I believe that the school was just trying to keep order on the situation. They did not know how safe the area was yet (maybe there was another shooter). Having that many people rushing there would just mean a greater potential for a loss of life. It would be better for the students to head home if a union was needed.
I have served 17 years in the military and have seen young men give their lives for others. It is never easy, and I have done a lot of counseling with individuals that were affected by these events.
My son is a student at Va/Tech, and there was great concern. We need to pray for the families that lost loved ones. And we need to pray for Cho’s family. Do not blame his parents. All of us are accountable for our own actions. I am certain that they did not want this for their son.
I hear people asking why more was not done. Now there will probably be a push for more laws. That will not help. It was when we took prayer out of school that our country started falling apart. People say they believe in God and maybe go to church occasionally. How do they live the rest of the week? Goes along with “Do as I say, not as I do”! Just talking through things does not always work. That is why the laws that we have need to be enforced; not knew laws added. None of us want to be judged, but we are quick to judge others. Our country has devalued life. From the youngest age we are telling children they are the most important, and then they see abortions taking place, crimes being committed, and no consequences for it. What is amazing is that anyone can think straight with all the propaganda that is continuously being fed to us. What we need is true repentance, and a turning back towards God for things to ever get better in this country.

Just something else for reporters to write about. Of course the families, parents, brothers, sisters, etc. whomever should be with their loved ones in a time like this. The whole nation is absolutely in shock and the way i feel for the people who were actually there is indescribable. So as far as the victims and survivors, they should, without a doubt have their families with them! It's an outrage to ask them not to!

We all love our children and want to be with them at times of difficulty. I know that my baby will always be my baby no matter how old.I think that one of the positive results of this massive tragedy might be that colleges nation wide will learn from VT's mistakes in dealing with the shootings. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 and we have the advantage of sitting in judgment. This took the officials at VT by surprise, and they seemed very ill-prepared to deal with it. But, if other institutions of higher learning take this opportunity to review or enact some sort of plan for a similar happening, then, maybe something good could come out of this. Unfortunately, it seems to have come to the point where schools should have plans in place on how to deal with killers and killings, just like they have plans for natural disasters like fires and tornadoes. My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy, Cho's as well.

When I heard of this ignorance of this college. This place is supposed to teach these young adults to be professionals and yet they are not being professional, by ignoring this unsafe environment. These parents are entrusting these school officials to be the guardians of their prescious children in their abscense. This school needs to be investigated for the neglegence; in the non-timely manner of informing students and police at the time of the first shooting. I think that there should be a better way of communicating with parents, students and faculty.

Love is all we need right now, so be hugged, and give hugs; remember to embrace your life and the moments that are here now. Live...and live happy.
This should wake up everyone to understand that life is a blessing, and there is no time for hate
My heart goes to those close to this crime...god bless

first i want to say that my heart goes out to the parents and everyone affected by this tragedy.how can the school admin. tell parents to stay away??? i have 3 children,none in college,but if something like this,or anything happened to them in school,i would be there in a heart beat,come hell or high water.maybe it would be easier to get on campus if you had a I'M WITH THE PRESS card!!!!

This is a highly emotional matter and the University should not have even considered requesting Parents to do what THEY knew they would NOT do themselves crime scene or not.What does crime scene have to do with it when the police already know there was only one assailant? And why would anyone think the Parents would wnat to be on the scene of so much carnage?To this day I cannot stand to even look at the house where my youngest son took innocent life.And it's inappropriate to assume Chos parents did not love him.I have personally wittnessed children grow up under exemplary parents and some of them did NOT follow their teaching while their siblings did.I endured a tragedy such as this when I lost BOTH of my Sons to crimes.They took the lives of people in seperate incidents and I was no more negligent than any of YOU are.Their would be Mom was running around with every married man that looked her way how ever.This happened in a small town and I am still living here which says much about MY character and Fatherhood.The people love and respect me MORE than they ever did.This was obviously a terrible time that took 12 long years to finally overcome.You can recover from something like this but you NEVER get over it.This tragedy is living proof of that as I am quite depressed and deeply saddened over this situation at VA Tech.NO way is a good way to lose a child but as cruel as it may seem-- I would have rather lost mine to death than taking the lives of innocent people.No Parent that has been responsible deserves something like this--of such great magnitude.My boys committed these henious crimes contrary to generations of a sacred belief that you NEVER take that which you cannot GIVE.I am so very glad that MY Parents did not live to see this.I really grieve for BOTH the victims and their survivors AND Chos Parents.Parents in most situations have NO control over such things.I did not.I had been divorced from an adultress for three years when this happened.I obviously was no longer living with the boy and SHE used him and his siblings as a WEAPON against me.It ended in a personal tragedy of magnitudal proportions.She moved away four days AFTER it happened.

IT is obvious that VT needs a new president. One with a brain and compassion for HUMANS. The lack of care for the lives of students and the lack of concern for those that made it through this tradgedy is beyond comprehension. Prayers and condolences to all the families during this time of loss and grief.

