A Letter to the Daily Press Editor in the Wake of Last Week's Virginia Tech Shooting

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My daughter is a senior at Virginia Tech, and in 2007, she lost a friend and neighbor in the massacre of 32 VT students on that April 16th Monday morning. A week ago, a Virginia Tech police officer was gunned down during a routine traffic stop by a Radford student passing through town. Our local newspaper (with who I have just cancelled my subscription with) wrote an article last Friday that was highly insensitve and misrepresented what the Virginia Tech university stands for. Carly wrote a second lettor to the editor and her private note to the editor is as follows...needless to say, this editor did not respond to her request...I post it here because it shows hope for today's young people and for our society. We will not let the media or anyone else define us and there's a message in her writing...thanks for reading.

Carly’s Blog post and letter to Daily Press editor

I promise myself constantly that I will not dwell on negative energy or things outside of my control. I have debated on whether to respond to The Daily Press after a very immature (best descriptor I can think to use..) writer published an article referring to Virginia Tech as a "snake bitten" campus among other insults in the wake of our recent loss. Ultimately, I did not want to contribute to the frenzy of angry e-mails and hate mail the newspaper received. 

There's not a thing that any of us can do to retract the sting of Tamara Dietrich's words. But after attending the memorial service for Officer Deriek Crouse yesterday with some of my closest friends on campus, I feel compelled to help his family in any way possible. Individually, there's only so much we can each do. Together, we've raised nearly $85,000 for our fallen hero and the beautiful family he left behind. In less than a week, I might add.

So, I decided to direct a message to those "in charge" at The Daily Press that was more constructive rather than destructive. If the media cared half as much about the positive acts of humanity as they do of the tortuous violent crimes that pollute the earth, what do you think our world would look like? I sent the following message to as many people associated with The Daily Press as I could find contact information. I hope that these individuals have the heart to respond. Maybe they can make right their wrongdoing and mend the cuts that their words tore in our mourning hearts.

Letter to the Editor..
To Whom It May Concern at The Daily Press:

I have lived my entire life in Smithfield, VA with my family, and the Daily Press has been a constant in our household for as long as I can remember. Another tradition that has seen me grow into adulthood is that of Virginia Tech and being a "Hokie". I'm sure that you have heard many responses from hurt and offended Hokies following the article published last week regarding Thursday's tragedy. I hope that you will read this e-mail in entirety, as my words are not of anger but of hope and forgiveness.

I truly appreciate the sense of security and knowledge that journalism brings us, and I think it is an integral branch of our society. I know that unfortunately (a drastic understatement) my university will be forever associated with the tragic events of April 16, 2007, and any other act of crime on campus will make instant headlines. It saddens me to the core that so many can recognize these acts of violence and give a sensationalist memorial to the troubled souls who caused such destruction. What I wish I could share with the public involves something much more powerful than anger, hatred, violence, negativity, and despair. Virginia Tech does so much for the community, and the world, and for that I am truly proud. To name a few:

· Largest collegiate Relay for Life in the world. Raised over $1,000,000 for the American Cancer society for the past few years

· Second largest Big Event in the nation. This is a day of free community service to the area surrounding our campus, merely to say "Thank you" (imagine if we had something like that in Newport News or Portsmouth!). Www.vtbigevent.org

· Nationally recognized Panhellenic Greek Council

· Internationally recognized architects on their creation of Lumenhaus (a house that generates energy through solar power)

· A damn good football team and even better fans

· SO many other things that I can't even name off the top of my head

Basically, I want you and your team to understand how the words printed by your establishment deeply hurt the feelings of these people who are doing such wonderful things in the world. Those words, no matter how they were intended to sound, will stick with the hurting hearts of our community. No one deserves a tragedy, and no one deserves the bitter remarks incurred by Tamara Dietrich.

