• by Amanda , April 20, 2007

I’ve written the introduction to this blog five or six times but there is just no appropriate way to begin talking about the VA Tech shootings this week.

As a college student this tragedy hits particularly close to home, but I know everyone who heard the news was affected in some way. The interesting thing about media coverage today is that it’s everywhere. In this particular case it was impossible not to be affected by the information because it was all over the place. I watched online coverage, heard about the candlelight vigil through e-mail, watched the nightly news with friends, was assured of my personal safety through an online letter from our university president, read hard copy and online stories, and listened to coverage on the radio. Not only was this convenient, it was expected. I knew that my computer would automatically update me with the most current facts, and became agitated when there was no new news.

It’s hard to say whether this inundation of information helped me cope. Maybe it made me feel worse. When every platform and every forum in your life talks about an event, it becomes easy to feel like you’re a part of the tragedy. This can be a good thing because we are better able to empathize, but it can also take its toll. I remember after 9/11 school officials were worried the graphic images might cause post traumatic stress disorder in children. Despite any psychological repercussions which could occur, I belong to a school of thought where any (legitimate) news should be consumed, and I honestly feel grateful for all of the information dispersed. I want to talk about what happened, and people should know all they can.