I agree with some of the responses, parents should be with their sons or daughters during this tragedy. I can't believe someone would suggest otherwise. I also would like to say; and I don't care who gets angry. Stop being so hateful towards Cho & his parents; enough already.... I feel like VT didn't take precautions when this young man was already showing signs of problems. Red flags went up and nothing was done about it. Getting back to the incident; you have shots fired at 7am, which a 911 call was placed. Why wasn't classes canceled? I mean Hello! a special bulletin should have made the airwaves warning of a potential shooter/intruder. Two hours later during the second round of shots; then the students get a brief email about a shooting taking place. I find this to be the biggest problem, not enough warning was given to spare lives. I'm sorry but I feel VT lacked in this area. How sad, so many young lives taken.

3 years ago a boy was shot in my college dorm.. it was no where as horrible as this situation, but the only person i wanted was my mom and she was there asap. from experience, the only relief these students will have is when they fall into the comfort and safety of their parents arm. I cannot believe the school would even make a request to deny students this.

I am from a small country town in Australia and even so far away we Australians are as a nation grieving with you over this tragedy. Parents should never be asked not to be there for their children under any circumstances, let alone the circumstances at hand. My heart goes out to all involved, I hope that with time your pain eases, this will never be forgotten.

THE ONLY THING AS MORONIC AS REQUESTING THE PARENTS TO STAY AWAY IS THE DECISION MADE BY THE ADMINISTRATION AND SECURITY THAT THE SHOOTER HAD LEFT THE CAMPUS AND WAS NO LONGER AN IMMEDIATE THREAT. WHAT DAY AND AGE ARE THEY LIVING IN, THIS ASSUMPTION PROBABLY COST MANY STUDENTS THEIR LIVES. ASSUME THE WORST AND HOPE FOR THE BEST SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE THOUGHT.

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to everyone involved in this appalling tragedy. I cannot begin to understand how the families and friends of those who died must be feeling. As an outsider, the events all seems so far away. However, as a mother and fellow human being I am astonished and appalled at the truly atrocious handling of the events of Monday. Where were the police? Why weren't those 30 additional students massacred in the second outbreak of shooting, not to mention the rest of the students on campus, being protected by your emergency services? Why was no heed given to the previous bomb threats? To then ask families to 'stay away' from their children following such an ordeal? Is this institution run by human beings? I have no wish to assign 'blame', but the way in which things appear to have been handled by the university is totally incomprehensible. My prayers and thoughts are with you all, and with those whose young lives have been cruelly curtailed.

I shed tears each time I read about this VT massacre.
My prayers go to all the affected victims & families & Cho's as well.
I hope this will be a wake-up call for all colleges &
universities accross the globe. Perhaps we had been concentrating on fighting against terrorism and neglected individuals be it students or adult at work who suffered from depression and weird behavior.

Cannot believe that people still have time to shed blame in the midst of this tradegy. Spreading blame at the school adminstrators will certainly not lessen the pain for the families of those who were lost. I would think that instead of pointing fingers at the school everyone would want to offer as much comfort and support as possible at this time

This is so bad,I feel lives could of been saved if things were handled better,my thoughts and prayers are with every one at VT.May God be with you all.I would not let my child be without parents in this horrible tradgedy.Hope all this teaches a lesson to schools every where.

I have read most of the concerned letters going out, its just really sad for the families who were involved and the people who are reading about it, all i know deep down in my heart that we should not blame and just help by caring and giving support to the families and let them know we are here to help and support all of them. prayes and all my love to all of them.

VT administrators have to realize this could happen at any school, to anyone, at any time and trying to make this a hush-hush situation is a no-no! This boy obviously needed mental help and it's too bad he wasn't forced to do so or in the alternative be forced to leave the school. Anyone in charge, who knew of his mental condition, is responsbile in some way for these student's deaths. that's the problem nowadays; no one cares. As long and they're feeling fine, the heck with anyone else. And, what about Cho's parents? I haven't heard one word of sympathy directed towards them. Their lives are shattered just like the parents of the students who were killed. My heart goes out to everyone one involved. This is so sad.

In response to the comments of LOUIS URBAN; AMEN and AMEN!! This country was founded "with the grace of GOD" and the right to prayer should be RETURNED to the schools! Some young people may never be exposed to God elsewhere and will never learn to value the sanctity of human life - a pervasive problem in today's world.
Also, I'm sure it is true that Cho's parents did NOT want this for their son. It is unfair to make accusations without knowing the facts about this family and the obviously very troubled man who committed these terrible acts. May God bless and heal all who are affected by this tragedy.

these parents need there childrens by there side as we child do 2~!~ so they should be happy that our parents are getting involed with this problem thats going on.

Im sorry but these students needed their parents by their side...This will effect them and others not going to that school for the rest of their lives.i want to send my prayers to all the families.If that were my child i dont think anyone would have stopped me from being with them.The school should have taken what people were telling them about his actions and maybe this wouldnt have happened.I hope and pray that out of this tragedy that never should have happened that this will wake people up.And do things to make this country a safer place to live in.