In my attempt to comment on the events of Virginia Tech, I will try not to preach or lose the true intent of my words. The events that occurred two days ago at Virginia Tech are ones we should work toward not committing to memory.

I mean that Virginia Tech should not become what previous incidents of this type of violence has become. Today, we use previous acts of violence as points of reference and comparison, but I rarely see a move to change policy or correct social ills that cause people to lash out at one another.

While I was walking down Lucinda Avenue looking for a cup of coffee and a place to type a paper, I came across the players of the Humans vs. Zombies game, which is played on campus. I asked Nicole Van Brooker, an anthropology major and one of the organizers of the game, why such a seemingly large amount of the players were congregating in one spot. She explained that the group had called an emergency meeting to discuss possibly canceling the game in consideration of the events at Virginia Tech. Because the game is played with toy Nerf guns and simulates violence, I could understand the point of the meeting.

I don’t particularly know how much of an effect violence in the media has anymore. I will admit to becoming jaded, desensitized and, to an extent, demoralized when I see death on television or read about it in the paper. Obviously, there are still some people who consider their actions and the actions of people they only hear about in the news to be connected. I spoke later with Emily Sturnfield, another organizer of Humans vs. Zombies, about the group’s decision to finally alter the rules of their game slightly and even move activities away from the main areas of campus. The decision was one the group made out of respect. My chance meeting with the game’s members reminded me that even in the most unlikely of places, a person can still find some respect for the loss of others.

I am not making a declaration about violence, gun control or any issue we could easily blame for what happened at Virginia Tech and all the other times of needless slaughter in recent years. I am stating that we – as people – need to consider how our actions affect those around us and consciously analyze our place in this world. There is a famous saying: The group is only as strong as its weakest link. We have come to a point where protecting the safety of people is not an unrealistic goal; we still grow distant from reality and commit our opinions to the immediate news broadcast. The events at Virginia Tech are a tragedy. It is not an event to be used in reference; it should stand as a reminder that every person has much to commit to the improvement of a less-than-perfect world.