I don't agree that the delay in action by the university &/or the police (campus or otherwise) is necessarily a sign of negligence. It's a very large university, both in geography and population, and like most universities I'm sure that it takes time to make and implement even decisions such as locking down the campus or launching a search for one ill-described person. Also, considering that AT THE TIME there was probably not much information to show that there was any danger of further incidents, or much information at all- especially if two different police departments were involved (as I imagine they were), I'm not surprised that they initially decided not to disrupt the entire campus community.

That's the way I've always seen it handled at universities. When there has been violence, even if the threat is ongoing (such as in the case of serial rapes and muggings, as happened at universities I've attended), usually announcements are made and caution advised via email first, with signs being posted and verbal announcements made as soon as possible, and updates emailed as well (Email is often the only method guaranteed to reach every student, faculty, and staff member immediately, as every person is supplied with a university system email address). Even when there is a known armed individual threatening students, I've never been on a campus that has been completely sealed and locked down.

Of course, it's probable that things could have been handled better, and I'm sure the response will be analysed and lessons learned applied to plans for future responses; sad though it is to contemplate similar events occuring again. However, I think that in our anger and grief, many people are rushing to blame the university and police with the benefit of hindsight, when in truth they did the best that could be done with the information they had at the time.

Sent by Jess | 2:37 PM ET | 04-17-2007

universities need to have a secure environment for education to go on.
Seems the only way is to have entry security to prevent weapons fromn going on campus.

Saul Roe
UCLA 1978

PS I walked on to a University in the North East last week without any security apparent. @ 50+ and not dressed like a professor I didn't look like I fit

Sent by saul roe | 3:04 PM ET | 04-17-2007

I am heart broken at the hurt this young man has caused in the VT community as well as across our nation. I am concerned, however, as to who will reach out to his family whether they are living here or back in South Korea.

Who will reach out to them as the Amish community reached out to the family of the murderer at their school?

Sent by Diane Mayfield | 3:11 PM ET | 04-17-2007

While we are all outraged and shocked, I get a crushing sense of vampirism in all this media attention. Asking a friend or relative of a shooting victim, "how are you feeling?" I find quite insensitive and pointless (Neal).
You in the media should have a little more shame in your need to parade the grief of others. It seems that as soon as there's a tragedy that may hold listeners for a day or two, it gets milked over and over with numerous voice clips set to sad music in the background.
Does increased listener ship truly justify the disproportionate attention given to these murders?
It's all very sad, but let us not exploit the grieving and let's talk about gun violence and ways to decrease it.

Sent by CA | 3:20 PM ET | 04-17-2007

It seems that people are not recognizing the big picture, over 30,000 americans are killed by guns each year in the US, where is the outrage. this young man bought 2 guns legally in virginia. stop the madness!!! we need gun legislation that protects the safety of all americans,
from americans. who really are the terrorists. I would say the NRA

Sent by JANET DEBOER RN | 3:23 PM ET | 04-17-2007

And for you GriefGhouls of NPR: shame! Asking a friend or relative of a shooting victim, "how are you feeling?" You are So disgusting - How the squard do you Think they're feeling?? "Oh pretty chipper, Neal, except it was their turn to wash the dishes. Pretty bummed by that, but otherwise, well, you know..." Ghouls.

Sent by GrumpyJohn | 3:47 PM ET | 04-17-2007

I was disturbed by the President's comment today that the victims were "in the wrong place at the wrong time." Aside from the fact that his tone trivializes the horrible deaths with a cliche, and lays a level of blame on the victims, his glib comment is fundamentally wrong. These students and faculty were not in the wrong place. They were in their university, in their classrooms, exactly where they were suppposed to be. Nor were they there, on a Monday morning in April, at the wrong time. There is only one, horrible wrong here and it is the action of Cho Seung-Hui.

Sent by Danny | 4:05 PM ET | 04-17-2007

Well, there's the usual assortment of nonsense in the above commentary. I'll let you sort that out for yourself. But I'd like to commend a couple of the comments.

Jess has it about right when he/she says "I think that in our anger and grief, many people are rushing to blame the university and police with the benefit of hindsight, when in truth they did the best that could be done with the information they had at the time." The rush to play the blame game, though regrettably common, is inappropriate, unhelpful, and in fact gets in the way of what we should be doing now. This needs to be approached from a perspective of "what can we learn from this, at all levels," not "who (apart from the obvious: the gunman) or what is to blame for this?"

I'd also subscribe to the comments of CA and GrumpyJohn regarding the ghoulish insensitivity of the media at times such as this. The barbs directed at Neal are appropriate because of the forum, but he is far from unique in this. They (the barbs) would be as well or better directed at innumerable other members of the media. With all due respect to the good work that you do, please try in your zeal to cover the story to maintain some humanity and sense of proportion.

Danny was also right on in his criticism of the President's words. If he was extemporizing, I'm chagrined but not surprised. If some speechwriter gave him those words, he/she should be fired.

