National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA News Archive - 2007
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Opinions
The NCAA News
Walter Harrison, president
University of Hartford
Letter to university community
“This tragedy, as well as other recent violent events at universities around the world, is particularly shattering to those of us in the higher education community. Universities should be open and caring communities of scholars and learners, dedicated to an exchange of ideas and the emotional and educational growth of our students. We are, at this university and at all universities around the world, planting the seeds of hope for a better world in the future. In light of this tragic event, we must rededicate ourselves to this mission.”
David Ward, president
American Council on Education
Public statement
“Incidents such as these are as tragic as they are rare on American college campuses. Unfortunately it seems no workplace or community institution is immune from random gun violence—whether it is a local school, small business, shopping mall or place of worship. College campuses remain vulnerable, despite state-of-the-art security efforts, because they remain free and open places of discourse that preclude total control of movement on campus. Obviously, campus officials around the country will use this incident as an occasion to revisit their own security and emergency preparedness policies.”
Jay Hardwick, men’s golf coach
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hokiesports.com
“This week certainly puts things in perspective and shows how insignificant winning actually is. But, we hope in some small way this (Virginia Tech’s surprising Atlantic Coast Conference tournament cochampionship) will help to start the healing process for our Hokie family.”
Alan J. Hauser, president-elect
Faculty Athletics Representatives Association
FARA Voice
“As I reflect on this tragedy and struggle, trying to make some sense out of these horrific events, I take comfort in the way our common humanity has bonded us together. Mindless violence does not discriminate. The slaughter did not focus on males or on females, on whites or on African-Americans, on Eastern Europeans or on scholars from India, on Middle Easterners or on Indonesians. All groups suffered, and all of us suffer with each and every one of them. This tragedy, which began with the worst kind of brutality of which humans are capable, has also brought out the best in all of us: compassion, love, comfort, hope and support for one another. The walls which sometimes divide us seem so petty in the face of such a disaster, as we huddle together and nurture one another. If we have the will to tear down the walls that divide us in less troubling times, these sisters and brothers will not have died in vain.”
Joe Paterno, football coach
Pennsylvania State University
Pottsville (Pennsylvania) Republican & Herald
“You see all of those Penn State kids with Virginia Tech colors on (during Penn State’s spring football game). My wife’s here in maroon and orange. To see all of those kids, you realize there’s something about intercollegiate athletics...it’s special. You’ve got to be almost fascinated by it and proud to be a part of it.”
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The NCAA News
Virginia Tech massacre
Walter Harrison, president
University of Hartford
Letter to university community
“This tragedy, as well as other recent violent events at universities around the world, is particularly shattering to those of us in the higher education community. Universities should be open and caring communities of scholars and learners, dedicated to an exchange of ideas and the emotional and educational growth of our students. We are, at this university and at all universities around the world, planting the seeds of hope for a better world in the future. In light of this tragic event, we must rededicate ourselves to this mission.”
David Ward, president
American Council on Education
Public statement
“Incidents such as these are as tragic as they are rare on American college campuses. Unfortunately it seems no workplace or community institution is immune from random gun violence—whether it is a local school, small business, shopping mall or place of worship. College campuses remain vulnerable, despite state-of-the-art security efforts, because they remain free and open places of discourse that preclude total control of movement on campus. Obviously, campus officials around the country will use this incident as an occasion to revisit their own security and emergency preparedness policies.”
Jay Hardwick, men’s golf coach
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hokiesports.com
“This week certainly puts things in perspective and shows how insignificant winning actually is. But, we hope in some small way this (Virginia Tech’s surprising Atlantic Coast Conference tournament cochampionship) will help to start the healing process for our Hokie family.”
Alan J. Hauser, president-elect
Faculty Athletics Representatives Association
FARA Voice
“As I reflect on this tragedy and struggle, trying to make some sense out of these horrific events, I take comfort in the way our common humanity has bonded us together. Mindless violence does not discriminate. The slaughter did not focus on males or on females, on whites or on African-Americans, on Eastern Europeans or on scholars from India, on Middle Easterners or on Indonesians. All groups suffered, and all of us suffer with each and every one of them. This tragedy, which began with the worst kind of brutality of which humans are capable, has also brought out the best in all of us: compassion, love, comfort, hope and support for one another. The walls which sometimes divide us seem so petty in the face of such a disaster, as we huddle together and nurture one another. If we have the will to tear down the walls that divide us in less troubling times, these sisters and brothers will not have died in vain.”
Joe Paterno, football coach
Pennsylvania State University
Pottsville (Pennsylvania) Republican & Herald
“You see all of those Penn State kids with Virginia Tech colors on (during Penn State’s spring football game). My wife’s here in maroon and orange. To see all of those kids, you realize there’s something about intercollegiate athletics...it’s special. You’ve got to be almost fascinated by it and proud to be a part of it.”
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