2008 Woodie Awards
Students 'strong and united'
Arelis Hernandez
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
The campus community gathered together yesterday during memorial services held at Memorial Chapel and McKeldin Mall to show solidarity with students at Virginia Tech and to remember the victims who died there Monday.
From noon to 2 p.m. yesterday, the Memorial Chapel held open prayer services in the West Chapel, where mourners came to pray, cry and remember those involved in the tragedy. In all, 33 students and faculty lost their lives, when 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui opened fire in the West Ambler Johnston Hall and the Norris Hall science and engineering building early Monday morning.
A heavy silence enveloped the West Chapel yesterday, as a stream of students and faculty made their way to the wooden pews with languished faces buried in interlocked hands. The Episcopalian chaplain, Peter Antoci, led the prayer services and invited those present to sign a remembrance book and banner for the Hokies.
"The tragedy of Virginia Tech is one of those things that bests our ability to comprehend our lives," Antoci said. "As you look around for something to help put some perspective remember - we are not alone."
Later that day, a candlelight vigil organized by the Student Government Association united hundreds of students and faculty, as they came together to share their thoughts.
"We want to show that UMD students care deeply about what's happened," Simson said. "We want to show we are strong and united in this time of mourning."
Donning the orange and burgundy of Virginia Tech, students huddled in the cold around an outdoor podium where university President Dan Mote and university chaplains from different faiths prayed for the victims and their families.
"In times of great tragedy," Mote said. "The bonds of humanity are a powerful force. ... We are here because of our humanity."
SGA Vice President of Academic Affairs Melissa Morales closed the service with a letter of thanks from her brother Javier Morales, a freshman building construction major at Virginia Tech.
From noon to 2 p.m. yesterday, the Memorial Chapel held open prayer services in the West Chapel, where mourners came to pray, cry and remember those involved in the tragedy. In all, 33 students and faculty lost their lives, when 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui opened fire in the West Ambler Johnston Hall and the Norris Hall science and engineering building early Monday morning.
A heavy silence enveloped the West Chapel yesterday, as a stream of students and faculty made their way to the wooden pews with languished faces buried in interlocked hands. The Episcopalian chaplain, Peter Antoci, led the prayer services and invited those present to sign a remembrance book and banner for the Hokies.
"The tragedy of Virginia Tech is one of those things that bests our ability to comprehend our lives," Antoci said. "As you look around for something to help put some perspective remember - we are not alone."
Later that day, a candlelight vigil organized by the Student Government Association united hundreds of students and faculty, as they came together to share their thoughts.
"We want to show that UMD students care deeply about what's happened," Simson said. "We want to show we are strong and united in this time of mourning."
Donning the orange and burgundy of Virginia Tech, students huddled in the cold around an outdoor podium where university President Dan Mote and university chaplains from different faiths prayed for the victims and their families.
"In times of great tragedy," Mote said. "The bonds of humanity are a powerful force. ... We are here because of our humanity."
SGA Vice President of Academic Affairs Melissa Morales closed the service with a letter of thanks from her brother Javier Morales, a freshman building construction major at Virginia Tech.
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