Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: News

A crowd of about 50 people met in front of Clark Hall Thursday for a Black Student Union-sponsored event to remember, through discussion, song and prayer, the 33 people who died in last Monday's massacre at Virginia Tech University.

The discussion emphasized community building and unity, and several speakers expressed sympathy for not only the 32 innocent students and teachers who were murdered, but also the killer, Cho Seung-Hui.

"They say this guy was a loner," said Kevin Givan, a junior majoring in political science and a member of the Black Student Union, to a solemn crowd Thursday night. "... Someone shouldn't feel left out or excluded."

Joel Bridgeman, a senior majoring in political science who ran for Associated Students president in the March election, urged listeners to learn from last Monday's tragedies and make an effort to reach out to people who may be lonely, such as "the person sitting alone in the back of the class."

"Being around people doesn't make a community," Bridgeman said to the crowd. "Being connected so that everyone supports each other is a community."

Raysean Ford, a junior majoring in sociology, followed a short speech by singing a rendition of "Amazing Grace."

A reading of the names of the people murdered in last week's massacre followed, as 32 attendees picked up sticks, each with one name attached, and set them in the lawn within a circle of candles.

Cho Seung-Hui was not one of the names read.

Chris Gatihi, a member of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship who read the names, said it was hard for him to do, adding that he read the name, "Chris," and thought to himself that it could have easily been his own name.

"In the aftermath of the events, the thing that I think a lot about is hope and how we can be people who have hope," Gatihi said. "You know, who's to say that some such things wouldn't happen again? And so, I'm coming from the perspective of calling people to be people who have hope in God."

Attendees held hands and bowed their heads for prayer to close the event out.

Givan said he would have liked to see more people come to the event, but that he was looking forward to a big turnout for tonight's Associated Students-sponsored candlelight ceremony, which will be held on the Paseo de Cesar Chavez lawn at 8:30 p.m.

Ford also said he would have liked to see more attendees.

"I wish there would have been more people, more support on campus, but the people who did come - I could feel all the love here." Ford said after the event. "I didn't lose anybody at Virginia Tech, but I was touched by it myself.

"All the people that came out are definitely admirable and are special, great people because - them coming out tonight - it just shows how much they care about Virginia (Tech)."

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