Our hearts go out to the Va Tech familiy. Although we cannot make sense of such a tragedy, Va. Tech needs the kind thoughts and prayers from all over the world. Prayers can provide comfort and show all that we, the public, feel their sorrow deeply. That these young lives were snuffed out before they had a chance to sample life and reach their potentials. From the stories I have read each of these students and the faculty had so much to share with our Nation. I feel so terribly sad for their families and also sad for the family of Mr. Cho. He needs our prayers and sympathy also. Only a deeply troubled soul could have committed such a horrendous act. As a Nation we need to help the healing process with our kindness.

Since 911, we are still not changing. This was preventable. Schools, no matter what the size, need to change security. They need to have single Entrances in, and out. Identification, and metal detectors. Students need to report anyone who is having problems, and they need to get medical help. Students in college, could earn money, filling those jobs. Same as they do in the Military. Only a few ways in, and you are not going to get in without ID, and they house a lot more people. Get a PA system, and cameras, and really watch what goes on. Espicialy college, over protect them. For most of them, its the first time they have ever left home.

Three weeks ago my 14 year old daughter experienced something so eeiry familiar, it is frightening. A loner, much like this young man in her class room remarked, "look at those garbage bags, those are the ones, they will be using as body bags to carry out Kerri and Abby when I am done with them."

My daughter, Kerri, reported it and action was taken. Surprisingly, I feel sorry for the young man, even as I feel scared for my daughter and her friend.

When the Virginia situation happened, I drove immediately to the high school and asked, "What about the young man in question? Is my daughter safe?"

The situation is so parallel.

I feel so much sympathy for everyone and yes, believe or not, for the shooter. He was a lost soul a long time ago. What if he had been brought into someone's circle way back? Could it have been prevented?

When my daughter speaks of the the loathing she has for the young man who is bothering her now, I can't help but feel a mixture of fear for her and sympathy for him. They are both victims aren't they?

I pray this situation does not end like the one in Virginia. We need to join hearts and souls around the nation to heal the broken to prevent more tragedy.

I think we must learn from this horrible incident. Matt is right, we can and MUST find a way to diagnose, treat and monitor those with psychological imbalances. I live in New York City. Our mentally handicapped people are left to live on the city streets. No one cares for them, unless they stumble upon some kind volunteers, and they do not posess the ability or tools to care for themselves. They present (often, but not always) a certain element of danger for others, and for themselves only because no-one wants to take on responsibility for "taking away their rights". For so many reasons, including whatever caused this boy/man to go on a shooting rampage, we must find a way to fix this. A loving, caring way. Because sometimes the most loving thing you can do for a person goes against their freedom or ability to see what is best. So who's job is it so solve this problem? Congress? Psychology? Me? You? I don't know the answer to this--wish I did. All I know is we must continue to raise the question until it is answered.

whats done is done now is time for prevenative measures what is going to be done to prevent this fom happening again?

Nice work on this one. I have been to the campus many times when I went to GW in DC. I always felt welcomed there by all kinds of people.

Thanks for showing the human side of this rather than just the entertainment side that some members of the press produce.

What stands out the most to me is how presentable, eloquent and intelligent all of the students who have spoken to media at VT are – even in light of this horrible tragedy. Even when the media tries to push them into saying something about what the media perceives to be the wrong way the university officers handled the events of Monday morning, they stand behind the university and their leaders and are proud to be a part of the VT community. They are all representing VT with such grace and honor.

As I recently completed my MBA studies at the VT-Northern VA campus, I am also proud to say I am a part of the VT community. They are all in my thoughts and prayers

I think the way Matt and Meredith have handled the interviews with victims families, friends and teachers very well. They were respectful and delicate with everyone. Just goes to show why the Today Show and it's hosts are the leaders in am news.

