Grieving VTech Students Turn to Facebook for Answers

April 17, 2007 - 10:45 am By CC Staff

As the horrific events transpired today in Blackburg, Virginia, students, faculty and family members at Virginia Tech found themselves in an unfathomable position- searching for information about the shooting, the shooter and the condition of their classmates, loved ones and friends. The answers just don’t come quick enough as they wait painfully for any information concerning the who, what, where when and why.

As the 24 hour news stations recycle the same 5 minutes of available information, the people of VTech have turned to Facebook in effort to assemble the pieces for themselves. Students are sharing first hand accounts, overheard stories, and names of potential victims- providing them with unprecidented access to information that until now has only been available to the authorities.

In addition, new profiles and groups are rapidly appearing on the site offering condolences and prayers from students around the country. Facebook has become much more than a place to find a “hook-up” or a kegger, but rather a virtual townhall for the VTech communtity to begin a dialog and somehow find a way to pick up the pieces.

Below are some of the Facebook profiles created today:

Extending Our Greatest Sympathies to VTech.

This must stop.

Always Remember Virginia Tech.

jules22 says:
Mon, 16th Apr 20077:37 pm

i cannot even imagine what the students and families are going through right now. god help us all.

luckydudz says:
Mon, 16th Apr 20077:39 pm

what a coward.

sick2myStomach says:
Mon, 16th Apr 20077:41 pm

Kudos to facebook. Not much that is positive in a situation like this.

Nicole says:
Tue, 17th Apr 20079:13 am

what a tragedy

Michele says:
Tue, 17th Apr 200711:42 pm

Its disgusting…………………

Freaks shouldn’t be left living…………

veronica says:
Wed, 18th Apr 20079:21 am

My deepest sympathy goes out to ALL students and professors at the campus. There are no words that I can say about this except alot of our future leaders of the world is gone.

ashley locker says:
Wed, 18th Apr 20073:50 pm

My sympathy goes out to all…