Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

News

UH mourns Va. Tech tragedy

University offers counceling for those with needs

by KELSIE HAHN
The Daily Cougar

In the wake of the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, the University of Houston is reaching out to those affected by the tragedy here at home.

UH President Jay Gogue called for a moment of silence at noon Tuesday in solidarity with the grief being experienced by the eastern school in a message sent by e-mail to students that morning.

"We know more about what happened and about the events that led up to this tragedy," he wrote. "Knowledge, however, does not always help us make sense of the senseless."

Gogue also reached out to those with connections to the tragedy in Virginia, reminding the campus that Counseling and Psychological Services is available for anyone wanting to talk.

"All of us here at the University of Houston hold you in our thoughts and prayers, just as we hold the victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers," he wrote.

Students said they were shocked and saddened by news of Monday's shootings, which left 33 dead, including the gunman.

"I just hate that it happened, such a tragedy," sociology junior Cedric Houston said. "I was sad for everyone."

Houston said he empathized with those affected, the victims as well as the students unharmed in the attack whose their time at Virginia Tech will forever be overshadowed by Monday's events.

"That would be hard to deal with," he said.

Some students said the killings called for all college campuses to re-evaluate their security measures and crisis response proceedings.

"It just goes to show that the level of security should be heightened for all college campuses," Houston said. "This could just as easily have happened here at UH. Really easily."

Houston said he still feels safe on campus, but that he would like to see more communication and a greater security presence at night.

"More of a campus security presence would be more of a deterrent," he said.

Several entities on campus, including CAPS and the A.D. Bruce Religion Center, are available to students affected by the tragedy or would like to talk to someone.

Norma Ngo, assistant director of CAPS, said responses to times of national tragedy vary by the individual.

"Often times immediately following a crisis, individuals need time to process what happened," she said. "Some reactions can be immediate while others are delayed, and can vary in levels of intensity … Currently, we have not seen many students seeking counseling specifically related to the Virginia Tech tragedy, but this may increase in the upcoming weeks."

CAPS encourages individuals to look to their personal needs during times of tragedy by avoiding extra stress and expressing their feelings in whatever way is most comfortable, whether through a counselor, family, friends, journal or other outlets, as well as taking the time to listen to others.

Ngo said CAPS' main concern is to reach out to those in need.

"CAPS joins the rest of the UH community in expressing our sadness and comforting thoughts to the Virginia Tech community, and to everyone at UH who is affected in any way by this tragedy," she said. "We encourage our diverse UH community to come together and support each other during this very difficult time."

The Rev. Stacey Pever Anzick, director of the Wesley Foundation with United Methodist Campus Ministry, said feelings of fear and uncertainty are normal, but should be dealt with constructively. 

"Virginia Tech's a campus similar to ours. It's largely a commuter school, so I'm sure it raises some anxiety for students here even if they weren't connected directly to Virginia Tech," she said. "It's easy at a time like this to want to blame instead of admitting that we're scared … to blame (the shooter's) family because they made him that way or want to blame God or want to blame religion."

Pointing fingers, however, is not the best way to respond, she said.

"It's a matter of admitting our fear and admitting our grief, even if we know no one. 

There's still this sense of, ‘If that can happen there it can happen to me," she said. "We don't admit fear, and there's nothing wrong with the emotion of fear, it's how we deal with it that matters."

Pever Anzick said a candle would be lit in remembrance of victims of the shooting at the A. D. Bruce Religion Center's annual memorial service, which had already been scheduled for today at noon. A candle light specifically for Virginia Tech students is also being planned 5:30 p.m. Thursday, location pending. Cards and poster board will be provided for participants to record notes, thoughts and prayers to be sent on to the campus ministry at Virginia Tech.

Ministers are also available to talk at the Religion Center, Pever Anzick said.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Virginia Tech family," she said. "We're here, we're aware, we're available."

The Religion Center can be contacted at (713) 743-5050. Appointments with CAPS can be made by calling (713) 743-5454 or at the front desk in Room 226 of the Student Service Center during regular business hours. 

Emergency 24-hour counseling is also available by contacting the UH Police Department at (713) 743-3333.

 Send comments to dcnews@mail.uh.edu