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A few minutes ago, the news broke across Twitter that someone had been shot on the campus of Virginia Tech. Covering the news for BlogHer today, I felt my stomach clench: not again.
I found myself recalling Professor Kim Pearson's advice here on BlogHer on covering tragedy:
Whatever the reactions, and whoever we are, it is the human response that must be remembered, protected and honored. As with physicians, the cardinal rule for journalists and bloggers covering a tragedy of this dimension should be, "First, do no harm."
And the powerful words of Leslie Madsen Brooks, who wrote:
I take it personally when schools and universities find themselves in this maelstrom of violence. I can't help but feel that someone has invaded my classroom, threatened my students, destroyed my sense of security. I wonder what this means for me - as a teacher in the past, as a professor now: will it change the way we operate? will it alter the way we think? will it have no affect at all?
I'm following @CollegiateTimes and #HokiesUnited and watching the outpouring of support and concern coming from all over the world for Virginia Tech. If you hear of news, please leave updates in the comments.
UPDATE 4 pm CT during press conference: A police officer is dead and his identity has not yet been released. Another victim is also dead, the police did not shoot him and they won't comment on whether or not he shot himself/is the shooter.
UPDATE 8:30 am CT 12/9 From The Washington Post:
Both the police officer and a second person shot dead on the campus of Virginia Tech on Thursday were killed with the same gun, police said early Friday. Authorities believe the second person approached the officer during a routine traffic stop and killed him, then used the gun to take his own life 30 minutes later, as police were closing in.
Rita Arens authors Surrender Dorothy and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak. She is BlogHer's assignment and syndication editor.