One line that stuck with me from Officer Deriek Crouse's memorial service yesterday went along the lines of: "Our university's motto Ut Prosim, means 'that I may serve.' Deriek truly knew what it meant to serve—to give a part of himself." That is precisely what this university is based upon, and to prove my point far more than words could ever convey, I would like you to look at the memorial fund site that was created BY STUDENTS in the hours after Crouse's murder. We have raised almost $100,000 in less than a week for his family, a beautiful wife and five sons, whom I saw hurting and grieving so very much yesterday at the service. Here is the link: https://sites.google.com/site/hokiesforcrouse/

The reason I am writing is because I, as well as the rest of Hokie Nation, would greatly appreciate if you would cover this topic in your writing. Please help us spread the word to areas besides Blacksburg, VA to help with a wonderful cause. I personally believe it fit for the Daily Press to make a donation to our efforts to amend the comments degrading our "snake-bitten" campus. We all make mistakes, misjudge how our words affect others, and ultimately hurt peoples' feelings. To rescind the article is one thing, a politically correct gesture. To apologize and make the situation right is ultimately divine.

Thank you for your time. I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Carly Edwards
Virginia Tech Class of 2012
Marketing Management Major
Leadership and Social Change Minor

P.S. Tomorrow, a blog post that I wrote on Thursday will be featured on the Suffolk News Herald website. The post depicts my emotions as a Tech student who was very personally shaken by the events in 2007, and my perspective on the recent occurrences. If you would like to read my post, here is the link: http://carlykedwards.blogspot.com/2011/12/love-of-family_08.html I am a firm believer in the art of writing and the power we gain by further understanding other people.

That is all that I can think to say on this matter. I hope that this helps put things into perspective for all of us. The past week has been integral in confirming many beliefs I hold on the world and the people in it. I wish only for us all to come together and help each other. Overcome the violence with hearts filled with hope, love, and resilience

charmed and cheerful: to the editor of the Daily Press.

In response to the Daily Press's horrible article that they wrote the day after Officer Crouse was murdered in a parking lot at Virginia Tech, my daughter has requested the paper retract and apologize...and they never did....
charmed and cheerful: to the editor..: I promise myself constantly that I will not dwell on negative energy or things outside of my control. I have debated on whether to respo...

If I Had Three Extra Hours a Day...

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If I had 3 extra hours a day, I'd volunteer again to coach a youth sport in our community. For 15 years, I was able to give back to our community and coach four different sports- Football, Basketball, Baseball, and Soccer. The best part about it of course, was being able to be involved in our three children's experience in playing a youth sport. It was also very rewarding for me - being a positive role model for those kids. I really miss being able to have the time to volunteer my time for this important role model position, but we've all had to put more time into our work because of the tougher real estate market...

My wife and I always taught our kids that participating in a sport growing up is more than just being on a team and an activity to be involved in. There's alot of lessons to be learned about life. Things like Discipline, Teamwork, Sportsmanship, and Respect. Being part of a team and practicing hard, you learn how to develop a work ethic, how to be a good teammate, how to deal and overcome adversity. On one of our Pop Warner football teams, our chant at the end of our huddle before the game was "Pride, Respect, Love, Protect, Togetherness!...We are SAINTS!"

When I coached a team, I always stressed that we were not there just for winning. We wanted to take care of the little things - work hard, and the bigger things would eventually happen. Some teams were really talented and we did win a few championships, others were not so good and we used it as an opportunity to draw parallels to life, and how this was a good character builder. Some years I had kids play on my team that had no way to practice, so I would go pick them up for practice and some games. Having played sports since I was eight years old, I always felt everyone should have the chance to experience the positive benefits of "being on a team" at some point in their childhood. It broke my heart when some couldn't because of family issues.



I tried to stress the importance of character, integrity, and sportsmanship. It didn't really matter at that level whether we son or lost that game - what really mattered is how you act while you were out there on the field. That's what mattered. People a year or two from now will not remember the score of the game, they might not even remember who won. But what they WILL REMEMBER, is how you acted while you were out there on the field. They'll say, "Wow, that kid was a great kid...he/she always gave their BEST and I was always impressed with them".

