years ago, and last year's Pit incident, but to have someone infiltrate your campus and senselessly murder 32 students/faculty is something I cannot even fathom. Nor can I imagine how everyone at VA Tech is dealing with this. I pray that they will find peace in the coming days and weeks, and that as a community they will heal and go forward. For the families and friends of the victims, I pray for peace to heal your hearts. Know that you are not alone in your grief and suffering--all of the rest of us are grieving and remembering with you. This is the time where we put aside our "college rivalries" and embrace the knowledge that today, we are all Hokies.