Knox College Offers Condolences to Virginia Tech

Knox College offers its condolences to the students, families, and employees of Virginia Tech. Our hearts go out to the entire campus and their families. All of us at Knox send our thoughts and prayers to the students, families, faculty and staff who have been affected by this horror.

The sudden, senseless nature of this tragedy reminds us of the special nature of our campus community. It should also remind us that taking care of each other is important to our own well-being, and Knox students are encouraged to get in touch with their families.

Message from President Roger Taylor to the Knox campus, Friday, April 20, 2007:

Consistent with a proclamation from Governor Blagojevich, the Old Main bell will ring for one minute today (April 20, 2007) at 11:00 a.m. in memory of those who lost their lives at Virginia Tech. I encourage all members of the Knox Community to observe a moment of silence then for all whose lives have been touched by the tragedy.

Roger Taylor, '63
President, Knox College

Resolution passed unanimously by the Knox College Student Senate, Thursday, April 19, 2007:

To the community of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,

As a college community we were shocked, saddened and heartbroken by the senseless acts of tragic violence that took place on your campus Monday, April 16, 2007.

Knox College is a small college of 1,351 students bound together by our desire to learn, and to enjoy the company of one another. Although hundreds of miles separate us we are still deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place on Monday.

Your college community was shattered on that day and words cannot express our outrage at these unspeakable acts and sincere hope that all members of the Virginia Tech community can come together in the aftermath.

Abraham Lincoln, who spoke at Knox College in 1858, and whose leadership and strength we as a College value, once wrote, "The strongest bond of human sympathy, outside of the family relation, should be one uniting all working people, of all nations, and tongues, and kindreds." We are bound together, the Knox College community and yours, by our collegiate atmosphere, and our sympathy for the members of the Virginia Tech community is immeasurable.

We mourn for and reflect on the fallen, the families and the friends. We hope that each member of the Virginia Tech community, in his or her own way, can deal with this shocking and despicable event. The students of Knox College extend to the community of Virginia Tech our thoughts, prayers, sympathy, hope and much more, to each and every one affected by this horrible disaster.

With hope for a better future for all,
The student body of Knox College