I loved making a difference in the kids' lives and I tried my best to look at the BIG picture. It's very rewarding for me to see them today in high school, college, and some have gone on to their careers in the workplace. When I see them around town, I love hearing, "Hey Coach, how are you?". I miss those moments of being that positive role model, but there is a great sense of pride for me to see that I may have made a positive difference in their lives.



This was one of my basketball teams that I took to a Virginia Tech Hokie Club dinner one time when the head coach, Seth Greenberg, from Tech came to town. It was the first time most of my kids had been to an event like this. What a great memory for them and for me.



With the state of the economy, our slow real estate market, my job has required that I do more with less at work. I need more hours in a day to really do things I love. In those 15 years of coaching youth sports, I was fortunate that our business was thriving and I could volunteer my time and energy for coaching. Yes, if I had three hours a day extra today to do something extra, I'd be thankful to be a coach again for kids in my town of Smithfield, Virginia. I do miss it.

Okay Media, Keep it Real

Yesterday was NOT a good day for me. Today, I'm a little ticked about the local newspaper's slant on the tragic shooting of a Virginia Tech police officer who was murdered in his car in a a parking lot on campus. The gunman then shot himself in another Tech parking lot a few minutes later. The gunman is now reported to have stole a car Wednesday night in nearby Radford and he is not related to the school at all. Here is my letter to the reporter this morning and my daughter's blog post about the events yesterday...

To Peter Frost fo the Daily Press- I am not thrilled with the overall tone of your article today (yes, I know you reported quotes from people) and I’m not sure you fully understand how we feel as Tech alums and as a family of Hokie Nation. I had to be careful in how I answered your questions in that highly emotional time I spoke to you yesterday, but the shock of something like that can cause people to say things that later they may not feel that way, when the facts come out…

First, do not jump to conclusions in future articles involving victims and in getting opinions from people close to the situation. I hate it when reporters who search answers or bait responses that fit their narrative. I’m not saying that’s what you did, but understand that the Virginia Tech situation is unique and the wounds may never heal. As I said yesterday when you called me for a reaction (when it had just happened) we did not have ALL of the information and it was totally unrelated to our massacre in 2007 and has nothing at all to do with a “security problem” at VT. It appears the gunman now had NOTHING to do with the school and the act of violence was totally random. As I said on the phone to you, this never happens at Virginia Tech. There’s been more instances of violence and serious crimes in recent years at ODU and VCU and other campuses in the state of VA.

Reporting it as “oh not again” or “Virginia Tech is not a safe place” can come out of people who are asked the questions soon after it happens as you were doing yesterday. Once the facts are known and reported, anyone can see this was not in fact, a security problem at VT, when it is probably in fact, one of the safest places to be, and the actions by the police on campus helped to minimize any further crime. Please check out my daughter's post from yesterday linked here in hope that it will help you better understand what Hokies are feeling...

"Keep your heads up: we'll take care of you." -Responding SWAT team officers as they reassured students at Virginia Tech that they are in good hands... As we thank those who risk their lives for our safety, we also pray for the victims and their families through there time of need. God bless our law enforcement as we will prevail: We are Virginia Tech.

The quote above was posted on my son's and daughter's Facebook page today. My daughter, Carly, is a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in Marketing Management with a minor in Leadership & Social Change. My son, Tyler, is a freshman at Tech majoring in Building Construction.)

Virginia Tech- How Tech Students Felt last Thursday in the midst of the Tragic Shooting

I've decided to post my daughter's blog post from last Thursday, after the tragic shooting of a Virginia Tech police officer which took place around 12:30 pm during a routine traffic stop. (the shooter was not related to the school and was subsequently found moments later, dead. He shot himself in a nearby parking lot).

