VT Review Board to go inside Buildings

By: Matusleo
Published On: 5/20/2007 8:02:07 PM

The first people likely to enter Norris Hall since the events of April 16 will be members of Gov. Kaine's commission to investigate the shootings.  This will be happening tomorrow first thing in the morning.  Later, at 10:30, the commission will meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech and hold public hearings.

The story is in the Roanoke Times.
The Inn at Virginia Tech is fairly new to Blacksburg.  It opened in the fall of 2005, shortly after I left my beloved home for a job in Pittsburgh.  I watched this place go up, and last March I finally had the opportunity to see it for myself.  It is a gorgeous facility that complements the campus well.

I have always loved the brickwork facades of Virginia Tech, it gives an air of medieval antiquity to the place. 

I am also glad to hear that the commission will be seeing Norris and West Ambler Johnston.  While I never had the opportunity to go in the latter, I taught classes in the former.  When I saw the building two weekends ago, it was cordoned off with cop cars watching to make sure no one went in.

If you are in Blacksburg area on Monday, please go to the public hearings for the commission.  This issue touches all of us regardless of our politics, and it is my hope that Kaine's commission will bring this matter to a satisfying close. 

Kaine will be remembered in many places by how he responds and what he does about this tragedy.  It is sad to say that a tragedy can have a greater impact on a politicians fortune, but it is certainly the case here.  I have confidence that Kaine will shine, but let us allow not even a moment for doubt.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

Comments



What should be done with Norris Hall? (mkfox - 5/20/2007 10:34:00 PM)
Among the suggestions I've heard:
* Return it to use as a classroom building
* Turn it into an office/storage building
* Rename it after Prof. Librescu
* Turn it into a museum of some kind
* Tear it down and replace it with some kind of memorial garden/statue and/or new building

Other famed tragedy locations' fate:
* Top floors of former Texas schoolbook depository is a museum
* Observation deck of University of Texas clocktower still in use (through guided tours only)
* Columbine High School library was torn down and replaced with a memorial garden (new library built nearby)
* Former World Trade Center site to be replaced with 1776-foot-tall Freedom Tower



As few changes as possible (Matusleo - 5/22/2007 5:13:42 AM)
As a Hokie, and a former instructor who taught classes in Norris Hall, I think it should be changed as little as possible.  A memorial on the second floor is needed, yes, but future students should have the privilege of studying and taking courses in Norris.  They need to be where it happened, to dispel the myths and turn the nightmares into bad dreams that fade with the break of dawn.

I would not support tearing down Norris Hall, nor should it be turned into another office building, some place that most students would then be removed from. 

Life can never be the same, and Norris Hall will never be the same.  I recognize this.  But life must also move forward, and try to be as close to what is was before as is possible, while doing what is necessary to prevent another tragedy from happening.

That said, this situation is different from 9/11 in that Norris Hall still stands.  There is a bit of inertia there that was lacking with the World Trade Towers.

Matusleo
Ut Prosim