Posted on April 23, 2007
JMU students traded purple and gold for orange and maroon on Friday in honor of Monday’s tragic events at Virginia Tech that claimed the lives of 33 students and faculty members.
Va. Tech’s flag flew half-staff in front of the ISAT/CS building while orange and maroon blanketed the commons Friday as hundreds of students, faculty and members from the community gathered at noon for a ceremony honoring the victims.
The events were all part of nation-wide effort to honor Va. Tech for Hokie Hope Day.
Stacy Fuller, student representative to the Board of Visitors, President Linwood Rose, and representatives from Campus Ministries spoke at the ceremony.
Fuller opened the ceremony with a moment of silence as chimes rang in the Wilson Hall cupola. After, President Linwood Rose took the podium.
“Only the clothes and uniforms separate us while our hearts and values are so similar,” Rose said. “Although I’m a Virginia Tech graduate, my institution and loyalty shifted long ago; I can’t remember when I took off my Virginia Tech ring, but I put it on proudly today.”
The support that the JMU community has offered Va. Tech has been incredible, Rose said.
Organizations on campus have reached out to students at Va. Tech, including the Student Ambassadors.
“We sent letters to our organization at Virginia Tech in support of them,” said Dan Boxer, president of Student Ambassadors. “We share similar spirit and unity and if they need anything we’re here to help them.”
Students said they admire the support JMU is offering Virginia Tech.
“This is the good part in the terrible tragedy,” sophomore Christie Konoza said. “I’m just excited about the turnout of students; we’re trying to show support and strength to VT.”
Senior Sara Lowery agreed,
“[The tragedy] is terribly sad,” she said. “I think it’s really great all the colleges are coming together to support family of victims and students. I think honoring the victims is the most important thing we can do now.”
As questions of how and why such a tragedy could happen go unanswered, students and families continued to grieve and honor the lives lost.
“We’ve all been affected by Monday’s events and I believe we have a culture of making a difference, a tradition of paying it forward here at JMU,” Fuller said in her opening remarks. “We hold doors and we smile…without thinking; we are the change and most importantly we are the difference.”
After the ceremony, the podium opened to anyone who wanted to speak.
Virginia Tech Senior Brice Bradford took the podium.
“[After] the longest week of my life…I’m here to share with you how the actions of others have provided comfort,” he said. “Listening to your student body cheering our cheer, wearing our colors and praying our prayers….We at VT love you guys.”