Thursday, December 8, 2011 by Carly Edwards

the love of a family

I have struggled all day with how to articulate how I feel in light of the events that occurred on the Virginia Tech campus early this afternoon. I have spent the day with my roommate and close friends; offering support to each other at such an unsure time.

I recognize that terrible things happen in the world, and we will never be able to escape them. It is especially painful for our university to be the victim of such senseless violence after the devastation in 2007. I am saddened by the fact that so many are quick to judge the circumstances because of the past. I am disappointed that people make assumptions without grounds to base their judgement. These rash conclusions deepen the hurt in our hearts from years ago. When it comes down to it, there is violence everywhere. But there is also love. At the end of today, a brave man lost his life, and that should be the thing on everyone's minds.

A VTPD Officer lost his life today while on the job. This is the community that he represented, and to say anything less of it is not only disrespectful but also ignorant. No one ever deserves hate or violence or strife. We are not a campus of violence. We are NOT a community of criminals.

We are 27,000 members of one of the most tight-knit families in the nation. My heart breaks from the events of today, and my prayers go to the officer's family. Senseless acts happen in the world, but to overcome them we must stand together. This university has made me the person I am today, and I will defend it the rest of my life. I stand here firm in my belief that being a Hokie is the greatest privilege in the world.

I am so grateful for the security system we now have in place here. I am glad that I felt informed throughout the day. I am eternally thankful for the brave men and women who give their time and their lives to protect us. The police force on campus and in the surrounding area was truly a blessing, and it warms my heart to see people coming together out of love and support. To me, that is the Hokie community. That is Virginia Tech. Terrible events can happen anywhere. Never before have I seen such dedication to protecting and defending a community. Some people will continue to pass callous judgement about the school and question my own decision to reside in Blacksburg. Some will try to deter others from attending or visiting the university. I am so sad for these individuals because they will not ever know the love, support, pride, duty, community, and brotherhood that this school truly represents and instills in its members.

Let us not forget those affected by the tragedy of 2007. I send my deepest sympathies. I cannot imagine how these news reports and phone calls and comments make you feel. I think of you always and carry you in my heart

In remembrance of the Hokies lost, both today and in the years past; we continue in your honor.

"find a healing for the pain. see the sun beyond the rain. we've got the strength to endure until we feel more secure. in a world full of hate, we've got to become something great. oh, god send your mercy this way. we're all hokies today." we're all hokies today by season

"Keep your heads up: we'll take care of you." -Responding SWAT team officers as they reassured students at Virginia Tech that they are in good hands... As we thank those who risk their lives for our safety, we also pray for the victims and their families through there time of need. God bless our law enforcement as we will prevail: We are Virginia Tech.

(The quote above was posted on my son's and daughter's Facebook page today. My daughter, Carly, is a senior at Virginia Tech, majoring in Marketing Management with a minor in Leadership & Social Change. My son, Tyler, is a freshman at Tech majoring in Building Construction.)

charmed and cheerful: invent the future

charmed and cheerful: invent the future: Last night, one of my favorite professors, John Boyer, hosted a Skype session with Burmese democracy leader and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aun...

Discover a Great Sense of Neighborhood at Founders Pointe, a waterfront community in Virginia

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Founders Pointe offers alot of Activities for Kids all Year Long. Check out the latest pictures below of the annual Halloween party at the Residents' Club. Founders Pointe is a waterfront community with only 319 single family homesites located near the small town of Smithfield, Virginia.

Last month, the Founders Pointe Residents' Club held it's annual Night of Fright Halloween Carnival for the children. the Activities Director plans socials and activities every month for the residents. Club dues are only $87/ month which also includes maintenance of the common areas- a great value.

The centerpiece of Founders Pointe are the exceptional resort-style recreational amenities the community has to offer.

• Residents’ Club with swimming pool and 112′ water slide
• 844′ observation pier offering panoramic views of Batten Bay and the James River
• 3 miles of biking/leisure trails and sidewalks
• playground and sand volleyball court
• Full-time activities director coordinating year-round events for all ages.



