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Spotlight: Virginia Tech's lessons

Photo: A makeshift memorial at Virginia Tech honoring the 33 dead in the April 16, 2007 shootings

Michael Kiernan, photo manager for Visual and Broadcast Communications at Virginia Tech, captured this makeshift memorial on April 18 honoring the 33 dead at the school's drill field. (Michael Kiernan/Virginia Tech courtesy photo)

E-mail from Virginia Tech Provost Mark McNamee

UC Davis responds to tragedy by looking at our own campus

Although it happened on the other side of the continent, for many of us, Virginia Tech's tragedy has been particularly sobering. Our students, our faculty and our administrators have all been searching inwardly for a sense of balance while grieving for the families and friends of those who died in the massacre.

Emergency preparedness and intervention programs have been at the top of our agenda. "The campus is doing lots, but that's not to say there isn't more to do," says Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef.

Many of us have connections to Virginia Tech through its provost, Mark McNamee, who left his position at UC Davis as dean of the College of Biological Sciences for Virginia Tech in 2001. With his permission, we reprint his thoughtful e-mails about the horrific event and its aftermath.

Our faculty also is helping to provide understanding through the news media. Asian-American studies psychologist Stan Sue, an expert on ethnic mental health services, has been called upon by the national media to help put the situation in context.

Another UC Davis expert, Dr. Garen Wintemute, director of the Center for Violence Prevention Research at the UC Davis Medical Center, believes last week's massacre at Virginia Tech was not surprising, given his career studying the link between guns and violence.

Given our affinity to other universities, it is natural that we will all feel vulnerable at such times, Chancellor Vanderhoef says. He reminds us, though, that "it's important that we take care of one another and of ourselves, especially at times of major tragic events."

Chancellor's messages and UC news

UC Davis news related to the tragedy

On the home page: The UC Davis campus community held a candlelight vigil April 20 in memory of the Virginia Tech tragedy. (Cheng Saechao/UC Davis photo)

Student mental health issues