E-mail from Virginia Tech Provost Mark McNamee
- April 20: The love for Virginia Tech shines
- April 22: Memorials bring tears
- April 23: Students return, faculty is terrific
- April 24: Roses and reckoning
- April 25: Back to routine — and recovery
April 25 e-mail from Mark McNamee: Back to routine — and recovery
I continue to be amazed at the resilience of the entire community and the comfort so many people are finding in the closure provided by funeral services and memorial events.
Today I attended my last funeral, a Catholic Mass for one of the students. Matthew LaPorte was a member of our Corps of Cadets, and the entire 750 member-strong corps assembled at the cemetery for a full military tribute. It was an incredible sight.
The College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences (two faculty and 13 students) and the College of Engineering (three faculty and 11 students) each held memorial celebrations for the lives of the deceased.
‘Despite the abundance of food, all of us have lost some weight over the past week.’
One of the recovering students at the engineering memorial looked like the student who tied a tourniquet around his leg with his own belt, a life-saving measure by an Eagle Scout.
Poems in French, German, Russian and Latin were read by faculty colleagues from the Department of Foreign Languages and Literature at the Liberal Arts event. (My brother teaches Latin so I will be sending him the text.)
Actually do some normal work
Today was the first day I had an opportunity to actually do some normal work. I met with a committee to review the nominations for an Alumni Distinguished Professor position, a special appointment for faculty scholars with a demonstrated record of outstanding teaching.
We have 12 such scholars supported by the Alumni Foundation. Everyone felt a little distracted, but it is helpful to get back to the regular affairs of the university.
Our response team is in full swing working on every aspect of the recovery.
‘Our faculty are still recovering and some students have indicated that they have come back to support the faculty!’
Some problems are very practical. We are expecting some thunderstorms, and we are moving the message boards and fragile memorial gifts to an inside location temporarily. We also are fielding thousands of offers of assistance, including free VT tattoos for anyone interested.
The foyer of my office has been the casual food center for the staff in our building, including the state police.
The police are leaving our building and consolidating operations on the edge of campus. We have gotten used to the steady supply of chips, cookies, fruit, soda and cold cuts. Despite the abundance of food, all of us have lost some weight over the past week.
Our faculty are still recovering and some students have indicated that they have come back to support the faculty!
Optimistic letter from parents
The messages from parents and students continue to provide inspiration. The note below is an example of the kind of message that keeps all of optimistic about the basic goodness out there.
Dear Dr. Steger and Dr. McNamee,
Before April 16, our daughter had commented on what a fabulous professor she had for her Theatre Arts class. Since April 16, this same professor, Susanna C. Rinehart, has proven to be much more—an incredibly sensitive, compassionate, and caring person.
Our daughter often commented how her theatre arts professor opened her eyes to subtle meanings, themes, and other "riches" within plays that were not visible to her before; how Professor Rinehart taught in a way that was interesting and thought-provoking; how it was a real treat to go to class knowing that new ideas and a further richness lay in store.
‘Truly Professor Rinehart has put her students first, teaching them much more than just theatre arts, gently leading them through a difficult time.’
This, in itself, was so impressive that we wanted to make sure we told the university. Truly, Virginia Tech is fortunate to have such a fantastic teaching professor.
On April 16 and the days following, Professor Rinehart demonstrated much more than phenomenal teaching skills. She sent a series of emails on and following April 16 to her Theatre Arts students that acknowledged the emotions, fears, and concerns, expressed genuine thankfulness for the safety of her students, and provided assurances and messages of comfort that were a real blessing to our daughter, and I'm sure were to the other students as well.
Some examples of Professor Rinehart's messages:
- "I have been thinking of all of you all day long, and hoping that you and those you love are safe. Take care of yourselves and of each other."
- "I send you my love and my wish for some comfort in the midst of this pain."
- "I am going to come and be in Colonial Hall (our classroom) from 11:15 to noon (:05!!) tomorrow — Wednesday, in case any of you are looking for a place to gather, hang out, and talk — or not… Whether I see you tomorrow or not, please know that I'm thinking about you, and here if you need anything."
- "If there is anything (small or large) on your mind — questions, worries, fears, concerns, wishes for how we do or don't proceed in class, particular experiences or relationship to Monday's events that you want me to be aware of — that you would like to share with me confidentially on e-mail between now and Monday, please don't hesitate to do so. I am thinking of you, and very much look forward to reuniting with you on Monday. with love, Susanna"
Truly Professor Rinehart has put her students first, teaching them much more than just theatre arts, gently leading them through a difficult time.
Virginia Tech is indeed fortunate to have such a skilled professor and caring person on its faculty. We are very grateful for Professor Rinehart's caring words and actions toward our daughter, and for the wonderful education she is receiving thanks to people like Professor Rinehart."
We are now gearing up for commencement, a big event that is likely to be very emotional since we will be conferring so many posthumous degrees. After commencement, we will all take a very deep breath.
The words of Nikki Giovanni continue to reverberate across the campus… "We are Virginia Tech, we will prevail."
Love,