Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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'A Tragedy of Monumental Proportions'
April 16, 2007 8:09 PM
Sometimes, when there is a story as big and horrible as the one at Virginia Tech, it takes a little while for it to sink in just how big and horrible it is. I got a call around midday: "We're all-hands-on-deck here. Can you write for us?"
For a second I wasn't even sure what I was being asked to write. I was supposed to be on the road today for a piece; we'd canceled because of the northeast storm. I'd been a little more deeply involved in that story than I cared to be; we had no electricity at home this morning.
The shootings at Virginia Tech began a little after seven in the morning. In the afternoon reporters asked why the first cautionary e-mail to students hadn't gone out until 9:24. The university's administrators answered that they thought everything was over.
They may have been as perplexed as I. Around noon, we went into the kind of crash mode we've used on other stories: I write, while others feed information my way. Every few minutes, in the jargon of this web site, I'd "push" the piece with whatever new information had come in, then go back and add more.
Some paragraphs were verbatim from David Schoetz, Pierre Thomas, Martha Raddatz or Rich Esposito. Others were based on badly-spelled notes from Blackberrys. A few were shouted across the newsroom.
The result is the PIECE you've perhaps already seen on our home page. Various public relations agencies have already e-mailed me, offering experts I may care to call for comment.
There will be a candlelight vigil Tuesday night at Virginia Tech, and there will be investigations, and all too many funerals. Stories about gun legislation and campus security have already been put together. For now, I'm out of words. Thoughts or questions are, as always, most welcome.
April 16, 2007 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (5)
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A Thought: Is it my imagination, or has this syndrome become more evident of late? More and more, the violence seems to be getting out of hand. Maybe a lack of discipline at home? Maybe a superabundance of violence on TV and movies. I watch a lot of both, but I don't pack and I don't wish violence on anyone. Maybe there are just too many of us, and undergoing a lot of pressure of whatever sort. I remember what happened to the rats that were allowed to breed uncontrollably in a confined space - lotsa weirdness, violence, homosexuality and other untoward stuff.
Posted by: Andy | Apr 16, 2007 8:35:10 PM
A tragedy by any definition of the word. My thoughts and prayers go out to the students, faculty, support staff, and families involved in this sad incident.
Posted by: chuck | Apr 17, 2007 8:05:33 AM
This type of violence (indiscriminate shooting, usually in the workplace or at a school) seems to be a uniquely American event – at least I can't recall hearing about more than two or three similar episodes outside of the U.S.
Posted by: Allan J | Apr 17, 2007 10:52:32 AM
It understandably hurts us more deeply when this kind of horrific loss occurs close to home. We can feel it in our heart and in our soul. But it doesn't take anything away from the gravity of the Virginia Tech tragedy to remember the others around the world who also suffer from violence. It does happen outside of the U.S., wherever there is anger and guns. In Iraq yesterday, at least 51 people were killed or found dead, including a university dean, a professor, and a policeman's son. Let us light a candle for those grieving families as well. And maybe try to find ways to prevent all types of senseless violence.
Posted by: Jock Y | Apr 17, 2007 4:54:15 PM
I think the solution to this kind of Violence is RESPECT! because people now a days don't respect each other specially other race, they make fun of them all the time just always remember that they have feeling like you and I we don't want to be disrespected in the Society. God Bless Us and lets pray for the family that lose their love in this act of revenge.
Posted by: Grace | Apr 19, 2007 11:35:28 AM
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