The stampede by both sides of the gun debate to posture and crow about this tragedy as being proof of their entirely contrary points is also unseemly and hurtful to those in need of comfort. Do ANY of you really think your are going to change the minds of your adversaries this way? Of course not. You've been screaming right past each other for years; This will change nothing in that.

Thos

Sent by Thos | 4:50 PM ET | 04-17-2007

I wanted to make a short statement about the role that RAs (Residential Advisors) play in Colleges. Theirs is a thankless job: often unpaid and undercompensated, and involving long nights of helping people and dissipating potentially harmful situations to people in the community. They are the ones who are the first line when a student has alcohol poisoning, the first responder when a stranger is roaming the halls, and (in this tragic situation) the one who goes to cool arguments between angry residents.

As we saw in this incident, the position can be highly dangerous. Most Universities don't appreciate the sleepless nights and danger that RAs go through in their day-to-day work. When I was an RA, I was in two separate occasions where my life was in danger, and I'm certain that it is not unusual across the country. Hopefully Virginia Tech and other Universities across the nation will recognize the sacrifices and danger that many Resident Advisors go through without expecting anything in return.

And GrumpyJohn: If you haven't noticed, EVERY news channel always asks that. It's a stupid question, for sure... but I've never seen a station not ask that of people in these situations. But I do agree that it's a dumb question: it's just not limited to NPR by any stretch of the imagination.

Sent by Alexander Loret de Mola | 5:22 PM ET | 04-17-2007

This tragedy is horrendous, of that there can be no doubt. What brought me personally to the verge of tears though, was when I heard his former creative writing teacher say his writings were protected by confidentiality. Instead of having a consistently pursued inquiry into the true nature of the problem, we will have the usual drive-through window 'reports' that satisfy our hunger for immediate satisfaction, but do little to help develop our understanding. The gun laws people are evermore petitioning will not prevent brutality, but understanding the mindset of the profoundly disturbed is the first step in working towards solutions. The second step is people taking a genuine, heartfelt interest in the mental well being of someone who is whole in every way except their perceptions of the world.
Perhaps we are ready to explore another level of education, requiring classes that deal with the subject of mind. Not just as an option, or for those who are psychology majors, but for everyone, period. I returned to school at the age of 43, and I can honestly say that the basic psychology class has helped me more than any class I have taken in my life. The human brain, with its associated mind, is the most complex item currently known to exist. The imaginative faculty is capable of enormous distortions and scenario building in an effort to compensate for coping difficulties.
What if there were required classes in elementary, middle, or high school (or all three) in which this complex instrument itself was discussed, instead of only discussing the material we can stuff into it. What if we talked openly and early about the fact that no one has complete control over their mind at all times, whether conscious or asleep. What if we focused some attention towards our children's ability to comprehend and negotiate the complex mental being they were born to be. What if we stopped assuming (imagining?) that everyone will just 'get it' on their own in their own time.
Perhaps that is still too much to ask in a world where, far and wide, from generation to generation, things people have imagined are taught to be real. It is quite sad really.

Sent by Charles Rose | 5:53 PM ET | 04-17-2007

I had tuned in to the "convocation" and was not sure whether it was a memorial service or a political rally. The univ president was praising the governor, the governor gave a rambling lecture praising everybody and the President. There was not even a hint of why it took so long to figure out that a shooter was loose on campus. I kept straining to hear a simple heartfelt sorry from the authorities on the slow drip-drip of information regarding the day's events.

Sent by SNN | 7:36 PM ET | 04-17-2007

IT HAS BEEN A VERY SAD DAY FOR ALL,ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU CLOSE BY. I HAVE READ ALOT OF ECHOS FROM THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF PEOPLE WRITING IN AND WITH SOME I AGREE, SO THERE WOULD NOT BE NEED FOR ME TO REPEAT.

MY PRAYER IS THAT AFTER THIS HAS ALL THE WAY UNFOLDED AND THINGS BEGIN TO GET STRAIGHTEN OUT, WHEN AND IF WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS THAT HAUNT OUR MINDS,AND AS WE SEARCH THE DEPTHS...

I PRAY THAT WE CAN ALL TAKE A MOMENT TO REMEMBER THOSE WHOM WE'VE LOVED,LAUGHED WITH, CRIED WITH, AND SHARED OUR SOULS WITH AND LET THE HEALING PROCESS BEGIN.

WHETHER IT BE TODAY, TOMORROW,OR NEXT WEEK. AS WE GREIVE FOR THOSE WE'VE LOST, HOLD ON TO THAT INNER STRENGHT FOR THE DAY WILL SURELY COME WHEN IT WILL GIVE YOU THE FIGHT TO GO ON. BECAUSE AFTER ALL,IT IS WHAT THEY; WOULD HAVE WANTED.

Sent by FREDDIE R. | 12:09 AM ET | 04-18-2007