2008 Woodie Awards
UWEC addresses campus safety after attacks
Nathaniel Shuda
Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: Campus News
In the days after the Monday morning attacks that killed 33 people and injured dozens more on the campus of Virginia Tech University, members of the UW-Eau Claire community are reflecting on the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.
"Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Virginia Tech campus community during this most difficult time," Vice Chancellors Steve Tallant and Andy Soll wrote Monday in an e-mail message to all university students and employees.
"While no open university campus is immune to the kind of violence that occurred today, we want to reassure you that UW-Eau Claire is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment in order to minimize threats."
With university officials making sure services are readily available to students, faculty and staff, many say it doesn't make what happened less of a deal.
"I was completely shocked," freshman Scott Larson said. "With people our age, it hits so close to home."
Freshman Nicole Scharrer said when she first heard of the attacks Monday morning, she was in disbelief.
"You wouldn't think it would happen here, but then you kind of question that," Scharrer said. "It could happen anywhere, so where is safe?"
Cynthia Nevin, a program assistant in the Student Development and Diversity office, which oversees Eau Claire's National Student Exchange program, said there are no Eau Claire students currently studying at Virginia Tech.
However, at least two UW-Eau Claire alumni attend or work at Virginia Tech - both are safe after Monday's attacks but declined comment, requesting their names not be published.
Larson said because he had been on lower campus all day Monday, he said he didn't hear about the shootings until that night when he read the e-mail.
"I thought (the e-mail) was great; it gave us a little more comfort feeling," Larson said, explaining how the university chose to address the situation reassured him and eased any fears he might have had about his own safety.
"I've been trying to watch the news," he said. "It's really depressing (and) it's really crazy - it could be us."
Scharrer agreed.
"I think it's something that can happen anywhere," she said. "I personally do feel safe, but there's no telling when somebody's going to snap."
Despite what has happened, Larson said he still tries to deal with it in a constructive way and slowly return to his normal routine.
"You know stuff like that is going to happen," Larson said. "You just have to go on and live your life."
"Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Virginia Tech campus community during this most difficult time," Vice Chancellors Steve Tallant and Andy Soll wrote Monday in an e-mail message to all university students and employees.
"While no open university campus is immune to the kind of violence that occurred today, we want to reassure you that UW-Eau Claire is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment in order to minimize threats."
With university officials making sure services are readily available to students, faculty and staff, many say it doesn't make what happened less of a deal.
"I was completely shocked," freshman Scott Larson said. "With people our age, it hits so close to home."
Freshman Nicole Scharrer said when she first heard of the attacks Monday morning, she was in disbelief.
"You wouldn't think it would happen here, but then you kind of question that," Scharrer said. "It could happen anywhere, so where is safe?"
Cynthia Nevin, a program assistant in the Student Development and Diversity office, which oversees Eau Claire's National Student Exchange program, said there are no Eau Claire students currently studying at Virginia Tech.
However, at least two UW-Eau Claire alumni attend or work at Virginia Tech - both are safe after Monday's attacks but declined comment, requesting their names not be published.
Larson said because he had been on lower campus all day Monday, he said he didn't hear about the shootings until that night when he read the e-mail.
"I thought (the e-mail) was great; it gave us a little more comfort feeling," Larson said, explaining how the university chose to address the situation reassured him and eased any fears he might have had about his own safety.
"I've been trying to watch the news," he said. "It's really depressing (and) it's really crazy - it could be us."
Scharrer agreed.
"I think it's something that can happen anywhere," she said. "I personally do feel safe, but there's no telling when somebody's going to snap."
Despite what has happened, Larson said he still tries to deal with it in a constructive way and slowly return to his normal routine.
"You know stuff like that is going to happen," Larson said. "You just have to go on and live your life."
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