The wind howling in the quad of Old Dorms was strong enough to prevent students from lighting their candles as they took part in a vigil for those affected by the tragedy of Virginia Tech.
Instead, organizers and first-year College students Katie Welch and Chelsea Cantrell asked the students to move behind Emmet dormitory and form a circle.
"Close your eyes and brace yourself against the wind," Cantrell said.
For the roughly 80 students in attendance, bracing against the wind meant different things.
"I am here because I am hoping to find peace from community," third-year College student Laura Woolley said. She said she knew students at Tech, but all of them were safe.
Third-year College student Annie Mountcastle was not as certain about the safety of her friends.
"I'm from Roanoke," she said. "I know people and I've been getting reports. I think they're ok, but I don't know."
While many of the students who attended the vigil knew Virginia Tech students personally, others came just to show their solidarity.
"I don't know anyone from Tech," second-year College student Clayton Davis said. "But I know the two campuses are connected."
Welch said she hoped students who attended the vigil, especially first-year students, would be able to find that sense of community by coming together and reflecting on the day's events.
Standing in the circle, Welch and Cantrell asked students to say a prayer. After a prolonged silence, a single student began reciting Psalm 23. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," she began. Others joined in.
After another silence, students began sharing personal experiences, one by one.
"Today one of my friends died," said the first student who spoke. Several students nodded their heads.
While many students asked their peers to pray for the victims, their families and all Virginia Tech students, one student reminded those present that family members of the shooter who committed suicide were also victims yesterday.
"I feel that everyone there was victimized today," first-year College student Michaela Ottenberg said.
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