It was nice to be in Virginia in the week after the tragedy. Mostly because in Virginia, everyone knows knows the school and has connections to it. The sanctity of college campuses as a safe, open place was shattered for all; but for those of us who intimately know Virginia Tech, it was a sad week that hit a personal note. This became even sadder as the event became a media spectacle, sensationalized, overexposed, and without substance. What could have been a moment to reflect on our priorities towards health, education, and class became a circus to pathologize one man. The feelings from the week were not unfamiliar to us, having lived through the uncertainty, frustration, and sadness of watching a community we care about be struck by disaster — and seeing the media cover it in irresponsible, sloppy ways.
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