by Andrew Nostvick

Created on: April 18, 2007   Last Updated: April 26, 2007

A dark cloud hangs over Blacksburg, Virginia, as a school and a nation mourns the death of 32 people.

Virginia Tech has suffered through a lot these past few days, as well as much of the school year.

Let's not forget about the hospital guard who was shot and killed by a convict on the run, which happened during the first few days when students were on campus.

This has been a rough year for Tech's students and faculty as well. Looking back on my freshmen year at a college in Iowa, I've noticed a lot of school shootings.

First in Canada, a young man fires in a college in Montreal. Killing one as well as himself.

Then there was the felon who held six high school girls hostage, one girl died as well as the felon. Then there was the Amish school in Pennsylvania, five girls died in that shooting.

Then there was "Black Monday." This was truly one of the most devastating moments in American History.

I haven't even mentioned the Minnesota High School shootings that occurred almost two years ago.

What makes some of these shootings so devastating is that nobody could stop the shooter. Kids are helpless in a situation when a delusional and at times psychotic individual has a semi-automatic pistol in their hand.

Schools are suppose to be a safe haven for all students. We have enough to worry about without having some psycho try to kill us.

Unfortunately this is a problem that must not be solved today. For today, we weep and mourn the students and professors who perished on that terrible April morning.

For today, we are all Hokies.

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