To see what fun is in store, visit the Founders Pointe Resident’s Club website.

In addition to hosting sporting and fitness activities, the clubhouse serves as a center for holiday celebrations, themed social events for adults, and special interest clubs. A full-time activities director keeps the community’s social calendar full with a year-round schedule of exciting events. The clubhouse’s swimming pool and waterslide is augmented by a children’s playground and sand volleyball court. Both children and adults make use of the network of nearly three miles of sidewalks and walking trails that wind throughout the community.

An observation pier overlooks Batten Bay, with views reaching to the James River and the Hampton Roads. Founders Pointe provides a nurturing environment in which children can thrive and adults can relax. Whether you are young, or simply young at heart, going outside to play is conveniently rewarding.

Celebrating College Football is a Way of Life

Lina Edwards prepares to stir the chili she’s been working on for a couple of days ahead of the Blacksburg party

Football? You bet!

Suffolk News Hearald article

 

By Andrew Giermak and Res Spears III (these guys came up to Blacksburg for our tailgate)

What do you get when you combine a fanatical devotion to college football and season tickets to your favorite team’s home games? Tailgating, of course.

It’s a staple of the college football scene, and fans take part in the tradition all across the nation, with lively debates over who does it best. Are the linen tablecloths and catered appetizers at one school more appropriate for the pregame celebration than plastic cups and grilled bratwursts of another? It might be harder to reach an agreement on that topic than to get Democrats and Republicans to agree on a way to reduce the deficit.

Clearly, the ways to enjoy a good tailgate party are as varied as the universities and colleges where they spring up on Saturdays throughout the fall. After putting out a call to veteran tailgaters from several of Virginia’s top schools early this fall, the Suffolk Living staff tagged along one cold Saturday with the first to call us back with an invitation.

Our assignment could have taken us to the University of Virginia, James Madison, Old Dominion, William and Mary or any one of the commonwealth’s other fine institutions of higher learning. But the Hokies were quickest on the draw, so we headed to Blacksburg, where for years the Edwards family has been setting up an elaborate spread on football Saturdays in a parking lot near Lane Stadium.

To say that Virginia Tech fans enjoy their pregame festivities is about as much an understatement as saying they get excited when “Enter Sandman” blasts throughout Lane Stadium and the Hokies storm onto the field a couple of minutes before kickoff.

For people like 1984 Tech grads Mark and Lina Edwards, the tailgate party is an art perfected through years of devotion. They’ve been tailgating at home games and bowl appearances for so long that the art has become science.

Every time there’s a home football game, the Edwards family packs up the Yukon and heads to
Blacksburg. Grill, card tables, slow-cookers, radios, blow-up decorations, tents and a variety of beverages fill the back of the vehicle, with Mark and Lina and 15-year-old Will sitting up front. In Blacksburg, they’ll meet daughter Carly, a Nansemond-Suffolk alum and Virginia Tech senior, and son Tyler, who is a couple of months into his freshman year at Tech. By the time the game starts, the tents will be full of food and dozens of old and new friends there to enjoy the party.

“I graduated in ’84 and have been coming to every (home) game possible ever since,” Mark said. “We go to most of the games at Virginia, Wake, Carolina. We’ve been to Charlotte for the ACC championship, Atlanta and Miami for bowl games.”

Each football weekend is a family reunion. It’s always, homecoming or not, a class reunion, as well.
On this Saturday, with a kickoff under the lights against Clemson drawing closer, friends from Dallas, Seattle and New England know where to find the Edwards’ tailgate party.

Beneath a pair of large tents a long field goal attempt away from Lane Stadium, they find enough chili, brats, nachos, ham biscuits and fried chicken to make any Southerner happy, along with snacks, sweets and beverages of all types.

Will, 15, is the grillmaster and true Hokie football historian. He’s right on point for anything Virginia Tech’s done on the gridiron in the last decade. Dad turns to him for any score, stat or trivia that stumps him, even if they were both at the same game.

