On the Virginia Tech shootings

The news of Monday’s shootings at Virginia Tech was horrific and unsettling and unfathomable. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims, and with all who have been affected. The support for the school from all corners of the commonwealth and of the nation has been strong and resounding. Much has been written and said over the last few days, and much more will be added as the story continues to unfold.

But give the final word for now to Tech professor and poet Nikki Giovanni, who closed the convocation held yesterday afternoon. She led the crowd of thousands in a defiant cheer.

“We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid. We are better than we think and not quite what we want to be,” Giovanni said. “We are the Hokies. We will prevail. We will prevail. We will prevail. We are Virginia Tech.”

For the best continuing news coverage of the Virginia Tech story, we commend the Roanoke Times and the Collegiate Times, the Virginia Tech student newspaper. The student journalists especially have soldiered on, getting the story while dealing with the tragedy on campus.