Virginia Tech copes with returning to class

Professors grapple with what to teach as the campus resumes classes Monday. Topics could include the nature of grief and finding meaning in last Monday's tragedy.

from the April 23, 2007 edition

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In hastily called department meetings last week, professors argued over whether it was too early to return to class. Should they forge ahead with vigor? Or talk to students individually for the rest of the semester to help them deal with the tragedy? But administrators reasoned that cancelling the rest of the school year seemed overly alarmist.

Instead, the school is urging professors to open each class with a 20-minute discussion before moving on to regular class work. Some teachers say they'll try to engage students in conversation; others will let students dictate what happens in class.

Put event in historical perspective

Class discussions are likely to focus on several issues, including the event's meaning, the psychology of a killer's mind, and the nature of grief, professors say.

"I'm going to try to put it into historical perspective, alongside Columbine and the '66 Texas Tower sniper," says Farrar.

Historians and researchers may examine Cho's actions to try to understand his motive and what happened.

But to others, that's hardly helpful now, says Ms. Burger. "I can theorize and put it into a framework for them, and maybe I will," she says. "But we can't intellectualize it too much. It's too close to the bone."

The key will be providing a forum for students to express their emotions while allowing them to return to familiar work and routines.

"We have decided among ourselves that we are going to focus on the students first," says Virginia Tech Provost Mark McNamee. Last week, the university also announced it will give posthumous degrees to all students who were killed last Monday.

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