The opportunity for joking, remembering, razzing and breaking down football with friends — as though 30 years is the same as last weekend — is what draws everyone to the food and the seven-foot-tall inflated orange and maroon turkey that stands beside the Edwards’ tents. Camaraderie spreads equally from father to son, as well as between classmates who’ve seen the Hokies for decades.
Ray England, also VPI Class of ’84, made a 24-hour round-trip drive, leaving Rhode Island on Thursday to make it to the game.

“The stadium, both sides, were wooden grandstands,” England recalled of his years at Tech.
Now, Lane Stadium rivals an NFL stadium with the number of luxury suites and can hold just under 70,000 fans.

“It was nothing at all like it is now,” England said. “We were big fans. We loved coming to the games, but you’d come to the game, and that was about all.”
Things are, indeed, different today.

Early in the afternoon, there seems to be an incredible amount of food arrayed beneath the Edwards’ tents. But about two hours before kickoff, the younger Hokies show up and suddenly, the buffet seems smaller. The chili doesn’t stand a chance of returning to Smithfield.

“I think Tyler goes into the dining hall, stands up and says, ‘Hey, does anyone want free food?’” Mark joked.

Once a friend, or even a friend of a friend, joins the Edwards tailgate, he or she is invited back for good.

Even opposing teams’ fans are invited into this Hokie huddle. Clemson fans, met while hanging out in Blacksburg Friday night, were invited. Texas A&M and Nebraska fans, when the vaunted Aggies and Cornhuskers traveled to Blacksburg, were outstanding people to get to know, Mark said.
“At the end of the day, it’s just a football game. You’ve got to have fun. It’s all about enjoying the time here,” Edwards said.

But football is still the reason for the party, and these are hardcore football fans.

With kickoff nearing, Mark puts on his lucky No. 50 Hokie jersey, a jersey old enough to have a Big East logo on it. Will recalls that it hasn’t always been so lucky, mentioning a Miami game in 2005 and the 2010 James Madison game as blemishes on the power of the jersey.

And on this cold, rainy Saturday night, before a crowd of 70,000 and a national audience via ESPN, the lucky jersey proved powerless before the might of a Clemson team destined to be ranked in the Top 10 and set on making the Hokies’ tailgate parties the highlight of the home fans’ day.
Sunday would find the Edwards family saying their goodbyes, packing up the Yukon and heading back to Smithfield, mourning the Hokies’ first loss of the season. But there would be other Saturdays, and, as the University of Miami would learn the following week, there’s still a bit of luck left in Mark’s old jersey.

 

Virginia Tech Football Weekends- Live Close to What Matters Most

Hokie Nation - Live Close to What Matters Most

This Slideshow video chronicles my daughter's last four years of attending Virginia Tech football games as an undergradurate student - from the Orange Bowl trips to the annual Commonwealth Cup showdowns with our instate rival. While the current seniors may have mixed emotions about this Thursday night being their "last home game" as a student, it's really just beginning.

After graduating from Virginia Tech in 1984, my wife and I didn't purchase season tickets until 1994. We've been tailgating every fall ever since and Blacksburg has become our home away from home. We meet many new friends every season and it's been especially sweet since we've has two kids attending Tech now as students (one's a senior and one's a freshman).

It has been long been a tradition for Hokie Nation to return to Lane Stadium every fall to support their beloved Hokie football team, and spend countless Saturday afternoons and Thursday nights with friends and family. Part of being a Tech fan is attending the games of course, but it's more about being around a place that you love with people that you care for.

Oh yeah, Virginia Tech is 9-1, ranked #8 in the Bowl Championship Series poll, and they play North Carolina Thursday night. We'll be there, of course, wearing orange and maroon.

Go Hokies.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DB0ro5cyMc&feature=player_embedded



Some photos credits- www.hokiesports.com, and Ivan Morosov (http://www.ivanmphotography.com/)