Matt:

I was truly touched and impressed with the coverage you and Meredith provided at V Tech. You both displayed such warmth and compassion, in a time when it was greatly needed. You didn't just report the facts, you reported the emotion and true feelings of every one at V Tech, along with their incredible spirit and resolve. I know it was probably one of the hardest stories you and Meredith have had to cover. You both are a great team and you both are the ones I turn to when it comes to getting my news - especially when it's news involving such strong emotions.

I agree in that we truly need to figure out a way to help disturbed individuals like the shooter at V Tech. How could he have slipped through so many holes? Every one who knew him said they thought he was "off." Warning signs were written all over the wall with this shooter, especially when he would not speak for 20 seconds before answering a question. How does someone like that get through college classes and become a senior about to graduate with that type of persona? Something has to be done. We cannot just let these people walk around like ticking time bombs. SOMETHING has to be done. Now!

Thanks Matt and Meredith for your warm and compassionate reporting! Continued thoughts and prayers for V Tech.

Matt,
There must be something in the administrative field at an educational facility that will allow the teaching facuty to demand counseling or some avenue. Maybe if there had been other actions taken this terrible lost of life would not have occured. The heroes and the slaughtered hopefully will always be remembered to us all.
God Bless The Ones In Sorrow!!

Not going to the media or NOT talking about it is what de-sensitizes so many. It makes it not real - as if it did not happen. The same people that say "why go to the media so soon after tragedy?" are the same that complain of the numbing of America or life in general, toward violence.
It happened. and happened. and happened. These senseless killings hurt each time. Why do I pay attention each time and cry --- some of asked me?? BECAUSE we have people like Matt Lauer who bring the story home. It is OUR kids that are being shot down. Disfunctional or whatever!..we are alllll involved. We are allll affected...
I have 4 college.....what can I say. The media is what I depend on for news / I have to find the right sources to watch. Long & short is thanks Matt and MSNBC crew. God I wish it would stop happening as I know all of you wish the same. Wish this was a bad dream only.......

I am mortified by this man's actions. My sympathies to the friends, families and survivors of this tragedy. The souls lost are with the Lord, now. This morning, on one of the news stations, a scroll read that Cho had posted on face.com "I am going to kill someone today', posted prior to the massacre. Have you researched this? I cannot find it but am in no way Blog savvy. Please respond.

Have the authorities or the media contacted/interviewed Cho's family to learn about his family life or his past?

I watched the show this morning, and was actually taken aback not only by Ms.Roy's eloquence, butthat of each of person interviewed. In a time of such great loss, every person interviewed presented themselves in a way that speaks volumes of Virginia Tech. Meredith spoke with a young lady who had survived Columbine only to experience that same type of loss now, 8 years later. She expressed her reluctance to appear on the show because she said that the media presence made it difficult for the community to start the healing process and get back to its norm. Even with this, she served as such a great voice of wisdom. While the entire country mourns with the VT & Blacksburg communities, the reality of this terrible situation would be difficult to grasp without hearing about how each victim lived and not just how the died.
My question to you Matt, is how do you as a journalist deal with this type of devastating story (that seems to be more and more prevalent) without becoming immune to the horror?

way to wedge yourself into the story... oh i'm sure they just loved having your cameras shoved in their faces while they grieved

"What strikes you first of all was how articulate and eloquent Roy was"

WOW! what a shocker, a professor at a major university is articulate! Definitely worth point out.

"Viewers often ask why family members do interviews with the media so close to a tragedy, so close to losing a loved one. And here again, we see the reason why: While many don’t want to talk, the ones who did wanted to put a face on the tragedy."

translation: we shove microphones and cameras in so many peoples faces, someones bound to want to talk.

My son was a student at VT till '03, resided at West Ambler for a while, completed his undergrad and grad degree in Engineering there. As a parent, I have been to Blacksburg more times than I can count. Your impression of this beautiful town is so very true.

I might add that it's also a town comprised of students from all over the USA and many different countries so representative of young people from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is ordinarily a busy, active town bustling with exuberant youth, life and happiness.

