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April 23, 2007
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Last week's Virginia Tech tragedy has not changed the minds of many prospective students interested in attending the school. The response on campus has made some of them more determined to go there.Lindsey Barsanti, a senior at Hershey High School in Hershey, Penn., took a tour of Virginia Tech Tuesday.
"I loved it," Barsanti said. "I love it here. I'll probably go here."
Barsanti and her dad, Ron, had planned to take the tour last Thursday, but had to reschedule.
The university canceled last week's tours after Seung-Hui Cho, a senior at Virginia Tech, went on a shooting spree April 16 that left 33 dead, including himself.
Barsanti said she felt weird touring the campus knowing what had happened. She saw lots of police, buildings surrounded by caution tape and notices on nearly every door asking media to respect the students and leave.
"It seems so safe and friendly," she said.
The safety of this campus does not worry Barsanti and her dad. A similar tragedy can happen anywhere, her father said. He would not be more worried about his daughter attending Virginia Tech than about his children who attend other universities.
Prospective students will think about how the tragedy has affected the campus and decide not to apply, or they will see how the Virginia Tech students have become closer and stronger and will want to apply, her father said.
Barsanti was accepted at four other universities, but Virginia Tech is one of her top choices, followed by Penn State. Five other students at Barsanti's high school were interested in Virginia Tech, and she said the shooting has not changed their minds.
Tour guide Bobby Bowman said the number of students taking tours is down from two weeks ago, but that's mostly because many schools had spring break then.
James Sullivan and his father, John, have spent the past week touring colleges. They said they debated coming after last week's shootings, but decided to show their support for the university.
Sullivan is a junior at Tenafly High School in Tenafly, N.J. He is trying to decide which universities to apply to, and his high school counselor recommended Virginia Tech for its civil engineering and architecture departments.
The shootings will not change his mind about applying to Virginia Tech, Sullivan said. If anything, he will be more likely come here now.
After the tour, Sullivan said he was attracted to the campus' stone buildings and the support portrayed by the students. In the wake of the recent tragedy, the community has stepped forward in its maroon and orange and shown its true colors.
Karen McIntyre can be reached at kmcintyre@theorion.com
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Read more of The Orion's on-location coverage of Virginia Tech:
- Virginia Tech tragedy
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