Students, faculty respond to Virginia Tech: Most feel safe at IVCC
By Kassie Kallner
IV Leader Staff, May 3, 2007
After moments of silence, chiming bells and releasing of
balloons to honor those killed, the still-grieving community of Virginia Tech
University returned to class one week after a shooting shook the fabric of their
campus.
On IVCC’s campus, students and faculty responded by lowering
the flag to half staff and honoring a moment of silence on April 20. “Just like
everyone else that I have talked to, I was stunned,” said Megan Guilfoyle,
student trustee. “These events do not happen on campuses everyday, but when they
do, it is unfortunately very tragic.”
Counselor Renee Prine said that although many students and
faculty members have expressed their grief, no one has personally come to her
for counseling. Many students felt saddened by the tragedy. For others, it
triggered a memory of past events.
“My initial reaction was it made me think of Columbine,” said
Luke Hennenfent. “I felt a profound sense of sadness,” said Amanda Bigelow,
political science instructor. “But then I thought, when are we as a society
going to learn that this is what happens when people get bullied.”
Even after the shooting, many students still feel that IVCC
is safe. “I feel safe here, our security staff does a great job,” said Elizabeth
Kunkel, freshman SGA representative and student trustee elect. Kunkel
contributes her sense of safety to the safety services officers and the student
body.
“Overall, with the students we have on campus, we really
shouldn’t have to worry.” Rick Tunget thinks that metal detectors and better
parking lot security when it is dark could improve the safety at IVCC. Higher
wattage lights for the parking lot are an issue being looked at by
administration and safety services, said Ken Sangston, director of safety
services.
Recognizing the unpredictable nature of society Mike
Phillips, geography/geology instructor, said, “I feel safe, but in a sense I
don’t think anyone is always safe.” Prine feels a similar sentiment. “You can
never predict human behavior,” she said. “One day someone is fine and the next,
something like Virginia Tech happens.”