I hope we will keep in mind that there are inevitably students who are very shy, who keep to themselves, who have a hard time connecting with others. They are almost always sensitive, caring, loving young men and women who may just need extra encouragement in order to open up.

Lucinda Roy's experience trying to get help for Cho Seung-Hui when she realized how seriously disturbed he was exemplifies the unreliability of that approach. Her willingness to get involved as she did was nothing less than an act of courage.

One thing is very clear to this former VT parent. Most if not all of those innocent victims would be alive today if Cho had been prevented from purchasing those deadly assault weapons.

My prayers and my heart go out to the parents, relatives, loved ones of the victims of this sad, sad tragedy.

I watched the show this morning, and was actually taken aback not only by Ms.Roy's eloquence, butthat of each of person interviewed. In a time of such great loss, every person interviewed presented themselves in a way that speaks volumes of Virginia Tech. Meredith spoke with a young lady who had survived Columbine only to experience that same type of loss now, 8 years later. She expressed her reluctance to appear on the show because she said that the media presence made it difficult for the community to start the healing process and get back to its norm. Even with this, she served as such a great voice of wisdom. While the entire country mourns with the VT & Blacksburg communities, the reality of this terrible situation would be difficult to grasp without hearing about how each victim lived and not just how the died.

This message is not to condemn our president in anyway. We are concentrating so hard on the wars that are raging in Iraq, Afghanistan,and the pending conflicts with other countries. My question is: Why can't anyone see the war that we are facing every single day right here in our own USA?
This horrible tragedy at Virginia Tech is just one of so many horrible tragedies that go on everyday in this country. Some innocent person dies every so many seconds or minutes in some city or town or state in this country. The statistics are stagering.
Why should we have to have other countries point out to us that we need more emphasis put on "gun control"

My heart,soul,tears,prayers,and sincere condolences go out to all of the families of the victims of this horrible crime. My thoughts and prayers are with the students and teachers that are left to have deal with this. It is something that they will remember the rest of their lives. I pray so hard that we should never have to see anything like this ever again. Until something is done to prevent it; I'm sure we will. God bless us all.

www.VT32.org

Created to remember the 32 innocent members of the Virginia Tech family who were horrifically taken from us. Please help us honor the victims by sharing your thoughts and prayers.

God bless!

Pay it forward...please keep this message & our prayers moving.

I'm very saddened by what has happened. But one thing I was wanting to know is were is his parents?? Why has no one spoke with them to see if they had any questions of why he did this??

I used to work in Burruss Hall at VT from 1994-1999. I grew so much as a working professional in my time there and it directly influenced how I think about work and how I go about conducting myself in the workplace. I still have many close friends at VT that I communicate with regularly. I have been told that Friday (April 20) will be a day to wear orange and maroon. I may be an ex-employee, but I will break out my maroon and orange to proudly support and represent VT in deep south Texas!!

To all the beautiful students, faculty who lost their lives during this horrific event at Virginia Tech We are proud parents, aunt and uncle, and in-laws to graduates Sandra Bachman Saracino, Betsy Johnson, Robert Saracino. God Bless. "Go Hokies"

You people in the media show huge amounts of violence and death year after year on your networks in the name of entertainment and then fall into shock and mourning when shootings like this happen. The media close there eyes to the fact that the blood of the victims at Virginia Tech are stained on there hands as well as on the hands of the shooter.
I have no doubt this truth will fall on ears that won’t hear and eyes that refuse to see.

I am a graduate of VT and live and work in the area. The horror of this day will live with me forever. My prayers go to the families, students, faculty, VT Chief of Police and Dr. Steger as they truly live with what happened every minute of each day. I do believe we will prevail because we are Hokies and we are united.

I can't fathom the depth of sorrow the whole campus is dealing with at this time. Matt was quite compassionate this morning, along with Meridith, when speaking to all of the classmates and staff at VT. I don't think I have felt such heartache since 9/11. The countries thoughts and prayers are with all of you, including the shooters family. God be with all of you in your time of healing.