Rollins and Local Community Gather to Remember Virginia Tech Shooting Victims

April 17, 2007

About 150 members of the Rollins and local community gathered Tuesday, April 17, on the steps of the Knowles Memorial Chapel for a special service in memory of the victims of the shootings at Virginia Tech.

At the beginning of the service, Dean of the Chapel Pat Powers held up a colorful sign that read “We Are One.” He said, “We are all one. We are one, today, with Virginia Tech. We are one with them in grief and sorrow and anger and support and prayers. We are one with all of those beautiful, innocent students who were so senselessly killed.”

Dean Powers read Psalm 23 from the Hebrew scripture, a Muslim scripture and a Buddhist prayer. Student Government Association President Cat McConnell shared, “Our prayers and thoughts go out to all of the students and families impacted by the shootings at Virginia Tech. It’s really hard to be on campus without thinking about it.”

Hamilton Holt School Master’s of Liberal Studies student Kassi Bernard received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1993. “It is so hard to watch the place you walked on and live at be struck by such tragedy. It’s very difficult to even talk about,” Bernard said during the service.

The service concluded with a moment of silence and hugs of peace shared by those in attendance. Students assembled and distributed 500 ribbons with Virginia Tech’s colors of maroon and burnt orange as a symbol of support.

Members of the Rollins community in need of support may contact:

Rollins College Director of Personal Counseling Mark Freeman:
407-628-6340 or mfreeman@rollins.edu

Dean of the Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College Pat Powers:
407-646-2115 or ppowers@rollins.edu